Generally, dogs need to relieve themselves 8–12 hours after digesting their previous meal. Dogs often (but not always) poop shortly after waking or roughly half an hour after eating. If you're feeding your dog two meals a day, they may defecate twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening.
If your puppy is reluctant to poop after eating dinner, try feeding them 2-hours before bed. Give them an hour to digest, and then take them outside for poop time. This rule of pooping after eating will also vary as a puppy matures, as their GI tract will mature also and so their toileting patterns will likely change.
Most healthy, adult dogs will readily go to the bathroom an hour or so after a meal. They can, however, hold their stool much longer if necessary. In fact, for the most part, a healthy adult dog can hold their stool for 12 hours or more.
A dog bathroom schedule should include letting dogs outside to relieve themselves after each meal, and at least three to five times daily. Dogs should not be forced to wait longer than about eight hours before having a bathroom break.
With that in mind, he advises that in general “defecating one to two times daily is considered normal.” He also notes that if your dog is eating a diet that is higher in fiber, they may regularly poop three times a day.
Use the 'last call' system before bed
Before going to bed at night, give your puppy a “last call” and allow them one last chance to use the toilet before you go to sleep. After your puppy has done their business and begins to calm down, place them where they sleep, either in their crate or in their bed.
Some signs are obvious, such as barking or scratching at the door, squatting, restlessness, sniffing around or circling. When you see these signs, immediately grab the leash and take them outside to their bathroom spot. If they eliminate, praise them and reward with a treat.
Do not let the dog play or exercise (e.g. go for a walk) for at least two hours after having a meal. Ensure continuous fresh water is available to avoid your pet gulping down a large amount after eating.
Pick up promptly — Prevent parasites, bacteria, and viruses from infecting people or other pets by picking up your dog's poop immediately. Many parasites require days to weeks to reach the infective stage, so feces becomes more hazardous to your health the longer it sits.
To put it simply, adult dogs generally need to toilet three to five times a day, and most vets will recommend a maximum window of between six to eight hours between toilet trips.
Dogs can go for 8 to 10 hours without urinating overnight, while sleeping. However, all dogs need to be taken out after a meal or a drink, upon waking up and after a period of play. Health: Urinary frequency in dogs will vary due to factors such as age, sex, body size and overall health.
Adult dogs – particularly the large and giant breeds – can be maintained on one meal a day, while small breeds, which have a higher metabolic rate may require two feeds per day to meet their energy requirements.
In most cases, healthy dogs without any underlying health conditions can go 48 hours without pooping (and sometimes longer) without any cause for serious concern. There's no hard and fast rule, but many veterinarians will recommend an exam if your dog goes more than 48 to 72 hours without pooping.
The most common cause of constipation in dogs is swallowing objects that are not easily digested, such as bones, grass or hair. Other causes include lack of fibre, lack of exercise, blocked anal glands, certain intestinal problems, trauma to the pelvis an enlarged prostate, kidney disease or hernias.
Dogs of all ages can start having nighttime accidents for several reasons. The leading causes of dogs pooping at night are anxiety, potty training issues, illness or disease, and physical limitations.
So When Should you Walk Your Dog? As a general rule of thumb, it's best to walk your dog first thing in the morning and then wait an hour or so before feeding, then again in the evening a couple of hours after their evening meal.
"While there is no best time, with most dogs that eat twice a day, it is best to feed them in the morning as soon as you get up and then again when you get home from work in the afternoon," says Dr. Sara Ochoa, veterinary consultant for doglab.com who practices in Texas.
Typically, domestic dogs are diurnal animals, meaning they are more active during the day and sleep at night. However, there is controversy and debate about whether dogs are nocturnal, crepuscular, or genuinely diurnal animals. Dogs may be more active during the daytime because their human companions are around.
Taking your dog out in the morning before breakfast is a good habit to have, especially during the summer, as temperatures at that time are still mild and there being no need to worry about sunstroke. The morning walk should last half-an-hour to an hour and should be the longest of the day.
The condition has been reported to most commonly occur two to three hours after eating a large meal, although bloat and GDV can occur at any time.
After a walk
Some dogs get so excited about taking a walk that they get overstimulated and hyperactive, and this can last even after the walk. Dogs can also feel confined by a leash, and zoomies are a way of shaking it off and feeling the freedom!
It's a way to mark territory and let the other dogs around town know who's neighborhood they're in when they do their own poop dances.
Your dog is tamping down the grass and chasing away any bugs or other creatures to give it a nice clean place to do its business. The circles allow your dog to get a good, clear view of the surrounding area to make sure there are no threats or predators near by when they are in such a vulnerable position.
Take your dog for long walks to get their bowels moving and stimulate a healthy movement. Exercises like running, fetch, and chase are great ways to promote a healthy digestive tract.