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.
Adult dogs should poop one to three times a day, though puppies poop more often (up to five times a day or more), and senior dogs may poop once a day. Your dog's poop frequency is dependent on many factors, including how often they eat, how much they eat, their fiber intake, and your dog's health.
But a good rule of thumb is that dogs should poop at least once a day. Some may poop up to five times, and others in between. So if your dog poops 3 times a day, that's fine too. Anything over five, though, could be worth keeping an eye on.
In general, expect that they will need to poop 8-12 hours after digesting their previous meal. For many dogs, that works out to be mornings and evenings. The truth is, though, that every dog poops a little differently. Whatever time of day they regularly go is what's normal for them.
Once a day is standard, though some healthy adult dogs are known to go twice, or even three times, a day. Puppies, who are typically eating several small meals a day, poop more—sometimes four to five times per day. Similarly, young dogs can often poop more than three times a day.
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.
Some dogs will continue to poop right after eating, others may not go for about half an hour after consuming their meal. This is totally normal. In fact, healthy dogs continue to defecate soon after eating their meals because their stomach is connected to the colon by nerves triggering the reflex to eliminate.
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.
Adult dogs that are one year or older should be able to hold their pee in for up to 6-8 hours. However, 8 hours is a bit of a stretch, and ideally, you should not expect your dog to hold their urine for longer than 6 hours.
Dogs need roughage in their diets and grass is a good source of fiber. A lack of roughage affects the dog's ability to digest food and pass stool, so grass may actually help their bodily functions run more smoothly.
Optimal Times Vary Widely. Most veterinarians, dog trainers, and behaviorists agree that puppies need to go out “very soon” once they eat a meal or drink water. Generally speaking, the recommended time frame varies from 5 to 15 minutes but sometimes trends upwards to 30 plus minutes.
Shades that may be problematic include orange/yellow (possibly caused by biliary or liver problem), green (possibly caused by a gall bladder issue or eating grass), or gray or greasy (possibly caused by a pancreas or biliary problem).
Dog Poop on Kibble Diet
With typical kibble dog food, your pup will likely have more frequent bowel movements that are large and smelly. That's because less food is actually being digested and upwards of 70% of what they're fed is discharged in their stool.
Frequency. The number of times your dog poops each day should be consistent – whether that's once or four times per day. As long as it is the same every day, there's no need to worry. Typically, most pups will go once or twice a day – although some may go four or more times!
Some of these causes include dietary indiscretion (eating something they shouldn't have), a sudden change in diet, parasites (especially roundworm or hookworm), bacterial or viral infections, emotional distress, or serious illnesses.
One answer is that it boils down to territory marking and communication through scent. Dogs' strongest sense is their sense of smell, and they learn a lot about the other dogs in the neighborhood by sniffing around before potty.
But instead of finding a suitable spot to do its business, your silly pet is spinning around a few times before pooping. It may seem like odd behavior, but some dogs like making circles rather than making number two on the spot.
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.
"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.
While not going can be a sign of a health issue, this isn't always the case. Some dogs may purposely hold in their business to either prolong time outdoors or simply because of a change in their routine. Loud noises, other animals, or unfamiliar humans near their area of choice may temporarily throw them off.
If your older dog is suddenly pooping in the house, or their crate, at night, you should refer to a vet. A vet can help you determine if there is a legitimate medical issues, and whether or not it's treatable.
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.
DF: I have found that the best feeding and toilet pattern for dogs is going out for a morning walk or yard run and eating a light breakfast, and then taking a walk about noon to 2 p.m. Before an evening meal (between 5 and 6 p.m.), go on a long walk or run.
Dogs should eat at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart. But a breakfast, lunch, and dinner schedule is an equally great option. If more than 12 hours elapses between meals, the stomach can become hyperacidic causing nausea.