House training a puppy requires patience, consistency and knowing what to expect at different ages. At 8 weeks old, a puppy has very limited bladder control and needs frequent potty breaks. However, the length of time an 8 week old puppy can hold their bladder varies depending on a few factors.
How Often Do 8 Week Old Puppies Need To Go Out?
An 8 week old puppy needs to go out to relieve themselves very frequently, around once every 1-2 hours. Some puppies may even need to go out every 30-45 minutes when they are active and playing. Puppies have small bladders and less muscular control than adult dogs. They produce urine more frequently and have less ability to “hold it” for long periods.
Taking a new puppy out every 1-2 hours (at a minimum) is recommended during the day. During the night, they may be able to go slightly longer between potty breaks, but will still need to go out 2-3 times. Waiting longer than 2 hours during the day or 4 hours at night risks potty training setbacks and accidents inside.
How Long Can They Hold Their Bladder At Night?
At 8 weeks old, a puppy usually needs to go out at least twice overnight for potty breaks. The longest they can comfortably hold their bladder is about 4 hours. However, some puppies may only make it 2-3 hours during the night before needing to relieve themselves.
Here is a typical night time potty break schedule for an 8 week old puppy:
- 10 pm – Take puppy out right before bed
- 2 am – Take puppy out to pee/poop
- 6 am – Take puppy out again
Gradually, as the puppy ages and develops better bladder control, they will be able to sleep through the night without needing a potty break. But at 8 weeks, count on letting them out 2-3 times overnight.
Maximum Time In Crate
When crate training an 8 week old puppy, they typically should not be left in the crate for more than 2-3 hours at a time without a potty break. This lines up with how often they need to relieve themselves when active during the day. It’s important not to exceed this window to avoid accidents.
Here are some general crate time guidelines for an 8 week old puppy:
- 2 hours maximum – during the day
- 3 hours maximum – at night to sleep
Always provide plenty of potty breaks when the puppy is let out of the crate. Take them directly outside to their designated potty spot.
How Long Can They Go During The Day?
In their awake, active hours during the day, 8 week old puppies typically need to go out at least every 1-2 hours. Some may need to go out even more frequently, every 30-45 minutes during active playtime.
Even if crated for a nap, most 8 week old puppies will need a bathroom break after about 1-2 hours. Keep a close eye on the time and don’t exceed 2 hours during the day between potty breaks for a young pup.
Factors That Affect How Long They Can Hold It
There are a few factors that can influence how long an 8 week old puppy can potty:
- Size – Smaller breeds have smaller bladders and may only make it 1 hour. Larger breeds can go longer, 1.5-2 hours.
- Individual ability – Some puppies develop control earlier, while others take longer to gain control.
- Fluid intake – The more water or fluids consumed, the quicker they’ll need to urinate.
- Activity level – More active puppies fill up their bladders faster.
- Health issues – Illnesses, infections, parasites can all reduce bladder control.
Knowing your individual puppy’s limits, taking them out frequently and watching for signals they need to go (like circling, sniffing, squatting) are key during this stage of house training.
What’s Normal For An 8 Week Old Puppy
To summarize what’s normal bathroom ability for an 8 week old puppy:
- Need to urinate about every 1-2 hours when awake/active
- Can hold their bladder for 2-3 hours when crated during the day
- Need a potty break 2-3 times overnight, every 3-4 hours
- Have frequent potty accidents inside until trained
While puppies develop at different rates, these guidelines represent typical bladder control capabilities at this young age. Remember, set your puppy up for success by providing plentiful outside potty breaks and constantly supervising when loose indoors.
When To Expect Improvement
At 12-16 weeks old, most puppies achieve enough bladder muscle control to last about 3-4 hours between potty trips. Their capacity has increased from just a couple ounces at 8 weeks to about 1 cup.
Here’s a general timeline for bladder control maturation in puppies:
- 8 weeks – 1-2 hours
- 12 weeks – 3-4 hours
- 16 weeks – 4-5 hours
- 6 months – 6-8 hours
But keep in mind every puppy is different. Use this as a guide, while also watching your puppy’s signals and adjusting as needed if they need to go more frequently.
Tips For Improving Bladder Control
You can help train your 8 week old puppy’s bladder control by:
- Sticking to a feeding schedule – This regulates when they need to poop.
- Limiting water before bedtime – Reduce accidents overnight.
- Using a crate for naps/nighttime – Helps teach bladder control.
- Rewarding outdoor potties – Positive reinforcement builds habits.
- Cleaning all accidents with enzyme cleaner – To avoid continuing to go in previously soiled spots.
Be extremely consistent about providing opportunities every 1-2 hours. Don’t get frustrated by accidents – they’re bound to happen at this age. But stay vigilant and be prepared to get up during the night too.
When To See The Vet
If your 8 week old puppy is frequently dribbling urine or seems unable to hold their bladder for even short time periods, consult your vet. It could signal:
- Urinary tract infection
- Bladder inflammation
- Underdeveloped bladder
- Genetic incontinence
- Spay incontinence
- Congenital defects
Medical issues can cause loss of bladder control. Most often, though, an 8 week old pup just needs more frequent potty breaks while their body matures. Within a few months, you’ll be able to get through the night without accidents!
Conclusion
At 8 weeks old, puppies have very limited bladder capacity. They need to urinate roughly every 1-2 hours when awake, and nighttime bladder control is limited to 2-4 hours. Allowing more time than this without giving a bathroom break usually results in indoor potty accidents. Patience and consistency is required during the house training process. Once your puppy matures and gains bladder muscle control around 4-6 months old, they will be able to go much longer between relieving themselves.