[BandPipe]

I have a 6.5 year old chi and I need to know if her bathroom habits are normal.
I am away at work all day and she stays in the crate. She is in there for 4-8 hours depending on what my boyfriend works. When its 8 he tries to come home for lunch to let them out. She has no accidents at all in the crate.

Once we get home she goes out on her own, no problems and does her buisness.

At night I have started to let her sleep in my bed. She needs to be let out 1-2 times every night. When she slept in her crate she would always need to go out about an hour before I woke up. I know she can hold it longer.

We have taken her water away at 8 and then we tried 7. We take her outside to go to the bathroom before bed and she usually goes. My other dogs are bigger and not like this at all. One can hold it for 24 hours (although I wish he wouldn't) he hates the rain! Is this normal for a chi?

 

[Thracian]

Chis are pretty small (ergo: small bladder). My friend has one, and I have a small dog as well (though not as small). What we've discovered is that on weekdays, the dogs are more likely to hold it as much as possible during the day because we aren't there to let them out. At night, they get us up a couple of times a night because we are there. On the weekends, it's reversed. They go out a lot during the day, so they often make it through the night without getting up.

My point is, eight hours of holding during the day plus eight hours of holding at night is a lot of holding for one day, especially for a small dog.

 

[BandPipe]

She's not super small for a chi she's 7lbs. I do know what you mean though. I have three her, 15lbs and a 57 lbs. I've never thought of it as a problem until recently she seems to go a lot. Today we went for a walk before we went she went pee, and 45 mins later when we got back she went again. I may take her in to be tested for a bladder infection just to be sure.

 

[suzukigirl]

well my chi is still a puppy 10 weeks but during the day he is with me at work. He pee's 3 times during a 9-10 hour shift. When I get home it's hubbys turn to take him out. He usually goes to potty about 4-5 more times.