How long can/should your dog hold it?

This was a really good question! It's been on my mind how long they can hold it before getting an infection.
We just moved to the country where we hear coyotes close by, and Shelby has no fear, so with it getting dark early this has cut back her potty break routine from 3 a day to 2 a day. It's been a few weeks now that she has adjusted to the new schedule but every now in then she will whine to go out at her old time (8:00pm). I'm strict not to let her out and get back in routine because I'm frankly more scared of the coyotes than she is:eek2:
 
These guys here are in and out so much during the day,that I really don't keep track.

We have seen all 3 shelties being able to hold it fairly long amounts of time.Up to 7-8 hours.They all are put to bed at 9ish or so.Last potty call is just before bedtime.
On mornings I leave here at 5am,I don't get them up to potty before I leave most times,and Brian gets home at 7:30.They are dancing by then.

Earnhardt can hold it a really long time,
 
I wonder if it is a sheltie thing only? Merlin already will happily hold during the day for 2 or 3 hours, despite me keep trying to get him to go. Last night he slept from 10pm until nearly 7am, that's nine hours for a nine week old pup!:eek2:

I actually woke up twice to check on him I was so worried and in the morning I went all around his crate expecting a puddle, but nothing. Even when he did get up he didn't rush to toilet.

It makes rather a nice change not to have a pee-bum!

Cadbury on the other hand cannot last more than 3 hours without a wee (except overnight), and he does sometimes get so desperate that he has an accident.
 
My two boys can hold for 10 hours overnight and are never desperate to go out in the morning. The other day when it was raining I realised they hadn't been from their morning walk at 9 to when I let them out before bed. Neither are they heavy drinkers. Revel had me worried once at Discover Dogs (in London) as dispite taking him out and walking around, he didn't go, which is unusual as being entire he usually takes every oppytunity. I imagine it was the lack of grass - being a country dog all that concrete must have put him off! Like Merlin Sophie, Revel was clean at night within a week.
Our Merlin is like Sca, won't go outside of his area and will hold it. I know that the bitches at shows are terrible for holding, the younger ones especially can hold for a good 20 hours:eek2:
 
Bailey can hold it for 9-10 hours. Other than over night, she very rarely has to hold it for that long. Since I can't hold it for more than a few hours, I don't expect my dog to be able to. I try not to let her go more than 5-6 hours without a potty break.

Right now, she has access to the yard whenever she wants. I am moving into an apartment soon and have decided to hire a dog walker. I do not want her to have to hold it for 10 hours every day. Every once in a blue moon is okay, but not every day. She also has a history of UTI's, so I don't want her to strain her bladder.
 
Bentley has held it all day before when it was raining. He refuses to go when it's really wet outside. Unfortunately here in Charleston once it starts to rain, the ground gets totally soaked.
 
Gavin hates the rain as well (Probably it's the rain coat I make him wear) so he will hold it as long as possible until it lets up! as soon as the rain stops, I have a whiny dog at the front door :D

I have an indoor dog potty (wizdog) in the bathroom for him just in case I can't get home on time for him. He rarely uses it and prefers to hold it until I get home. And he won't use it if I am at home (he will wake me from a dead sleep). He seems to time his water intake based on my schedule.

He can hold it over 12 hours during the day, even with the indoor potty for him to use. So I guess the bladder of steel isn't that unusual for a 5 year old. Now as a younger pup, the indoor potty got used every day. And he understood real quick that it was for when mommy wasn't home.
 
Sandstorm is expected to hold it for 8 hours during the day, and it is no problem. At night he can hold it from 9:30 to 7:00 in the morning, but he is asleep for 8 or 9 of those hours. I would not have him hold it for much longer than that unless for some reason I could not get home in time. When it is raining he is stubborn and will not pee unless he is desperate. I just yell Sandstorm, PEE !! Most times that works- I really hate taking him out in the pouring rain! :no:
 
Gavin hates the rain as well (Probably it's the rain coat I make him wear) so he will hold it as long as possible until it lets up! as soon as the rain stops, I have a whiny dog at the front door :D

Callie won't go out in the rain- unless I put her raincoat on - and mine on me- and go out with her :winkgrin:
 
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