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Service dogs have to pee, too!

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desiderata310

MyPTSD Pro
This is a fun one. I'm flying next week and didn't notice until it was way too late that I had booked us for a 5.5 hour flight.
To make matters worse, Charlie refuses to use the pet relief stations at the airports and we are looking at a 7-8 hour journey.
So what do I do? Is there some way I can convince my loving canine companion that he is NOT going to fall through the 'piddle box' they have set up in these abandoned restrooms? When I tried to change the flight the guy on the other end suggested piddle pad in the bathroom- saying they were acceptable. I was all excited except that Charlie and I skipped that part of training and went straight to 'pee outdoors only' and seriously? Has anyone tried to turn around in one of those airline toilets- let alone have a 90lb Weimaraner join them in a cramped stall like that?

Suggestions are VERY welcomed at the point.
 
There have been quite a few days when my dogs lasted 12 hours, with no problem. Sometimes our schedule just doesn't work any better than that, and they do ok. I wouldn't try it with a puppy, or maybe an older dog, but adult healthy dogs seem to do ok. It might depend on the individual. The other thing is, if he really, desperately has to go, he might be a bit more open minded about the accommodations.
 
For roadtrips in uncertain conditions, I used diapers on my Lab.

Granted, they actually SELL the suckers now (in fashionable colors, too!), but at the time I just raided my toddler supplies. Some scissors, some duct tape, a piddle pad rolled up in front to deal with the fact that dog wieners point "up" at all times, and voila.

He didn't like them, but they worked.
 
I think if you reduced the amount of water he drank that might help a little and it is possible that he may hold it as well. Good luck.
 
Agree with everyone above. I'd reduce/eliminate liquids no less than 8 hours prior to travel. He'll be okay for a day with little intake. That's what my partner did when flying with her service dog in the 90s prior to the airport offering accommodation like elimination stations. I don't think her dog would have tolerated a diaper but it's a great idea.
 
Generally most dogs gain an hour a month in their first year for pee retain. You both did well before and will again. Woof.
 
Agree with everyone above. I'd reduce/eliminate liquids no less than 8 hours prior to travel. He'll be okay for a day with little intake.
I usually just reduce liquid intake the 8 hours before and my dog makes it just fine. I still bring puppy training pads, just incase she starts to signal she needs to potty somewhere along the way, and there is no suitable spot - but I haven’t ever had to use them yet when flying. She just waits.
 
I'm real late on this but Chopper has held his bladder & bowels for 15 hrs when I was broke down on the side of the road. He was in the crate. If they need to hold it they generally do and he holds it 9 hrs everyday when I am at work. If not trained to hold it that long then I would take puppy pads just in case and try to take him to the bathroom for it if needed. I undress Chopper before telling him to "go sniff" so he knows to always hold it when vested.
 
Happy to say that this being our SECOND cross country flight in three weeks, Charlie was a real pro by the end. He took a pee before we got in the Lyft and another at the airport along with a massive dump on the astroturf. (BTW Philly has an amazing number of potty spots for dogs) He was comfy by the time we were boarding the plane.
Since I had gotten us up at some ungodly hour to do all of this(3am EST/midnight PST), he slept most of the 5 hours, and only took a couple of ice cubes. When we got to Phoenix, BLESSEDLY, the potty room was directly across from our next flight, he went in and pee'd no problem and was happy to do it.
What was funny was when we landed in Burbank, HE found the potty room and went (almost drug my arm out of socket) and pee'd without any prompting or even much sniffing.
So I guess the whole things is what they get used to.

With this much air travel under our belts I have no doubt in his abilities to travel well from now on.
 
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