My dog has changed… age or should I be worried?

[TeenLifeMum]

I have a working cocker who is 3.5 years old. He’s a total dream - training has paid off. However, this week there’s been a change. Routine is:
8am ish morning mini walk for wee/poo (won’t do this in the garden)
12/1pm ish hour walk (longer at weekends or on our days off work)
11pm mini walk for bedtime wee before we go to bed

Thursday and Friday he had longer lunch walks - 2 hours through fields one day and to the beach the other (lots of games and a bit of swimming). He looked tired but had a lovely time.

Saturday and Sunday he’s had shorter 45 minute walk.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights dh has done his usual stand up and day “come on then, bedtime walk” and usually ddog is up and straight to the door but the last three nights he’s refused to move until dh comes and puts the lead on him and then he’s still reluctant and needs cajoling. Is he just tired? He’s not weed for 9 hours so needs to go out before bed surely.

He's happy on other walks. It is such a change but everything else is normal. Any ideas?

9 hours since his last pee? That's very long between pees and a long time not to be let out to relieve himself.

He's a very young dog to be that tired by night especially if he's not been out on a long walk.

I would take him to the vet to be checked over.

@emmaempenadas he holds his wee from 11.30pm to 8am (longer at weekends, more like 9.30am) overnight. That’s normal for him. He did wee when dh took him but he was happily upside down and snoring and really didn’t want to move. He’s now snoring on my bed. He’s always loved his sleep.

I rarely say this, but I think you may have over exercised your dog.

2 hours is all a cocker really needs. You have given yours three walks of which one was 2 hours. Honestly, I’d dial the walks back a bit and see if he picks up. Over exercising can do serious damage to their paws/joints etc - particularly if it’s done over one walk.

I also think you need to walk him around 6ish as well as 11:30 if he won’t perform in the garden. Just because he can hold his bladder that long it doesn’t mean he should. It can cause serious bladder issues. My girlcocker tries to hold her wee overnight for 13 hours sometimes - but I don’t let her!

Our Border terrier would go out after her 6.30 pm dinner, come in and wouldn’t go out again until 6.30-7 am the next morning. Accidents were rare.

@Devilshands i think so too. The two wee walls are literally to the end of the cul de sac so less than 5 minutes each. But the beach walk was full on with lots of socialising, games and digging. Then he didn’t sleep in the evening as we had the bunnies out and he likes to watch them. He snuggles with one but doesn’t sleep like he would if they weren’t out. We have a quieter few days now as we’re back to work. Previously he would have been happy to do this level occasionally but maybe he’s a bit older and it was two days in a row - the Thursday was raining too which he’s not keen on.

I’m not convinced he suddenly needs a 6am walk. The friends I have who do this go to bed at 9.30 or 10pm themselves. We go to bed at midnight.

He’s up and bimbling about happily this morning so I don’t think he’s ill. Exercise was fields and sand so his paws should be okay but we’ll keep an eye on him.

My German Shepherd is very tired the day after a full on walk and only needs a 40 minute leg stretch the next day. I was worried at first but I think she just needs a recovery day.
We went out for the day yesterday and walked for around 4 hours with an hour and a half car ride each way and a stop at the pub for tea. Even though she had plenty of time to rest she doesn't unless she's at home. She has slept all day today and only got up occasionally to come over for cuddles. I just let her rest, I feel like she must know what she needs.

Hmm, I don't think that he's done a hugely excessive amount of exercise for his age and breed, though I suppose it depends on what he's used to.

Does he really not go out to the toilet at all between lunchtime and 11pm? It's not very good for them to hold it for so long - it can cause kidney problems long-term.