We have a golden retriever puppy aged 13 weeks called Belle and I am confused. I have read in various places that restricting water at night can help housetrain your puppy, which is what we are currently doing (Although she still pees twice in the night). However, I am worried that when we give he water first thing in the morning she is very thirsty so is drinking very fast which I am worried is causing her to gulp down air which in turn I have read can cause bloat. I have also read many conflicting things about bloat, some saying to raise the food bowl some saying not to, some saying dont play or exercise 1 hour before and 2 after and some saying longer but as I work and only pop home at lunch to feed her and then come home at about 4.30pm and we feed her at about 7pm it means that I can play with her for an hour then leave her for an hour and a half, which then means that we have to leave her until 9pm before we take her for a walk and then she would go straight to bed, which doesnt seem much stimulation ! Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

Please don't restrict her water supply - as you can see, she is getting very thirsty and distressed, which in myy opinion isn't kind. And as you rightly say, drinking lots of water very quickly has been linked to bloat.

Vigorous exercise too soon before and after a meal has also been linked to bloat (you've been doing your homework - well done - not many people do!), so in theory there should be no galloping about within an hour either side of a meal (for an adult). A young puppy will only be going out for walks for training and socialisation purposes anyway, so you can still play with her and have her pottering around underfoot when you're home - she shouldn't be isolated at all! When she's grown up, if you take her out for an hour or so when you get home at 4.30 you'll be able to feed her at 7pm and then you can all settle down to enjoy a relaxing evening.
Hope this helps, and hasn't confused you further.
:)

Hi Guest, You have obviously read quite a bit about bloat and you have realised that alot of the stuff is contradictory. I lost an Irish Setter to bloat six months ago, and I think that all you can do is read and be aware of the current thinking, and decide from there how you are going to handle the risks. I do not believe that there is any way that you can avoid this dreadful thing happening if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. I tried everything, and it happened anyway THREE TIMES. Some animals are simply pre-disposed to it. Try not to let the worry of something that may never happen, spoil the joy of a new puppy.
Good Luck.
Dawn R.

I think you will do more harm than good restricting your pups access to drinking water. A healthy puppy who does not have such a restriction on it will develop normally, and in time will be house trained. I really cannot believe anybody would reccomend such a restriction. I feel sure that such a restriction may contribute to health problems.
I think it might be better to make sure that every time your puppy wakes up during the day and immediately after each meal is put outside, you should go with it and when it has been clean, you give it lots of praise. During the night it can be either put into a cage with water as a puppy will be reluctant to soil it's bed, or you could do what I do, which is get up during the night to let it out. Many people are very successful with training as they get the puppy used to going on newspapers, then as the puppy grows older the paper is moved out the door.
I really do not think you should be restricting your pups access to water at any time during the day or the night.