8 mo Feist/Cocker mix

Question
QUESTION: Greetings.  I didn't see this addressed in your past answers and if I missed it, forgive the redundancy.

Have an 8 month old Feist/Cocker Spaniel mix; name is Tulip.  She went into heat at 7 months and bled for almost 3 weeks before I paid extra to get her fixed (ruined all of my bedsheets).  That was Friday.  I knew that in being a smaller breed than my female 18 mo GSD, Athena, I expected a longer potty training time.  At the beginning she had to go every 1/2 hr or so but after medicine for a UI she went up to an hour or so between bathroom needs.  She still gets me up every night at least once to potty.  I've tried no water, no heavy playing, etc. before bedtime but it's made no difference.  Most of the visits are for short little "squirts."  I didn't have near this problem with my GSD, although the mutt seems to have a much better digestive system than the pure breed.  My GSD quit sleeping on my bed when she kept rolling off and, because of severe hip displaysia (since 3 months), she sleeps whereever she can get comfy; her own bed, the couch, etc.  The mutt (Tulip)sometimes sleeps on the bed and sometimes with the GSD on her bedding.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated but in your answer, please don't ask about crating.  No offense but they didn't exist 30 years ago and I hate to hear them referred to as such a "wonderful place" to put puppies in.

Thanks,
Roger

ANSWER: If an 8 month old isn't making it over night, and is only doing small squirts, it has a physical problem.  Better talk to your vet.  If he can't find a problem, perhaps try a different vet.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your Very Quick response!  However, I stupidly forgot to add that when I have to put her in the bathroom while I'm out, shopping or whatever, she has been in there for 4 or 5 hours and not gone.  Could she be afraid of accidently going or something psychological like that?  Does she "see" the bathroom as a big crate, but not so for the rest of the house?  Or am I just reading too much into it; like you said it's a physical problem?
Again, Thanks.

Answer
Even with some sort of a physical problem, she may be able to hold it the 4-5 hours in the bathroom.  Dogs ordinarily don't want to foul any area they are enclosed in.  If the bathroom is fairly small, it will reduce her activity which will make it easier to hold it.  I still think she needs to see the vet.