3 or more, they have 3 potty breaks, first thing in th morning, immeditly after they have breakfast, and immediently after they have supper. any other time they go out it up to them and it varys by dog, Perky rarley goes outside in the winter, but in the summer she likes to lay in the sun. Misty loves being outside for short periods of time for the main purpose and running along the fence barking. Happy only goes outside if she has to pee, and she is asking to come in again right away. Ripley it varys from day to day and Blair just likes to go outside so he can hide under the deck and bark