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Puppy Won't Potty In Public. Poos In Car!


IncrediJack
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My seventeen-week-old golden has never done his business when we are out and about. On walks, he plays stubborn mule, until I walk him back to our own house, where he'll relieve himself. Twice he has refused to go at preschool, held onto it for as long as he could, and ended up pooing in the car! The first time, he barked, and I pulled over just in case, trying to entice him to potty with a treat. He didn't. So we got back in the car, and a few minutes later . . . Then last night, he pooed again in the car but without warning. I have always been very encouraging with him, "Telling him good boy potty outside" and offering him treats, so I don't know why he is so shameful/shy?? Other than this, he is completely housebroken. Help!!

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Use a word for toileting, so your pup knows what you want of him.

Doesn't take long for them to make a connection, though it's a bit like going backwards in toilet training.

I use the command, "Potty." He's fine at home, but when he's on the lead, the command doesn't work so well.

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Do you have him on his leash to do his business at home?

No, perhaps this is the problem?

I would say a part of it.

Could be worth going back a few steps in his toilet training ... crate him for a while so that he gets a build up in bladder and bowel, take him out on lead, and stand like a boring post until he does his business, say your toilet cue when you see he's about to do the business, then reward him with treats, games, a walk and so on afterwards. If he realises he gets to do fun stuff AFTER toileting on lead, won't take him long to start to do it for you.

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Do you have him on his leash to do his business at home?

No, perhaps this is the problem?

I would say a part of it.

Could be worth going back a few steps in his toilet training ... crate him for a while so that he gets a build up in bladder and bowel, take him out on lead, and stand like a boring post until he does his business, say your toilet cue when you see he's about to do the business, then reward him with treats, games, a walk and so on afterwards. If he realises he gets to do fun stuff AFTER toileting on lead, won't take him long to start to do it for you.

Will do. Thanks.

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If a little bit worried, I've found my dogs generally hold it in. If very stressed, animals tend to evacuate.

If he's worried about being out, that could inhibit it too. (what an insightful question as usual tony)

In your possie I'd look at reviewing toilet training on lead as described. I'd also be confining him before I go out, taking him out to potty on lead, and rewarding him when he does it, before going anywhere. If he's stressed about going out, I'd be giving plenty of rewards/play before going out, or he might associate going potty with then doing something stressful, which would have the opposite effect to that which you are after.

Re the car ... lots of tiny little trips, and also just being in the car with rewards/pats/attention without going anywhere. Pooing in the car may be stress related. (Evacuation when stressed)

My Cedar, when young, used to vomit all the time and became very stressed about being in the car ... I would take her with me on twice daily school runs of only a kilometre or so, and that helped. As well as lots of visits in the car without going anywhere. She's still not as keen as the other dogs (who are drawn to the open car like magnets) but is now a happy and non-sick traveller.

Edited by sidoney
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Our female sheltie was reluctant all her life to go to the toot anywhere else except her own backyard. Nothing could persuade her otherwise. Probably only ever, if she were bursting after hours & hours out.

She lived until she was 15 yrs....so her bladder & bowel must have stood up well.

The male sheltie was the opposite....every 20 feet, when outdoors....he'd mark something.

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How does he travel in the car? On a harness or what. I always travel my pups in the car in their crate. They seem to feel safer and more secure that way and if their is a mess its not such a headache to clean up. We had a JRT years ago that was very travel sick as a puppy and the only way to travel was in her box. Even when she grew out of the sickneest she still stayed in the crate in the car and she used to get really excited whenever we carried it out of the house and jump in and out until we started driving and she was shut in so she obviously didn't have any bad feelings towards it.

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....... is only just starting to enjoy walks without being lured.

Be careful not to overexercise young pups. Large breeds really don't need any more than 15 minutes formal walk on lead + play at home.

You have to take a little care with their growing bones. Overexercising is thought to worsen very mild hip dysplasia.

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