When you are away from home with your dog and taking an outside potty break, keep him leashed any time he needs to potty near traffic or in unfenced areas. Some dogs like privacy, though, and are hesitant to eliminate if someone is standing near them.
Getting Your Dog Used To Pottying On-Leash
Home is the easiest place to start teaching your dog how to potty while being leashed. Home is usually where dogs feel most comfortable doing their business, so teach on-leash elimination there first.
Leash your dog when it's potty time, and take him to the area you want him to use for elimination. A 6-footer or retractable leash is best, as it allows you to stand a short distance away from your dog. Give the leash enough slack so that your dog doesn't feel pressure on his collar. This way, he won't feel crowded or restricted, and will be able to relax and relieve himself.
In a calm, friendly voice, say your dog's potty cue (a word that you command to remind him that it's potty time, such as “Go Potty”). Then, just wait while he sniffs around and picks the perfect spot. When he goes, praise him quietly and warmly, saying the potty cue as part of the praise phrase.
After your dog is comfortable eliminating at home while you hold his leash, take the show on the road. Start with on-leash walks that begin from home. Walk around your neighborhood or go to a dog-friendly park. This will let your dog smell where other dogs have been and will be a good way to introduce him to pottying when and where you suggest.
Potty In Public
Most adult dogs or older pups will eliminate wherever they smell other dogs' pee or poop. Some dogs, however, actually try to avoid relieving themselves where they smell the scent of dogs they don't know. This happens mainly with pups younger than 4 months old and dogs that are fearful or submissive around other dogs. These dogs don't feel safe or comfortable eliminating where strange dogs have marked.
Staking claims on territory by marking the perimeters and prominent landscape features with urine and feces is a natural, instinctive canine behavior. In canine society, dog's don't urinate over another dog's mark unless they consider themselves of equal or greater rank.
In nature, it's dangerous for a pup to wander far enough from the den to smell urine marks left by unknown dogs. A pup away from his home territory knowns he's out of his element and isn't inclined to leave his scent where strange dogs will find it. Instinct apparently tells pups it's safe to dot hat, because a puppy's urine scent will let other animals know that he's young and vulnerable.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.