Won’t pee when walking on the lead.

[AndrewK]

Hi Everyone,

As some of you may be aware, my dog Oskar is a 10 month old neutered male.

Has anyone had a problem with their dog not peeing when walking on the lead?

On a walk he just refuses to pee, let him off and he’ll run off and do his business and then come back. If not let off the lead, he’ll wait to he’s home and then go in the back garden.

Now I can appreciate he might have a little modesty, and on the face of it, it doesn't seem to much of an issue.

However the problem lies when he goes into kennels. We first put him into a kennel in September and we were telephoned before collection by the keeper that he was severely covered in pee. It was so bad that even his fur was knotted and we had to take him to a dog groomer to get him bathed and have the knots shaved off.

The kennel owner explained that he wouldn’t relieve himself during the exercise period and would only do so in the privacy of his pen with the result that he got himself covered in his urine when lying down.

Having been concerned he wasn’t being cared for properly, we found a different place for him to stay on the second occasion we had to go away. This new kennel was a world apart in our opinion from the first place he stayed.

However the same scenario repeated itself.

On this occasion we were more fortunate as they also had a grooming facility and cleaned him up (free of charge) before we collected him.

Does anyone have any advice (or a similar problem) for us to try and encourage him to wee on the lead or in the presence of strangers?

I’m not sure if this connected, but he won’t cock his leg either.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks,

Andrew

[Sheebs]

Hiya

When Sheebs was younger she refused to anything when we were out on our walk but the minute we got back she would cry to go out and use our garden. It is something she has grown out of and will now go wherever and whenever she chooses

I can't comment about the kennel thing, as she was a rescue dog I haven't had the heart to put her in one yet.

My brother who also has a GSD said Murphy is the same, and would only poo at home!

Hope this helps.

Sue & Sheebs x

[GypsyGSD]

Yes this is quite common, given time things will improve, do you give a command when he goes I always say be quick then reward this can be of great use when we are going on a long journey as my dogs go before they get into car, Gyps my bitch would never go away from home but as she grew it all changed, as for cocking his leg again this will come in time. If you train with a command it might help when he goes into kennals as they can use and reward your chosen words to encourage him to go when on exercise

[LOVEGSD]

Hello

Diesel did the same, would only go in my garden but like Sue said he grew out of this and did start to go out on the walk leaded or not, he would get loads of praise when he did. I do find though that he'll pee whilst on the lead but he'd never poo and in fact only likes to poo on grass now.

It sounds like the first kennels were awful, thank god you've now found somewhere else to take him.

Do you use a word when you let him out to go? I use "be quick" and have done ever since Diesel was small, now wherever he is if I say that he'll have a wee.

Lynn
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[GypsyGSD]

we must have cross posted same advice

[LOVEGSD]

Originally Posted by GypsyGSD

we must have cross posted same advice

LOL...so we did!!

[Wooferhound]

Poor chap, I think I'd be inclined to report the kennels to be honest, sounds bloody awful! Almost sounds as though someone 'not in charge' was letting you down gently, disgusting that they'd leave him in such a state!

He'll overcome this with time, don't pressurise him when you're out on lead walks though, this can cause them to clam up even more, just make a fuss, and as has been said, put a cue word in and praise with it, he'll soon learn that all is well again.

I don't use kennels either, I have a dog sitter who takes them in with her, a much nicer way all round, although holidays are rare without them!

Jo
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[AndrewK]

Hi,

Thank you all for your advice and tips.

It seems this is fairly common, I’m encouraged that he may grow out of it. When he was very young and toilet training, we did use the command “clean boy” and this seemed to work. Unfortunately we didn’t carry on with the command once he was used to going outside.

We’ve now started saying “hurry” every time we see him pee and give a reward, or a hug if we have no treats.. which results sometimes of pee-ie feet on us!!

Regarding the issue of the first kennel we put him in. This was during the period we were having doubts about keeping him - or as we said, a bit of respite and time to take stock!

The day after we got him back, an officer from Kent Police’s Dog Unit came to see us over rehoming and I can say he was not impressed with Oskar’s appearance or the kennel in question. He did take details and was sympathetic that there was no bad treatment of Oskar on our part. He also offered a wealth of advice.

I also spoke to our trainer (who’s very well known and experienced GSD’s handler in the Orpington area) and he was equally annoyed.

In the end, we felt so sorry for Oskar that this was actually the catalyst for us keeping him.

Thanks once agin to all and I look forward to learning more on the forum!

Regards,

Andrew

[Wooferhound]

Excellent news Andrew!

He'll soon come around, he's still a young lad with a way to go, he'll certainly show you just how good and loyal he is with time!

Jo
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[LOVEGSD]

I'm looking forward to hearing more about Oskar and of course seeing pics

Lynn
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