Rescue dog won't do her business on a leash?

by **warton26** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:16 pm

Okey dokey, I have a fairly common problem on my hands!
4 days ago, we rescued an 8 month old German Shepherd/Airedale/Shar Pei mix. She is the calmest, sweetest girl, comes when I call, isn't destructive, yadda yadda, cutest dog in the world (I'm slightly biased).
The concern I have right now is the fact that she NEVER pees or poops on a leash. Ever. I'm sure she does it when I let her out, but we have five acres so I never catch her at it. This is becoming a problem because a) she has no recall for my husband so he can't just let her out - she won't come home (we will work on that - it has only been 4 days!) , and b) when I get home from a late shift (around 11pm or so) I don't want to let her out to run free on the off chance she won't come home. A midnight dog hunt sucks and there are bears and cougars in the area.
At the moment, she will not let my husband approach her with a leash to take her for a walk. She doesn't like men yet. Our shifts overlap in a way that the dog is only home alone for an hour a day, which is ideal but...... she will ONLY let me take her for a walk, and then she won't pee on the walk because she refuses to pee on a leash!
How can I help her get over this whole potty shy issue? We live fairly close to a major city, too, so whenever we take her outside of our property she has to be leashed.

by **kyledyr** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:22 pm

My dog used to be like that, she will just get used to it on her own. it took my dog a year to get over it.

by **delron** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:29 pm

Usually, with time your dog will get used to going to the bathroom while on a leash. It would be best to do a few different things to help speed the process along though. 1. Whenever you do walk her, or let her outside, use a command that lets her know that it is time to go to the bathroom. For example, you can say, "Go potty." 2. Try to learn her schedule and when she might go. This might be really hard for you since you have so much land. But if you can do it, it's ideal. That way, you can put her leash on and take her outside around those times in hopes that she will go to the bathroom. 3. When you do walk her, have a treat handy. Use positive treat reinforcement to help her learn. Every time that she goes to the bathroom while on the leash, give her a treat. Some times, if she does go pee and poop on the same walk, break the treat in half. That way, she is still getting rewarded. I hope this all helps! :)

by **adaya** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:37 pm

Training and time...keep it positive and light and give her time. She's still a puppy, and as a rescue you have no idea what her past experiences have been. If you can't afford to fence your whole property it's still a good idea to fence a portion so that she can have a safe area to explore on her own, especially with the other critters you have in the area (which is why I'm not a fan of electric fences which MAY keep your pets inside the fence but does nothing to protect them from others entering.)

When you're out walking, especially if you're fairly sure she needs to eliminate, take her to areas that you know other dogs frequent and have her smell what they've left behind...it will encourage her to mark as well and each time a dog smells that it triggers a chemical reaction in their brain to do it again...enough times and she will get the idea and hang of it. Be patient!

by **toryn34** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:38 pm

Some dogs truly are just shy. Sounds silly but it's true. Try a very long leash and turning his back on her when she slows or stops. You may also want to consider having your husband let her out on a lead when your not home.

Best of luck

by **tim** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:48 pm

Don't let her out. She is to always ve leashed outside until she has a solid recall for everyone in the house. The dog needs training. In no way should she be allowed to boss husband around. Enroll in obedience classes.

by **arvad** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:49 pm

Your dog is still decompressing from a stressful move to a new home, new owner, etc.etc. Give it time and she'll respond well..

by **leland** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:53 pm

There is some information in general on shy and nervous dog at www.peggyswager.com. You might want to read the article Shy or Abused that has a link at the bottom of that information. Perhaps you will recognize some of the issues you are seeing.
With some of the dogs I have worked with that have fear issues similar to yours, I find it helps to have your husband sit or even lay on the floor. Stay there until the dog settles down and then work to coax her over. Rub under the chin, not on the top of the head. You may also want to do this.

To solve the potty on the leash issue--The Poodle I've had for a year has only peed once when on a leash. We've taken him for 5 plus mile walks and he will hold things until he gets back to his potty pen. My suggestions is to go onto Craig's list or down to Home Depot. Buy some 6' high chain link fence panels and put up a small potty pen outside your door. Our potty pen is 6 x 18'. And yes, I also have almost 6 acres. I have about 2 acres fenced around the house, but didn't let any rescues run until I trained a reliable recall.

by **taryn31** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:56 pm

Same with my dog, and he wouldn't go while on the walk and then one day I seen it, he went poo while walking, real fast drop drop while walking wow! no? that poo belongs to another dog is what I always thought until one day I seen it with my own eyes! poo poo! 2 and 2

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