Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have a 15 year-old sheltie that will only potty in our backyard. He walks fine on a leash but won't potty when on it. Even if we let him off leash in a field he won't go. We want to take him on our vacation but are afraid he'll hold it too long. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I would take him on vacation, eventually he'll go. We took our 14 year old dog on a trip over the holidays. It snowed and she had no interest in peeing or even walking in the snow, flat out refused to go. Like many dogs, she preferred to do a lot of sniffing around before she picked a spot so shoveling out a small area down to the grass wasn't doing the trick. We tried taking her out a few more times and we were about to give up for the night when she decided to finally go.
A healthy dog can hold it a surprisingly long time. I once had to take my dog on a 5 day ferry trip. Pets had to ride in their owners' cars. The ferry crew announced a pet relief period every 4 hours so owners could let them out, walk them around the car deck to do their business, then provided supplies to clean up afterward. There were other dogs on my ship including a lovely but nervous golden retriever. He absolutely refused to get rid of anything. Obviously his owners were worried, but that dog didn't go for days. He seemed fine. His owners would even track down me down and follow behind as I walked my dog hoping their golden would get the idea and relax (my dog wasn't phased by the boat...let 'er rip whenever the urge popped up in her mind). Finally on the 3rd day the ferry docked in port long enough for them to walk him on shore. When they re-boarded, all of them looked very relieved!
You can start "suggesting" when is the right time to poop. Feed him on a schedule, let him out on a schedule...usually about 20 minutes after a meal. Every time you let him out in the yard and he starts to go, immediately call out "Go Potty!" (or whatever phrase you don't find too silly ), then praise/reward him for doing so. Eventually he'll associate the command with the act in his mind. Over time, give him the command first to get his mind thinking about it. It might help him do his business whenever your routine or location changes.
Thanks so much for the info Parnassia. If he were younger, I wouldn't hesitate, but still concerned because of his age. We need to take him different places before we go away and try and get him use to going other places. Thanks again.
Thanks so much for the info Parnassia. If he were younger, I wouldn't hesitate, but still concerned because of his age. We need to take him different places before we go away and try and get him use to going other places. Thanks again.
Yes, he's older. Are you sure he would handle the routine upsets travel would cause? If change stresses him to this degree he might be happier at home with a pet sitter or neighbor checking on him. There are OTC and herbal travel stress relievers available that might take enough of the edge off. Just another approach to consider.
I'd prefer to keep him home but he wakes us up at 6 am and needs to go out no earlier than 10 pm. I haven't been able to find a pet sitter to come those hours. I decided to cancel the trip unless somehow I can find a sitter for those hours.
Bring some poop in a ziplock baggie, and go put it where you want him to go. They will go where it smells familiar.
You can also google "matching" dogs to get them to poop. They do it with show dogs before they go in the ring, so they don't poop in there. Basically its ibserting a matchhead into the dogs anus before walking. It makes them think they need to poop, so they go.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
), then praise/reward him for doing so. Eventually he'll associate the command with the act in his mind. Over time, give him the command first to get his mind thinking about it. It might help him do his business whenever your routine or location changes.
