Dog will not go to toilet in the garden.

reeta

Hi, just looking for advice/tips. I have a three year old springer/cocker spaniel. She is a very nervous dog for no reason,we got her at 8 weeks and she has been well socialised etc. Anyway she is devoted to me and my OH and is a bit spoilt. She gets 4-5 walks a day and follows me everywhere. If I am in the house she wont go for a walk with anyone else. My main issue is she will not do "her business" in the garden,we have to bring her down the road to our local green area.I know this is a problem we somehow created, but I need to sort this before winter comes in, it is very hard having to go out late at night, especially if its raining.I suppose like most dogs she is a creature of habit, but I need to break this one. She was never great at going in the garden, she is out most of the day so she doesnt need to, but xmas 2011 my dad brought his dog over and he "left his mark in the garden", as a result she absolutely will not go since then.. Any tips !!

admcfad

I got a rescue dog 2 years ago, with the same problems as your dog. He would only toilet when out walking on the lead and would not go in the yard. I was advised to take my dog out the back and close the door whilst keeping an eye on him from the window and under no circumstances to let him back in the house until he had done his business, and then reward him with praise or a little treat. It worked in no time.....

tk123

I'm toilet training a puppy atm...could you maybe introduce a word/phrase when she goes on her walk rewarding and praising as well then after a few weeks try her with the magic word(s) in the garden?

reeta

admcfad wrote: »

I got a rescue dog 2 years ago, with the same problems as your dog. He would only toilet when out walking on the lead and would not go in the yard. I was advised to take my dog out the back and close the door whilst keeping an eye on him from the window and under no circumstances to let him back in the house until he had done his business, and then reward him with praise or a little treat. It worked in no time.....

Thanks a mil for your reply. If I put her out the back she would sit crying at the door (I know eventually she would go!). For some reason she sees the back garden as punishment !! Re tk123 advice I had also been thinking of word association with a treat when she goes when we are out walking and then after a while using that word in the garden. So I will try that, this time I will perservere, although I have a feeling she is silently laughting at me

reeta

tk123 wrote: »

I'm toilet training a puppy atm...could you maybe introduce a word/phrase when she goes on her walk rewarding and praising as well then after a few weeks try her with the magic word(s) in the garden?

Thanks for your reply, I am going to start doing that this evening when I bring her out walking. Sure the neighbours think there's something wrong with me as it is due to the conversations I have with her as we walk along

admcfad

I should have been clearer in my post...... tk123 is right, when she (your dog) :-), actually poops or pees when on her walks, then say the magic word, I use 'toilet', and give her a wee treat and loads of praise.
Then start putting her out the back on her own (if there is no danger of her getting out) saying the magic word as you put her out. (then follow the rest of my advice in my initial reply)..... My dog and I were so stressed until this worked and has made all the difference to our relationship..... Please try it, I was at my wits end with my wee dog, and it worked in no time.

tk123

reeta wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, I am going to start doing that this evening when I bring her out walking. Sure the neighbours think there's something wrong with me as it is due to the conversations I have with her as we walk along

Ah stop - next door had a party yesterday which started late afternoon and them out in the garden...me out with the puppy every hour or so putting her on the spot (have to keep reminding her because she either tries to lie down and go asleep or starts trying to play with a toy/leaf/dust etc) saying 'Busy!Busy!'' lol they must think I'm mad. We'll have her 2 weeks on tues and yesterday and today she's gone a good few times when I've said the magic words.

sambor

reeta wrote: »

Hi, just looking for advice/tips. I have a three year old springer/cocker spaniel. She is a very nervous dog for no reason,we got her at 8 weeks and she has been well socialised etc. Anyway she is devoted to me and my OH and is a bit spoilt. She gets 4-5 walks a day and follows me everywhere. If I am in the house she wont go for a walk with anyone else. My main issue is she will not do "her business" in the garden,we have to bring her down the road to our local green area.I know this is a problem we somehow created, but I need to sort this before winter comes in, it is very hard having to go out late at night, especially if its raining.I suppose like most dogs she is a creature of habit, but I need to break this one. She was never great at going in the garden, she is out most of the day so she doesnt need to, but xmas 2011 my dad brought his dog over and he "left his mark in the garden", as a result she absolutely will not go since then.. Any tips !!

First, how was mention before U should work with her about a toilet outside. Every time when she is doing toilet say toilet and give her reward. It will take few days or more to train her. Later u may try same thing in ur garden. Few tips: don't interrupt her toilet, don't look at her and don't do any big issue with this, also if would happened something wrong (toilet) in the house, just clean and don't react about this. u may try spray to train puppy do toilet outside (u can buy in any vet shop) - In my opinion u should back to basic toilet training with her. small steps, give her a time.
Also in my opinion she has symptoms (based on ur description) separation anxiety.
<snip>
Regards
Sambor

Do not advertise your services on this forum please, it is against the forum charter.
Do not reply to this edit on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB

gimmick

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056986992/1/#post85399662

Had the same issue with my cocker. It appears its a pretty common thing.

reeta

Thanks, read your link and realise it is more common than I thought. Yesterday I started praising her for doing a "wiz":) and giving her a treat when we were out, as suggested by tk123. When she associates the word with doing her business I will bring her out to the back garden and have the priaise and treat ready if by some miracle she "performs" I am adamant I will win this battle .....

Mr. Flibble

Bringing her poo back from the park to your garden may help. Dogs have a tendency to go near where they went before and this may trick her.

I'm currently training my dog to go on the pavement instead of the grass and I can walk about for 10 mins and get nothing but as soon as he sniffs his old poo he'll squat within a few seconds.

reeta

Mr. Flibble wrote: »

Bringing her poo back from the park to your garden may help. Dogs have a tendency to go near where they went before and this may trick her.

I'm currently training my dog to go on the pavement instead of the grass and I can walk about for 10 mins and get nothing but as soon as he sniffs his old poo he'll squat within a few seconds.

Thanks for that, will try that and see what happens.