What to Do When Your Dog Won’t Poop on Leash
Some pet owners will laugh at this subject, but many will understand the struggle of standing outdoors and waiting for nature to happen. In most cases, dogs won’t poop on leash. You need to teach them it’s okay to potty or poop while on a leash. It’s not natural for dogs to use the bathroom on leash because they’re used to having privacy in their backyard. You’re probably still giggling at this topic, but I can promise you that one day, you’ll need this dog training skill. 🙂
Why a Dog Won’t Poop on Leash
Attaching a leash to your dog changes everything. Your dog’s space suddenly becomes restricted, which can quickly frustrate him. You’ve probably heard about “leash frustration,” which occurs when a dog becomes extremely frustrated due to the restrictiveness of a leash (yes, it’s a real thing). I’m not saying you need to toss your leash in the trash because they’re still an important safety line, but you do need to teach your dog that leashes can be fun.
Understanding that dog leashes will restrict your dog’s personal space, you can see why your dog gets a bit creeped out pottying right next to you. 🙂 Most dogs head to the farthest corners of the backyard to poop in privacy, which I consider to be polite behavior that’s most appreciated. Try walking a dog accustomed to pooping in the backyard on a six-foot leash and expect him to poop. It’s almost impossible. It’s easy to see why your dog won’t poop on leash.
How to Teach Your Dog to Poop on Leash
This dog behavior can certainly be taught. I advise teaching your dog to poop (and pee) on a leash now rather than later. Anyone who’s traveled with her dog is probably familiar with walking around for hours until her dog finally pooped. Also, when your dog won’t poop on leash and holds it for days, he’s sure to explode.
If your dog rarely travels with you, and only poops in the backyard, then you’ll need to teach your dog to poop on leash because you may still need the skill someday. Most dogs will need some type of surgery, such as spaying or neutering, that require limited movement. It can also get frustrating when your dog won’t poop on leash during a blizzard or monsoon.
When your dog won’t poop on leash, you’ll need to take a step back to potty training 101. First, attach a leash to your dog’s collar. Then, grab several yummy treats and take your dog outside to potty in his favorite pooping area. Stand still and wait for it to happen. If it doesn’t happen within 5-10 minutes (it can take some time), then continue taking your dog out to potty on leash until it does. Lastly, be prepared to wait a day or two for your dog to poop on leash. Dress warmly if it’s chilly outside.
While we want to jump for joy when our dog finally poops on leash, keep quiet as your dog potties. The moment when stuff stops coming out, and before your dog stands up straight, say “yes.” Then, reward your dog with several treats. If you’d like, you can do the happy potty dance too.
To help stimulate your dog to poop on leash, take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood. However, in most instances, dogs will hold it until they get home. Walking through your neighborhood is certainly an option for teaching your dog to potty on leash, but I suggest teaching that behavior in the backyard as well.
Practice the Behavior
Now that your dog has learned to poop on leash, it’s time to keep practicing. At our house, we leash our dogs and take them out to potty in the backyard once a week to reinforce this behavior.