Relieving himself when on a leash

[Ellen]

My Sheltie is a 20 month old fantastic dog. He was trained for conformation but grew to 18” and I was lucky enough to get him. The only problem is that he will not relieve himself when he is non a leash. We live on a large piece of property so it isn’t really a problem at home. It will be a problem if we travel with him. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Sharon7]

I've had that with pooping but not urinating. They sure don't want dogs going potty in the conformation ring so that's probably why. Maybe get him to go on a puppy pad, then use that as a target spot when you know he has to pee. Take him to the pad on leash and maybe he would get the idea. Hopefully others will have more/better advice. He's still young so he'll catch on eventually.

 

[Ann]

As Sharon said, this is typical of conformation dogs and underscored by the number of handlers and owners at a show marching back and forth outside endlessly trying to squeeze something out of them! That's why we train them to go on command which works most of the time.

I'd take him out on a leash on your property. Since you know he'll pee there, do it for a week or so and he'll get the idea that going while on the leash is OK. Even better, add a comand. I use "hurry up" or "go be good" ... just a phrase that you'll only use when you want him to perform. It makes life a lot easier when you're traveling!

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Just try try and try. Sca was VERY proper and would not go anywhere but his yard. We went to a Sheltie party where he had a grand time but did not relieve himself. I stopped 4 times on the way home the next day. Finally he gave out and about washed the Rest Area away . He got a little better after that but it took a lot of flyball trips before he got over it. Of course at events he still was very picky on where, to many dogs there first and it was unacceptable.

 

[Cindy]

Pico likes to pee on grass. He will hold it for hours! and then let loose for over a minute on Ice Plant by the beach for instance.
It just needs to be green I think (I guess that means he sees colors?). He will mostly pee for me on command, but we are working on it and he's 2 and a half.

 

[Caro]

Ugh, Kismet is now 5yrs old and still will not pee away from home. We did a lot of all day competitions and she would be so focussed and making mistakes int he afternoon because she was busting - in the end I had to only do local comps and bring her home for a pee at lunch time. Kismet grew up with other Shelties and both those girls actually marked all the times on walks. I have never had such a pee resistent dog, but I have run into a number of them - all females tho.

I think many dogs see us only go at home, in the one place, and they take that cue from us.

The one thing that has generally worked for my other dogs is for me to pee in front of them! And it has even kind of worked for Kismet - when we walk around the technical college there are two places that I peed on a walk and she will go pee in those places. It has definitely worked for my other dogs, although nowadays I'm older and there is CCTV everywhere (and I don't hike anymore) so there's less opportunities for me to do it.

You can try , whever the dog pees, to say a marker word - like 'toilet' and just keep repeating it everytime they go (just be careful, while you train, to say it while they toilet and not before - that caused me a whole heap of issues). Hopefully the dog will pick up on the word and you can say it while out. Also, I'd suggest hanging around with some long legged, less furry male dogs so your dog can see them marking when you are out. When the other dog goes to the toilet say your marker word and be happy about them peeing.