My pup refuses to use his designated area for potty breaks. How do I get him to use it on a regular basis?

Question

Dear Ed,

    I have backed myself into a corner (handler error).  We have a 10 week old Ridgeback who is crate trained.  He does not need to 'go' in the night.  He easily last 1 to 2 hours between each potty break and is once a week left for 3 hours alone in his crate while we are out, no problems.  I made the mistake of not taking him on leash to a 'special corner' in the first two weeks, but just let him free range in our large back yard, its all grass (I think the breeder did that too).  I read your eBook 'Common Sense Solutions', now I have out some pebbles out, but he refuses to 'go' at that spot (now always on leash).  He will 'go' anywhere but there; I stand at the pebbles doing and saying nothing, (occasionally 'Potty Time') and he pulls very hard to move somewhere else, I am presuming wanting, to find somewhere else to relieve himself. 

    He would always go pee and poop each time we go out; today he is ?refusing to go at all, I am afraid of an impacted bowel or something if I push him to hard to go at that spot.  Do I just take him out regularly until he has to go at the pebbles, or should I ease him into this designated spot some how?

    Another question.  He has just had his second round of vaccinations, the Vets say we can't take him into public, not even around the block to exercise until the shots are finished in early August, not a lot of exercise for a high energy puppy, what are your thoughts on this?

    I am having trouble differentiating poop time and bonding time when we go out.  No matter when we go out, he still relives himself.  Can you point me in the right direction here?

    Thanks for your time,
David

Accepted Answer

David, I think (and its only a guess) that you have a couple of things going on here.

The pup probably does not like walking on the pebbles or stones. I would start to toss little treats into the stone area or toss a toy in there and play with him around it. Don’t force the issue but just keep trying. Bottom line is you may have to designate a corner of the yard where there is grass – we have a place called the grassy knoll that we use.
The not pooping or peeing may be an issue with the vaccinations. DO NOT VACCINATE YOUR DOG AGAIN. Frankly not for anything and not ever. Read my article on Vaccinosis. Its also in free ebook. We don’t vaccinate our dogs for rabies – if your dog bites someone it will need to be quarantined at home for 10 days. Just don’t let him bite someone. The rabies vaccine is a terrible vaccine on dogs (contrary to what BS Vets tell you) The older and more experienced I get the more disgusted I get with the vast majority of Vets.
To get him to pee you may want to try giving him a chicken broth. The more liquids the pup drinks the more they will pee.
Don’t worry about the poop time and play time. What I do is take the dog out in the morning first thing AND THAT’S NOT PLAY TIME. If I come home after three hours and take him out THAT’S NOT PLAY TIME. Bottom line is YOU are the one who determines if its poop or play time – if the dog poops of pees in play time – just tell them GOOD OUTSIDE and go on with the play.