My 10 month old GSD, Carbon, has this really odd habit of refusing to pee or poop anywhere except in our yard. While this sounds like a good thing (no need to clean up on walks, etc.) it does have its drawbacks.

For example, the other day I had to bring him with me so I could help out with the family business. He was next to me the entire time and he did not pee or poop once in 11 hours! I would take him to the appropriate spots and give the "go potty" command (which he follows very reliably at home) and he would just pace and whine at me.

On the half hour ride home that night he was whining like crazy, and so I stopped to let him get busy. Still more whining and pacing, but no peeing or pooping.

When we fnially got home, he raced to the latrine area of his yard and peed for a VERY long time. Poop followed a few minutes later.

This is not an isolated event...he has NEVER once peed or pooped outside of his familiar area.

I've done some reading on it, and some sources say that it's a kickback to their wolfy instincts: The idea is that until the pups are mature, they are a liability to the pack. The theory goes that if the pups urinate outside of the safety of the den area then other predators or rival packs might trace the pups to the den and kill the pups (and endanger the rest of the pack). So, until the pups reach sexual maturity and can actually help protect the pack, they will only pee in the "latrine area."

So! I thought I'd put this out there and see if anyone has had similar issues with their dogs, and/or if anyone has heard of this theory. Any validity to it? This is the first dog I've ever encountered that does this. I will say that from day one he's been the easiest dog to housetrain that I've ever had. He had ONE accident in the house and from then on has been 100% reliable.

I have to admit, it's kind of a pain in the butt if we want to go anywhere away from home. I'm sure if it went on long enough, he'd just have to go no matter where he is...but not having his "spot" available to him seems to really stress him out.

Amber,

I go through that as well. I took the female GSD pup that I have to the NAPWDA conference this past week and I left at 4am on Sunday morning, she did not "potty" until 6pm on Monday and this is with drinking water and eating.
When she finally went, she peed FOREVER!!!! She then pooped on Tuesday morning.
It was a challenge all week to get her to go, but she did not mess in her crate and by the end of the week she was going more frequently.

What if you took Carbon away from his area and just waited him out? Take something that is movable that he "marks" and place it in a different spot maybe? Move a pile of his poo to a new spot?

Not sure if it will work, but maybe it is worth a shot?

Hi Amber,

I have experienced the same thing with my 8 mos female GSD. She is currently being kenneled due to my travel schedule and when I called to check on her, they said she didn't poop or pee on until late Sunday evening (dropped her off Sat. afternoon) but that she was eating and drinking. She didn't go in the kennel run - just held it.

Tessa will sometimes go when we are walking - I have encouraged this and she only goes if I haven't let her out in the yard prior to the walk.

Does he pee when you walk him?

 Quote: carol boche

What if you took Carbon away from his area and just waited him out? Take something that is movable that he "marks" and place it in a different spot maybe? Move a pile of his poo to a new spot?

I could certainly do this if the new place was one that we visited frequently. But since it changes all the time I don't know how that would work out unless I kept a stash of poo in my car for "emergencies." He doesn't mark anything in particular. He hasn't even started lifting his leg yet. Grass is pretty much all he'll pee on.

I'm hopeful that when he hits maturity this will all change. I'm glad to know someone else has a dog that does this...I've never heard of it before. I suppose if this is the biggest problem I have with Carbs then I'm doing pretty well!

 Quote: amber morgan

I'm hopeful that when he hits maturity this will all change. I'm glad to know someone else has a dog that does this...I've never heard of it before. I suppose if this is the biggest problem I have with Carbs then I'm doing pretty well!

I agree with you. He will get there.

You could still try and wait him out though and see what happens.....I know that when I took the male pup for walks with my Dutchie, that is what got him to "go" in different places as he would go where the Dutchie would go....I cannot remember if your Corgi is a male or female, but maybe that would work????? But then again, maturity plays a part there as far as marking territory goes......

I feel so bad for poor Carbon, problably trying so hard to be good and hold it to go in the spot he thinks is 'right'. Seems like if he has never done it before, he is not sure he is allowed?

I am quite jealous your dog is not a leg lifter. Carefull what you wish for! The first time mine lifted his leg he was probably 12 weeks old and he lifted and peed on a lady holding a little toy poodle girl

He is a chronic marker given the opportunity (although he never peed on another person and has never marked indoors) He is even altered but it makes no difference.


Since you say he has NEVER once peed outside of the yard, I am for trying Carol's experiment. What if instead of letting him into the yard one morning, you just took him out on a leash for a walk. Let him get things moving a little and then bring him to a grassy area and put down a peice of newsprint that you soaked up some pee with from the yard the day before as a scent post? I really like the idea of having Carbon follow another dog that is marking to see if it might get him to go? Maybe wait him out just once so he can learn it is okay?

I would definatley agree you are doing well if this is the only problem you are having!

 Quote: Jennifer Coulter

I really like the idea of having Carbon follow another dog that is marking to see if it might get him to go?

He frequently walks with our Corgi who marks like it's the most thrilling thing on the planet. Carbon has zero interest.

I don't mean to make it sound like a big deal...it's not something that I'm worried about or anything. Just thought it was a little odd and was wondering if it was at all common. Also, I thought that the theory of it being a residual wild dog thing was pretty interesting, too. I mean, there's got to be a reason why he does it because it certainly doesn't look like he enjoys holding it.

Every single time I bring him out anywhere I bring a bag...just in case. I'll bet that the one time I don't bring it will be the time that he decides to poop on someone's lawn! I'm pretty sure Murphy's Law applies to dogs, too!

The theory is pretty interesting....got any links to articles at all? Maybe that is why my pup is stubborn also...the wild little brat!!!

Have to admit though, going only in one spot sure makes clean up easy though....

Yes,
I have the same problem with 9 month old Pup Fred. Only in the 7 months that i have had him has he never peed on a walk or outside the Garden, He has never pooped once When he gets home he will poop or pee in his Pen, I have tried keeping him out for a fairly long time
When he goes Training he is away from Home at least 2.30 hours, but never pees or Poops Somehow i must get him to do his business when he needs to go not hold it
Commands to pee or poop have no effect on him, It really is not natural

I was getting around to this very topic.

Starbuck does not like to pee or poop away from the house either. When she was VERY young (8-9 weeks) she would pee if we were out on a walk. At some point, I don’t remember exactly when, she stopped doing it.

We went on two long car rides over the last two weeks. Here is a quick outline:

• Pee and Poop in the morning after breakfast, this is her normal schedule.

• 3-4 hour ride in the car before lunch.

• We stopped for about an hour for lunch at a big park. Lots of walking around and sniffing, but she would not go pee.

• Another 2 hours in the car.

• Back to the park for another 1.5 hours, still no pee.

• 1 Hour drive home and she went pee as soon as she hit the grass.

On Day 2 I stopped a 3rd time on the way home and she actually went pee in that park after about 30 minutes. Lots of praise and a good treat.

I’m not sure if it is more of a “pee away from home” or “pee on the leash” problem for me. I’m going to make her pee more often on the leash at home.