Encouraging a potty trained dog to go potty?

[alternate_universe]

I have my boyfriend’s 5 year old Sheltie for the week, until Friday night. He came to visit Saturday evening to get familiar with the house and family and did not go potty once in the 5-ish hours he was here, including while on a walk. He was officially dropped off last night. BF came with him around 5:30 and left about 8:30. Doggie never went potty while BF was here and has not gone yet. This dog has not relieved himself since atleast 4:30 yesterday. o_o

He is eating and drinking and did not cry last night at all. I took him out every hour before I went to bed and ended up taking him out 3 more times between about 1AM and 5AM. Still nothing now. I keep taking him to the same area of the yard and am tethering him so that he doesn’t feel like I’m following him around. It’s a long cord and he doesn’t seem to mind walking around on it. Just. Won’t. Potty.

Any tips at encouraging him? He has his full coat and it’s hitting the upper 80’s today so I won’t stake him out for extended periods of time. I plan on taking him for a walk later in the afternoon when it (hopefully) cools down a hair.

[bizbachfan]

Wow, I wish I could help. I have never heard of this with a dog. When I first got one of my horses she seemed very shy about peeing and it took her a few days. But a dog? Does your boyfriend have any advice? Also are you positive the dog has no relieved itself in the house?

[chestnutmarebeware]

Will he chase a ball? Or a stick? Or anything?

Once you get them running for a few minutes, well, poop happens!

I use this method anytime I’m heading out with the dog when it might not be convenient for them to “go” in the middle of the activity.

[alternate_universe]

No messes in the house. BF did say that he thinks doggie prefers to go potty at home. He has been to other family member’s houses for day trips and I guess he tends to hold it until he gets home.

Internet advice says to just keep taking him out every hour or so, just like when potty training a puppy. Guess he’ll have to go eventually, right? I’m just a bit worried that he’ll get himself constipated.

[LovelyBay]

I dog sat a friend’s dog for a weekend and I swear she didn’t eat/drink or go potty the whole weekend. I felt horrible, but the owner said the dog did this everytime she went out of town (which she did at least one weekend a month due to military duties). Hopefully things get better for you guys!

[alternate_universe]

That’s crossed my mind. But 1. I’m not letting him off leash, as he’s skittish 2. I didn’t plan on exercising him heavily in the daytime due to the heat, though it’s looking like I might have to now and 3. I kind of want to avoid having him charge around in the house since my two cats are still getting used to him and accepting the idea that he’s not going to hurt them.

I can take him down the street to a open field area and job him around… see if that works. It always did for a small dog I walked when I was a kid.

[Simkie]

If you get really desperate, you can matchstick him to get him to poop.

http://www.dogbehavioronline.com/potty-training-with-the-matchstick-trick/

A long, thin, light line might also be useful. I have dogs that often refuse to go potty on a leash. They do better on a very light long line.

[alternate_universe]

Well, we just got back from a 30 minute walk that including some running. Nothing. But he drank more water as soon as we got in the door.

At what point do I need to be genuinely worried?

[alternate_universe]

He’s out on a cable like this one…
http://assets.academy.com/mgen/84/10206584.jpg?is=500,500

We don’t have any matches. Do you think it would be work to cut the cotton off one end of a Q-tip and use that? Same size and not very hard.

[Simkie]

As long as HE’S holding it himself and it’s not like he’s trying to go and CAN’T…don’t worry. It will sort itself out. He physically can’t hold it long enough to hurt himself. Just keep giving him opportunities and it will happen eventually. I had a bitch that would NOT go on the leash, and I tried to wait her out one time. At about 36 hours with NOTHING, I finally gave in. She won and she was none the worse for wear

If you’re really worried, is it possible to take him back home to try to potty there?

You can try a qtip, but I think it’s the irritation of the match head that makes that technique effective.

[Roxyllsk]

Shelties tend to be on the shy side with stuff - does he walk well on a leash ? If so, then take him for a spin or 2 around the neighborhood. I would put a few treats in your pocket too in case he doesn’t want to walk.

My younger sheltie needs a little walkin’ before he will poop, especially if he is someplace that he’s not familiar with - he tends to hold it.

[alternate_universe]

Turned out we had matches so I tried that. Absolutely nothing.

He walks great on a leash so that’s not a problem. I do think he likes his privacy. He is normally let out loose at home and comes back to the door when he’s done. We can’t do that here though.

[Houndhill]

Sometimes even a lubricated thermometer…is he not peeing either?

[Houndhill]

Can you take him to a place where you know other dogs have eliminated?

[lovey1121]

I’ll add walking him around where other dogs are and where they eliminate. The smell may help stimulate him.

One thing you can start and BF should continue is to start using a cue phrase whenever he poops or pees. Repeating it before, during and after, adding “GOOD cue phrase!!” with praise and a treat will help him recognize what he’s to do out there, wherever he is. I use “Hurry up”, and start this on puppies immediately. Since I also board dogs, I teach the cue phrase to all, and they all get it fairly quickly.

I also know a female who held everything for the entire car trip from northern NJ to Jacksonville FL:eek: She was also fine.

I’ve used kitchen matches, regular matches, even the stem of a leaf once:cool: If placement doesn’t get things going, walk a bit. If there’s still no progress, pull it out. Often the removal will get the train moving down the tracks;) Though if he’s skittish, I’d be inclined to let Nature take care of it, rather than freak him out more trying to hit his bullseye. He WILL poop. Hopefully its outdoors:yes:

[LibertyRun]

Geesh guys-no matchstick! Try the thermometer or a Qtip WITH the cotton on. In about an inch and tenderly move it if you need to. Most of the time the stimulation going in is enough to get things started. I know because I had a dog I had to do this with. Be gentle. I’m sure your guy will go sooner or later. As far as the peeing goes- if he stands you might miss it in the long coat. Good luck!

[LibertyRun]

I just read you tried a matchstick- it’s not big enough. The rough cotton of the Qtip or the thermometer’s larger diameter stimulates the anus as you gently push it thru, that’s what makes them go.

[alternate_universe]

He squats to pee so I don’t think I’ve missed anything. He did sit down outside a few times, but just a normal sit down and smell the air type thing.

I’ll consider trying a Qtip later… not really a fan of sticking things up the butt of a dog that isn’t mine. :lol:

[RobinL]

He may hold it until it’s ready to fall out. I wouldn’t worry about it, it will happen. The chi mix I worked with last year went 36 hours without pooping on leash, until he just couldn’t hold it any longer. In the crate, and outside (he was happy to poop inside.) Off leash and he was a happy camper (or at the park, he would go multiple times on leash there). Got him to a home where they had a fenced yard…

[alternate_universe]

He finally peed! And on leash too! I ran laps around the house with him like an overgrown child… the things we do for our SO’s.