How can I convince Finn he can use garden?

We have now had Finn for 5 weeks, (8 year old black lab). He refuses to pee or poo in the garden. He must have a very large water tank, as he can drink 2 pints in one go, then settle down for a snooze. I take him out for 20minutes in the morning, an hour in the afternoon, then 20minutes before bedtime, when he duly does the necessary. I worry that it is not good for him to wait so long between pees! Can anyone help or tell me this is ok? Ideally I would like him to use the garden in between walks.

 

I wouldn't worry too much. My lab won't poo in the garden and has gone 24 hours without a poo because of it. @Dexter tried to get Dex to pee in the garden and he went for 24 hours without a pee I think!

If he's getting out three times a day for the loo and a few opportunities in the garden he'll go if he really needs to

 

Thanks for the quick reply, I feel better already!

 

Oh heck,no that was when he skinned his paw and had to wear the boots,he didn't poo for 24 hours ! ........he did last 12 hours when I was going through the garden toileting issue though

Here's the tale of my garden toilet training woes and all the ideas and things I tried if you want to do some work on it....

http://thelabradorforum.com/threads/toilet-training-dexter.5286/page-3#post-71782

I just gave up in the end....Dexter wees on his 3 walks and gets 2 toilet breaks in the park opposite our front door and we live with that now....

 

I'm not sure whether this means he pees each of the three times he's out or just the last time? Three times is probably ok at his age but I think once a day might be a concern. Have you taught him a word for his two functions? Mine are HURRY UP for pee, and FINISH for poop. LOL, I'm sure sometimes he fakes the hurry ups just to appease me.

 

Thanks for the link, I had a read and a laugh!

 

Mine have a poo mid afternoon, last pee at about 5pm and then not another one until mid morning next day! They can go in the garden if they want to, but don't!

 

He pees each time he goes out, so probably I'm worrying over nothing. Each time he pees, I praise him and repeat 'be quick', which worked when I last had a dog. Done this for 5 weeks, still no connection! Never mind, consensus seems to say all is well, which is the important bit.

 

Thanks, puts my mind at rest that no harm is being done.