HELP! My 13 week old pup is great, sleeps through the night (7pm - 6am) without any accidents and toilets outside ok. If we go out in the car (he’s sometimes reluctant to get in) he’s fine, we generally go visiting pup/dog friends or for a run in the park BUT he will never wee while we’re out, possibly because its all too exciting, and has now started weeing in his car crate on the way home. Theoretically he could ‘hold it’ and I’ve tried using his indoor, smelly, bedding to see if that helps as he never wees in his bed but no difference. I use ‘hurry up’ when he wees outside at home and have tried to get him to wee before we get in the car but nothing!! Any ideas as I’d really like to sort this out. Thank you
My 10 week old puppy has the same issue with having a hard time peeing while he’s out of the house. He gets distracted easily – which is in his case miraculously the only time he shows some bladder restraint. When I’m about to head home with him I ask whoever I’m with to wait in the car and take him to the quietest area I can find, away from fun plants, people and car noise. Every time a loud car goes by or he finds a patch of grass he wants to chew on I have to calmly redirect him using “hurry up” (I’m extra still and gentle with my words so he picks up on being calm) – any distraction starts the clock again. He does eventually always pee before we head out but ONLY if everyone else is far enough away and the area is relatively distraction free long enough for him to do his business. I always factor in that this will take about 10 to 15 minutes. I’m sure in a month or two this will be less of a hassle. You might also have to stop more regularly on the way home to give him a better chance of going outside of the car rather than inside to break the cycle. Have you noticed a pattern in how long into the drive he usually pees, or is it always sporadic? Have you used a deodorizer in the car crate so his nose doesn’t pick up the pee scent?
Thank you Jessica, really helpful to know he’s not the only one! It does appear that everywhere outside the garden is just too distracting and our return journeys are short, from 5-15 minutes. I’ll certainly try giving him a bit more time to pee and direct him with ‘hurry up’ and also to try to get him to focus on me rather than the wonderful outdoors. Car crate has been cleaned and I was surprised that his bedding didn’t deter him as he never pees in his crate. Quiet persistence seems to be the key... Thanks
Puppies can be weird like that! One day last week my pup peed on his favourite napping pillow on purpose (and then tried to nap on it) and pooped in his bed. He hasn’t done it since but I couldn’t put my finger on why he thought it was a good idea in the first place.
Willow used to pee in the crate in the car going but was fine coming home. I got her to pee before getting in and this solved it. I think she was nervous of the car and crate as she never had a crate in the house. She is just in the back of the car now behind a dog guard she seems happier in the car now and she has more freedom. The car in a ford focus and the crate is too small for her to get in and out.
