Puppy only will only wee in our garden

[3teens2cats]

Our 5 month old pup has not had any accidents in the house for a couple of weeks now which is ace. We take him out at certain times of the day and in between he asks to go out if necessary. My worry is that he will not pee/poo when out and about. He will hold it until we get home. The only exception to this is my mum's house where he has visited frequently. We are taking him on holiday with us end of next week so he is going to have to go in all sorts of new places. Any tips on how I can help him?

[stucknoue]

They will go when they need to, mine needs quiet, he won't go on busy streets but will behind bushes - we think he likes privacy

[Jouska]

Does he wee and poo whilst he is on the lead in your garden?

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Mine was like this when he was little. Eventually he just had to go as we were out much longer than usual. He’s still picky about where. He won’t wee at his doggy daycare (only goes for two hours) - does a huge one when he comes out with us.

[3teens2cats]

I haven't used the lead in the garden since the first few days of having him. I could try to see. His walks are relatively short as he is still young, he probably just doesn't need to go. Yesterday we went to a family member's home for over 4 hours and he didn't go. Their garden wasn't secure so he had to be on the lead there.

[billybagpuss]

It’s where he feels safe, when dogs pee/poo they are vulnerable so instinctively try and choose their place. As he gets older and has longer walks and more confidence it will improve. Try and start connecting words to it so you can command/encourage him to go other places.

[Jouska]

It may just be the lead that is preventing him from weeing when out and about.

I would get him used to weeing and pooing in the garden with a lead on and a command then see if he can transfer this to out and about.

[SK166]

Ours was the same initially. He would get really upset towards the end of the walk, wanting us to pick him up and carry him home so he could wee/poo in safety! Bless him. Eventually we had to just force the issue by keeping him out (in the park, initially) until he couldn’t hold it any more and had to go, then we made a huge fuss, loads of praise, plenty of treats. He got it eventually. He still prefers to go on grass if at all possible and will sometimes hold it if he’s on the building site with my husband but if he really has to go then he will.

[NemoIsLost]

Ours has only just starting weeing outside of the garden, he's 7 months. previously he would rush in from his walk and straight out the garden to pee
I was told it's a normal puppy thing as they get Used to their environment. They feel secure weeing in their own safe place.
Even now ours fafs about for a bit before finding the ideal spot in the park.

[3teens2cats]

Thank you everyone. I do use a command word which we use for routine wees at home and I will try using the extending lead in our garden too. Eventually he will have to go once we are away so we will be ready with the treats and praise.

[pigsDOfly]

My dog will never wee or poo anywhere other than grass. We walk in the street a lot but she'll hold it until she can find somewhere grassy.

At 8 years old she still prefers her own garden for pooing and prefers me to stand and wait while she poos; although she can go if I'm not waiting.

She can take forever running back and forth and turning round to get the absolutely best place. If I walk away to do something else while she's looking she'll come into the house and look for me; always makes me smile when she pokes her head round the door looking for me.

Animals are very vulnerable to attack when pooing, so it's understandable that it can take young ones a while to feel confident going anywhere.

Lots of treats and praise and reassurance and you'll get there OP.

[mumofthree321]

Ours did exactly the same when a puppy - she'd go on a nice walk, come home then whine to go in the garden to the toilet! We were just patient and the day she went to the toilet on a walk we showered her with so much praise and treats she couldn't wait to do it again! I reckon she was about 9 months old, possibly older. It was bizarre as we've never had this with our other dogs :)

[RedHelenB]

Tbh it just happened naturally with my ddog. It was like you said bit once he learned to cock his leg he copied other dogs and now only pops in the garden if hes really desperate. He does his first and last wee in the garden and otherwise it's on his walk.