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Original poster

Does anyone have a dog that is constantly peeing and sniffing on walks?

115 replies

asblindasabat · 24/09/2022 20:58

I have a 9 year old Springer Spaniel and as much as I love walking him, he constantly pulls on the lead towards grass/vegetation etc so he can sniff and pee.

Of course it’s normal for a dog to pee on a walk, but he keeps pulling me over to grass verges to do tiny pees when he could have had one only two minutes ago and then he continually pulls so that he can sniff the grass. He could spend about 5 minutes sniffing before he decides to have another pee.

It really makes walking him less enjoyable because I spend more time trying to stop him pulling me than actually walking.

is there any way I could try to stop this behaviour? And I don’t mind him sniffing the odd time, but it’s too excessive at the minute!

OP posts:
StrawberryPot · 24/09/2022 21:10

I can’t let him off the lead unfortunately. I tried that one time before and he is extremely disobedient and doesn’t come back for you.

Goodness - poor dog. Never been given any recall training so never let off the lead on walks. And owner complains about his normal doggy behaviour of sniffing and marking.

Imissmoominmama · 24/09/2022 21:10

How long have you had him?

BudgetBlast · 24/09/2022 21:10

When I got my dog originally he was an absolute disaster for this. In an hour we’d be lucky to cover 1km. I got him from a rescue and one of the volunteers came out and took him in hand, taught me to stop being so nicely, nice with him and he was a different dog after.

He was completely taking the piss out of me. Of course he still sniffs and pees, he is a dog, but now we easily get 6-7ks in an hour walk on top of the sniffing and peeing. It was done by improving his behaviour using a shorter lease, keeping him more under my control and then gradually when he stopped completely taking the piss letting him have more leash to play with. He is brilliant now. This can be improved.

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Original poster
asblindasabat · 24/09/2022 21:11

StrawberryPot · 24/09/2022 21:10

I can’t let him off the lead unfortunately. I tried that one time before and he is extremely disobedient and doesn’t come back for you.

Goodness - poor dog. Never been given any recall training so never let off the lead on walks. And owner complains about his normal doggy behaviour of sniffing and marking.

My DH takes him training. He is good, not excellent, at recall with DH but not with me.

OP posts:
Titsywoo · 24/09/2022 21:13

The sniffing is very important for them - more so than the exercise of walking. Let him do it and go for a walk by yourself for your own exercise.

CandyLeBonBon · 24/09/2022 21:14

He's a springer. They're gun dogs. Sniffing out kill and retrieving it is what they are bred for. It's very surprising that you have a 9 year old springer and don't know this!

StrawberryPot · 24/09/2022 21:15

My DH takes him training. He is good, not excellent, at recall with DH but not with me.

Dog trainers will tell you it's the owners they train not the dogs. You need to take the dog to training.

Msgrieves · 24/09/2022 21:16

I adopted a little blind westie who absolutely lived to sniff and wee, yes walks were a bit tedious, but what can you do. Let the poor dog be his best self. I used to have a lurcher who was all about exercise, frolicking in cornfields haha, I would never get a sniff and wee dog again, it is pretty dull.

Original poster
asblindasabat · 24/09/2022 21:16

CandyLeBonBon · 24/09/2022 21:14

He's a springer. They're gun dogs. Sniffing out kill and retrieving it is what they are bred for. It's very surprising that you have a 9 year old springer and don't know this!

I do know and as previously said, I don’t mind him sniffing but it’s getting ridiculous. I actually think he’s getting worse.

It’s constant. I wouldn’t mind it so much if he sniffed while we walked but he constantly stops and starts. It’s as if he is taking me for a walk!

OP posts:
Sparkletastic · 24/09/2022 21:16

My dog can be like this and it can be her trying to be 'in charge' on the walk. I keep her on a shorter lead for the first part of the walk, let her sniff and mark briefly, then a quick tug on the lead and a 'come on' command. Once we've covered some distance and she's off the lead or on a long lead I let her stop and sniff to her heart's delight. Then back to shorter lead and more consistent walking to heel for the journey home. They need discipline whilst still being given the opportunity to enjoy their walk.

FindingMeno · 24/09/2022 21:16

There really are all sorts on mumsnet 😂

countingdownagain · 24/09/2022 21:17

asblindasabat · 24/09/2022 20:58

I have a 9 year old Springer Spaniel and as much as I love walking him, he constantly pulls on the lead towards grass/vegetation etc so he can sniff and pee.

Of course it’s normal for a dog to pee on a walk, but he keeps pulling me over to grass verges to do tiny pees when he could have had one only two minutes ago and then he continually pulls so that he can sniff the grass. He could spend about 5 minutes sniffing before he decides to have another pee.

It really makes walking him less enjoyable because I spend more time trying to stop him pulling me than actually walking.

is there any way I could try to stop this behaviour? And I don’t mind him sniffing the odd time, but it’s too excessive at the minute!

Is he castrated? Mine does this far less now he's had the snip.

CandyLeBonBon · 24/09/2022 21:17

Also 15 minutes of sniffing is equivalent to 45 minutes on lead walking. Sniffing is mentally taxing and stimulating/enriching for your dog. It calms them and gives them a great deal of pleasure.

SushiSuave · 24/09/2022 21:19

My dog is the same OP and I agree it is annoying when it's every 10 seconds. But someone once told me that pulling a dog away from sniffing something is like like taking away a good book from someone as they are reading it. And that would REALLY piss me off so I put up with the constant stopping and try and walk him places where he doesn't need to be on the lead as much as possible. Then he can stop and sniff and just catch me up!

Redpriestandmozart · 24/09/2022 21:19

We call it picking up her emails, yes of course they sniff they need to read all the information of all the dogs that have passed through there today.

Do you know that your dog can identify who peed there, what age they are, if they're neutered, who had sex today, what they've eaten and if they were sick? It must be so interesting to be able to do this, it's the equivalent of us sitting on the internet all day.

I let my dog sniff, then pee there so she's letting her friends know she's been there today.

LesOliviers · 24/09/2022 21:22

For dogs, walks aren't about the exercise. It's all about the smells they pick up and lay down. It's how they communicate with the world. You need to let your dog have time to do this, otherwise it's really rather cruel. I take my dog for sniff walks and do my own exercise separately. She visibly hates going for walks with my husband because he doesn't let her sniff. Don't be that dog owner.

userxx · 24/09/2022 21:23

I don't call it going for a walk these days, I call it going for a sniff.

Mine also licks others dogs piss off lampposts 🤷‍♂️

Idunnowhyibother · 24/09/2022 21:23

Do you actually know anything about dogs or have you just got him? You don't sound particularly bonded to him/or enjoying him. Do you not go to training as well?

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 24/09/2022 21:24

I imagine if he's not allowed off lead some of the excessive sniffing is for stimulation. Spaniels are designed to run and work.

I can't believe you've had him 9 years and not sorted his recall out, spaniels are clever dogs and this is something you should have worked on imo.

Hopeandlove · 24/09/2022 21:25

Try having two dogs. Sniff sniff one drop of pee they the other and one drop and then first goes back and pees on the second 😂

it is their enjoyment of the walk

Suzi888 · 24/09/2022 21:28

My dog does it OP.
Not all dogs do it to an annoying degree- it can be excessive. My Lab was terrible. It wasn’t a walk, it was a stop and sniff session. 😂

Bonbon21 · 24/09/2022 21:29

🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣... I have no words!!!!
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

BlankTimes · 24/09/2022 21:30
Dillydollydingdong · 24/09/2022 21:31

It's what dogs do. Marking where he's been and checking who's been there before him. You won't be able to stop him. You're a bit ignorant about dogs aren't you.

mondaytosunday · 24/09/2022 21:33

Can you walk him off lead? If you want to stride out while he gets on with the job of being a dog you need to find a walk where he can be off lead. Just be sure you pick up his mess.

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