My puppy won't go to the toilet on the street

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Hi everyone! 😁

So, before I start, I know there are probably plenty of posts similar to mine on this forum, and I've actually started a similar thread myself before.

However, I'd really like some fresh perspectives on this issue, and most importantly, a proper solution.

Basically, my puppy, who is nearly 3 months old, just cannot seem to go to the toilet on the street. And when I say the street, I mean busy areas as well as very quiet spots with almost no one passing by.

He'll only do his business either indoors, on the grass, or when we're walking in parks or out in the countryside.

I think he's getting the hang of house training; when he has an accident inside, I can see it's not just for the fun of it and that he'd prefer to be outside.

The reason I'm posting this is that I'm just shocked by what's just happened with him... Let me explain:

Today, I tried to time it perfectly for when he really needed to go—basically when he starts whining and lowering his little bum to do either a wee or a poo.

After a while, he crouched down to poo. I quickly scooped him up and took him straight out onto the pavement so he could finish off.

I'd braced myself for it to take a bit of time, so mentally, I was ready.

But I honestly don't understand! I stayed outside for 1 hour and 50 minutes without him doing a single poo! Even though—pardon the expression—he was touching cloth at home and was even whining as if to say "Quick, quick, I really need to go."

I just don't get it. While we were out, I tried to stimulate him, I played with him, I got him all worked up like I'd been advised to, but absolutely nothing. I find it unbelievable—he must have sphincters of steel already...

Have any of you ever had a similar problem? How did house training go for you?

Thanks so much for your replies.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi Novanos, I don't quite get what the issue is (I'm not being funny, honestly!). The little lad is doing his business on the grass, out in nature, in the woods... like you said, and of course he's still having accidents indoors at his age... He just doesn't want to go in the street, on the pavement, or on a patch of grass that he feels is too "on show"... Even if it seems quiet to you with no one about and no noise... He was desperate to go, as you said, and then poof—nothing. It reminds me of a trip to Vietnam when I was 15; I was absolutely bursting to drop the kids off at the pool because we’d been in a van for a really long time! When we got to the countryside, there was just a hole in the ground... well, even though I'd been desperate for over 3 hours to the point of feeling ill... 😂 The hole just put me right off, or maybe it was the pages from a school notebook that were meant to be the loo roll! 😂😂 Your story reminds me of that! A lovely holiday memory! Desperate to go, and then nothing! Well, Novanos, you need a bit of "inspiration" even for the call of nature 😎 Either your pup will stay house-trained in those specific spots or he'll start to branch out... But what's the concern for you? Actually, I realize it might seem a bit strange, and normally I shouldn't complain too much—he's already going on the grass and has pretty much got the hang of being house-trained at just two and a half months old. It's just that I'm worried he's got too used to the grass, and imagine if one day I have no choice but to get him to go in the street. When he's older, it'll be a bit too late because he'll be able to hold it in for much longer; that's the only reason. But then again, maybe I should just be happy with the grass for now, and the street will probably come later from sniffing where other dogs have been. Especially as he’s a male, so he’ll likely want to mark his territory. Anyway, thanks a lot for all your stories, they're always a great inspiration and I love reading them every time! 😁
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    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Padja really struggled with going to the toilet outside when I first got her, especially in places she didn't know (home = safety!). What helped her on walks around my house was having her pack with her and seeing the others going outside. For the garden, though, that took for-ever. She would only actually go if she had a combo of grass plus a long run. And at my friends' places in town... Oh, I know all about staying in the park for an hour, running the dog around while totally bleary-eyed at 5am 😅 and the same thing all day long... And if I gave up before she did (because I had an appointment or something), bang, straight in the house 😂 It was just a case of getting her into the habit of the same route for that "safe" feeling (at my friends' place, it was the grassy park right downstairs), letting her run in the grass, and praising her like an absolute nutcase the second she did anything outside. After a while, once going outside was sorted, I’d head back up if it was taking too long. I wanted to show her that I wasn't just at her beck and call, but I’d keep a close eye on her indoors and head straight back out the moment she showed signs of wanting to go. Even if I had to do it several times. (Go back down, her ladyship doesn't want to anymore, wait a bit – 20-30 mins – she does nothing, I go back up, and then little madam starts looking for a spot to go, so bang, back outside). Oh, and since I already suspected back then that Padja was a bit of a chancer, even after she’d done her business (even if it had taken ages), I’d play with her for another 10-15 minutes. I wanted to show her that going to the toilet didn't mean the walk was over immediately. Otherwise, she would’ve kept me hanging around as long as she felt like staying out.
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    Ratonlaveur
    Ratonlaveur Icon representing the flag French
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    To encourage Yuki to go, I get her to spin in circles—it works a treat for her! Sometimes she also paces back and forth in a small area.

    Mind you, she’d much rather do a poo on the grass than on the street. For weeing, she’ll only ever go on the grass, but I find that so much more convenient because it all gets soaked up.

    When they’re doing their business, you can introduce a command; ours is "poo" (lovely when people are walking past!).

    Now she knows exactly what’s expected of her when we say it. It’s really handy!

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    Not really sure why... but in my opinion, a good walk is best, it gets the bowels moving. My girl, when she was 2 months old, only had one or two accidents indoors at the absolute most—and that was only if she had the runs... she's always preferred the woods or the grass... But she’s quite happy to leave a good pound of it right on the pavement in the middle of the city centre 😂 we never told her off for it because it’s better out than in, and if we're spending hours in town, I didn't want her holding it in like some over-trained dogs do... But there you go, they aren't all "pavement dogs" or all "grass dogs"... it’ll just depend on him 😉 For example, now mine's older, if she doesn't need to go on her evening walk, I don't stay out for an hour and a half... if you don't need to go, we're going home. If your puppy gets the hang of being toilet trained outside, don't worry about it; just give him some slack on the lead on the way back and he'll head straight for the grass to do his business before heading in, because it's "now or never 😂". Orphée used to do that... oh, I miss her!
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi Novanos

    I don't quite see what the problem is (I’m not being funny, honestly!), the little one is going on the grass, out in nature, in the woods... as you say, and obviously still indoors at his age...

    He doesn't want to go in the street, on the pavement or on a lawn; in his mind, it's too exposed... even if it seems quiet to you with not much noise or people passing by...

    He really needed to go, as you said, and then poof—nothing at all. Well, it reminds me of a trip to Vietnam when I was 15. I was absolutely dying for a poo because we were in a van and it was such a long journey!!!! When we got to the countryside, it was just a hole in the ground... well, even though I'd needed to go for over 3 hours to the point of feeling sick... 😂 The hole just put me right off, or maybe it was the school notebook pages that were meant to be the loo roll! 😂😂

    Your story reminds me of that! Good holiday memories! Really needing to go and then nothing!

    Well yeah, Novanos, you need a bit of inspiration even for these so-called "natural" biological things 😎

    Either your little guy will continue to be clean in those specific places or he’ll start to let go a bit more... but what exactly is the issue for you?

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    Petyrlechon
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    I haven't got a specific method to suggest as it was just a matter of time for my one ^^' At the start, the street was a complete no-go. I had to find a park or a big, quiet patch of grass (no other dogs, no people, nothing...). We’d have a bit of a play in the grass and then just wander all over, and one day—probably about 3 weeks or a month later—he started doing his business because he felt comfortable in that spot (it was always the same one). I started using the word "wee-wee" whenever he went, so after that, when we headed out I'd say "come on then, let's go for a wee-wee". Even now, he knows exactly what "wee-wee" means! 😅
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for the reply, I know I need to be patient, but I was out there for nearly two hours even though he clearly needed to go. So, what’s the best way to get my puppy to understand that he can go to the toilet outside? Should I just take him for a gentle walk? Or should I just stand still and wait for him to do his business?
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    Petyrlechon
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    My dog was exactly the same when he was a puppy... he’d just hold it in until we got back to our own garden. I didn't make a fuss, I just kept taking him for walks in quiet spots at first, somewhere with grass and away from people. Around 3 or 4 months old, he finally started having a wee outside. We made a massive fuss every time he went and gave him a treat. We kept to quiet, familiar grassy spots, and a bit later he started doing his poos there too – again, lots of praise and a treat!

    He relaxed more and more over time. At the start, it was only in those isolated spots he knew, but gradually he started weeing "everywhere" – the town centre, the woods, the park, up lampposts, walls, you name it. Poos are a different story, though... at nearly 3 years old, Nelson still has his specific "spots" for that in quiet areas and always on grass, otherwise it's a no-go! 😅🤗

    Your pup will gain confidence and it’ll happen eventually. He just needs time to get used to his surroundings; like mine, they need to explore before they can relax 😉

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