We recently took on a 4 year old Springer spaniel cross (from Freeads) and he will only go to the toilet when off the lead, he will not go at all on when on the lead. Is this something that he has been trained to do, or just a quirk? How would we go about training him to go toilet when on the lead? Thanks.

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No idea, but it is quite common. When you say he won't go at all on lead, does that mean he won't pee up bushes and lamposts either? Most dogs will do that, because they are marking rather than going because they need to. One of mine has to pee up every hedge he comes to and I wonder sometimes where it all comes from, but neither of them will go poos when on a lead.

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He sniffs everything in sight, but has never scent marked anything when on the lead. When he does wee, he squats down like a bitch as well - he is a castrated male. Very odd lol

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Lynda, with Mink de Ville, DJ, Lightning (rat boys), Sparky (syrian hammy), Rosie (Tarantula), and the tropical fishies. RIP Snoopy the Lakeland Terrier 16/12/93 - 13/2/06. Always in my heart.



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How long have you had him? He may still feel a bit strange and insecure, and if he doesn't feel safe out there, he is not going to let his guard down by going. If he has had nothing to cock his leg up to in the past, it is possible that he has never got into the habit. My dogs don't always cock a leg, sometimes they will squat, but it depends what is there. One of them, for instance, will go in the garden and cock his leg up against the fence, whilst the other never cocks his leg in the garden, always goes to the middle of the garden and squats, though he can do and does it outside.

I think it is perfectly natural for a dog to not poo whilst on a lead. In fact, I have never had a dog that did. One of mine was always on a lead because he would just take off otherwise, so he never pooed whilst out, always came home and did it.

Do you have a garden for him to use?

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Will always miss you, my little Joshie Woshie xx

If you want real love, buy a dog

If you wouldn't use it on a child, don't use it on a dog

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One thing you could try, I take it he will pee in the garden? I would try going out with him and when you see him start to go give it a name like you would a pup (Later they associate the word of your choice with starting to go so you can with pups use it as a toilet cue and often get them to pee on demand)
When he has finished to the whole praise and treat thing (again as you would a pup) You might need to do it for a few weeks or so, because the not peeing on a lead has been a long time ingrained, to to relearn a new behaviour it can take a long time.

Once he seems to have got the concept and idea off lead in the garden, you could then try using your cue word, and praising if you get success when you are doing on lead walks to se if you have any luck.

It is possible however as I think you said he was a rescue, that in the past he has been told off for accidents. If dogs are reprimanded as pups or worse
still punished for accidents when being toilet trained, it can make them nervous about going in front of you, and they can try to do it in secret out of sight, so that could be one explanation.

The other of course was maybe he wasnt taken out on walks regularly, or not at all. Ive known rescue dogs of even 2/3 years that never went out the garden as pups or adults until they were rescued and re-homed, so that could be another explanation, he has never had the opportunity to pee out on walks in his earlier life so just doesnt associate it.

No guarantees the suggestions will work of course but worth a try.

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