Not going to the bathroom in backyard anymore

This has been going on for about two weeks now and i don't know what to do.

So my puppy is 5 1/2 months now and he has been doing great lately except a couple weeks ago he started not wanting to go to the bathroom in the back yard anymore. He actually doesn't even want to play or do anything in the backyard anymore. It's weird because nothing has happened to him back there. And he has never been left alone in the backyard either. My routine is to take him out on his leash and he goes pee and poop but now he just sits.

He will go pee and poop on walks and at the park and at the beach so I know his health is fine and he even goes in the middle of the night on his pee pad that we have out in case he needs to go in the night. I have sat out in the backyard with him for hours and he won't do anything. It's like he is scared of the backyard now. I just don't know what to do. Any advice will help please.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on May 23, 2011 at 7:10pm

He is at that "goofy" age where he will have some strange ideas. I would try taking him for walks around the back yard and when he starts to go say a command for example "go potty". Most puppies will go potty while on a walk. Also, after doing his business give a small treat. It really helps to teach a "go potty" command for later when you need him to get down to business quickly. From about 4 months to 2 years I find they have little episodes of weirdness that crop up. It helps to just handle it as matter of fact as possible until it passes.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on May 23, 2011 at 11:32pm

I would try getting your pup to go potty before you go on walks, sometimes they get used to going on walks and then won't go otherwise, unless your out for a walk!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on May 24, 2011 at 7:49am

teddy has always not been a fan of going poop in his back yard for some reason. some days i take him out and he will go but then other days i have to take him to the front but heaven forbid a bird chirp while hes going otherwise he just sits down and wont go (sigh) but like Bev said hes at that strange goofy stage where they think things are out to get him or he realizing just how big the world is. kinda hard to explain lol.but i would do as Bev says about going potty, thats what i had to do.

what i did to make the backyard fun and happy again is i filled a kong full of treats and let him eat that in the backyard while i would do yard work or relaxing. then i would run and throw a ball as teddy loves to play chase. play his favorite game in the backyard, it will help him like his backyard again