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Withholding - A Lot More Common Than You May Think
By Friends of the Dog
By Friends of the Dog
Withholding elimination in dogs can be a challenging issue, particularly when the underlying cause is unclear. It’s not uncommon for dogs, especially those from shelters or rescue situations, to develop this behaviour. Understanding "why" the behaviour is occurring, is your starting point for addressing the problem effectively.
Common Reasons for Withholding Elimination
FEAR & BEHAVIOUR-BASED REACTIONS
Adopting a dog with a history of being reprimanded for inappropriate elimination can present significant challenges. If a dog has been scolded, dragged to its "mess," or even had its face forced into the accident, it may start associating elimination with fear and punishment. As a result, the dog might try to avoid eliminating in front of people, or resort to secretive behaviour, seeking hidden spots indoors where it feels safe from punishment.
Another potential issue is One Event Learning, a phenomenon where a single traumatic experience creates a lasting negative association with a particular behaviour/event. In this case, if the dog was startled or frightened while eliminating—whether due to loud noises like fireworks or storms, an aggressive encounter with another animal, or even an unexpected physical punishment—it may develop a deep-seated fear around elimination. This type of emotional imprint can significantly affect the dog's behavior and will require time and patience to address.
If One Event Learning is suspected, it's important to consider any possible triggers around the time the problem began. A seemingly minor event, such as a thunderstorm or sudden loud noise, could have left a lasting impact on the dog. It's crucial to recognize that what might appear insignificant to the owner could have been deeply distressing for the dog, causing it to withhold elimination out of fear.
CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE:
Dogs that haven't been properly toilet trained or have inconsistent guidance from their owners may not understand where or when it is appropriate to eliminate. If they believe that all elimination is "bad" (due to punishment or a lack of clear direction), they may start withholding as a form of self-protection or confusion.
SUBSTRATE PREFERENCE:
Shelter dogs, especially those that spent time in specific environments (like concrete, sand, or gravel surfaces) during their early months, may develop a preference for a particular surface to eliminate on. When they are rehomed and that surface isn’t available, they may be reluctant to go on grass, dirt, or other unfamiliar surfaces, leading to withholding behavior.
ILLNESS / PAIN
Contacting your vet and explaining what is occurring is always a good idea, and a consultation may be needed, as there are several health conditions that may be contributing to the behaviour of Withholding, both with stools and urination. If the dog is fearful or overly anxious, the vet may consider some calming medications (often natural products), to help the dog to cope, in addition to checking your dog physically.
RESOLVING:
MORE HELP NEEDED?
If you'd like comprehensive guidance on how to modify 'Withholding' behaviour, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email. We're happy to assist you with detailed instructions and modifications you may need in a pdf format.
Common Reasons for Withholding Elimination
FEAR & BEHAVIOUR-BASED REACTIONS
Adopting a dog with a history of being reprimanded for inappropriate elimination can present significant challenges. If a dog has been scolded, dragged to its "mess," or even had its face forced into the accident, it may start associating elimination with fear and punishment. As a result, the dog might try to avoid eliminating in front of people, or resort to secretive behaviour, seeking hidden spots indoors where it feels safe from punishment.
Another potential issue is One Event Learning, a phenomenon where a single traumatic experience creates a lasting negative association with a particular behaviour/event. In this case, if the dog was startled or frightened while eliminating—whether due to loud noises like fireworks or storms, an aggressive encounter with another animal, or even an unexpected physical punishment—it may develop a deep-seated fear around elimination. This type of emotional imprint can significantly affect the dog's behavior and will require time and patience to address.
If One Event Learning is suspected, it's important to consider any possible triggers around the time the problem began. A seemingly minor event, such as a thunderstorm or sudden loud noise, could have left a lasting impact on the dog. It's crucial to recognize that what might appear insignificant to the owner could have been deeply distressing for the dog, causing it to withhold elimination out of fear.
CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE:
Dogs that haven't been properly toilet trained or have inconsistent guidance from their owners may not understand where or when it is appropriate to eliminate. If they believe that all elimination is "bad" (due to punishment or a lack of clear direction), they may start withholding as a form of self-protection or confusion.
SUBSTRATE PREFERENCE:
Shelter dogs, especially those that spent time in specific environments (like concrete, sand, or gravel surfaces) during their early months, may develop a preference for a particular surface to eliminate on. When they are rehomed and that surface isn’t available, they may be reluctant to go on grass, dirt, or other unfamiliar surfaces, leading to withholding behavior.
ILLNESS / PAIN
Contacting your vet and explaining what is occurring is always a good idea, and a consultation may be needed, as there are several health conditions that may be contributing to the behaviour of Withholding, both with stools and urination. If the dog is fearful or overly anxious, the vet may consider some calming medications (often natural products), to help the dog to cope, in addition to checking your dog physically.
RESOLVING:
- Understand the Root Cause: The dog's behavior is not due to spite or anger, but due to an underlying problem. Identifying the cause is very important, and will help you to understand why the behaviour occurred in the first place. It is important to realize that the dogs fear is very real.
- Daily Elimination Schedule: It may not be easy to establish the dogs elimination times due to the Withholding, but do try. If you can work out the approximate times the dog will eliminate, it is going to make it much easier on you to change the behaviour as you will be able to take the dog outside at these times. Adult dogs will urinate approximately 3 - 5 times per day, and pass a stool about 1 to 3 times per day.
- Routines : Establishing a consistent daily routine for the dog is crucial for improving their behaviour - it helps them to feel safe, this includes feeding, walking, and bathroom times.
- Supervision: If the dog is allowed in the home, close supervision is necessary. When leaving the house, it's advised to leave the dog in a safe outdoor space to avoid accidents.
When close to what you believe are elimination times, go outside with the dog, so that you can reward with high value treats and happy voice - 'Good toilet - good toilet' or similar. - Avoid Negative Reactions: Shouting or reprimanding the dog will not help and may reinforce the unwanted behavior. For dogs, even negative attention can feel rewarding if they're attention-deprived.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Focus on rewarding good behavior. Reinforce positive actions to help the dog associate proper elimination with rewards. If you see any elimination occurring, even on a walk, go overboard with praise and always have some treats with you.
- Strengthen Your Bond: Building a trusting relationship with the dog will support better behavior, as the dog will feel more secure and attentive to your guidance. You can do this by praising as much good behaviour as you can, get the dog engaged in playing, by going for lovely smelly walks and praising, a lovely scratch and tummy rub, all the time praising.
MORE HELP NEEDED?
If you'd like comprehensive guidance on how to modify 'Withholding' behaviour, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email. We're happy to assist you with detailed instructions and modifications you may need in a pdf format.
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