Dog holds pee outside, then goes inside. Is she rebelling or scared?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 1 year and 1 month old | 26 lbs
My dog won’t go to the bathroom outside anymore , she holds it all in until the early morning and goes inside the house ? Is this sign of rebellion ?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 21st, 2018
Hi there. No, this is not a sign of rebellion - dogs don't think this way. It's more likely that she doesn't understand where she is supposed to potty, or is afraid or uncomfortable about going outside for some reason. Feel free to post again with more details about exactly what's going on - we would be happy to try and make some suggestions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 28th, 2019
It seems likely that a stressful event has caused this behaviour change. I imagine she feels insecure with the recent moving around. She should settle now that you have moved, bit getting her into a good structured routine will help to make her feel secure. You could also think about pet remedy. If the behaviour but persists I would consult a behaviourist.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
We have a three month old beagle puppy. We take her outside to do her business every 1-2 hours. She has done a good job at knowing that outside is business time. However, every other day at random times we will take her outside, she will do her busin
You are not doing anything wrong. Sometimes they get too excited outside and do. It completely empty. When you are worried, take her outside within that 30 minutes period to give her a chance to go again if she seems distracted. If her routine completely breaks down she seems to be regressing more I have her checked for a uribary tract infection
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
Is rubbing your dog’s nose in there pee/poop the best way to potty train your dog? My dog likes to pee around the house when im not around him and he’s around other people. Something he wouldn’t do if i was present. Even after he’s already gone out t
Please do not ever, ever rub your dog's nose in his pee or poop. He has no idea what you're doing and why. Also, he does not "throw a temper tantrum." Kids do that; dogs don't. Put him on a leash and take him outside to his designated spot. Do not walk around. Just stand there and repeat "go outside" or a similar phrase. As soon as he starts to go, repeat "go outside" and praise "good dog!" as he goes. When he is finished, or if it appears that he is not going to go, bring him inside but do not remove the leash, even if he has done his business. Attach it to your belt loop and keep him with you. Don’t let him out of your sight! When you see him start to circle or sniff, take him right outdoors again and repeat the process. If he does mess in the house, do not scold him unless you actually catch him in the act. In that case, say "NO!" and take him right outside. Tell him to "go outside" and praise as he finishes. If he does do his business in the house and no one is right there to corre
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Dog hasn't had a poo or wee all day and seems to be scared to go into the garden when she would normally wander in and out the garden throughout the day
Hello there! Thanks for your question on Boop by Petco! Perhaps there is something that has recently frightened her out in the yard or garden. There is also the possibility she is having pain while urinating and/or defecating and therefore may be associating the area she goes wee and poo with the pain she may be experiencing. I think the best thing to do in this situation is encourage to go out (perhaps join or accompany her) or take her for a walkie to see if she goes then. If not and you are still concerned, especially if she hasn't passed urine or stool soon, then I would recommend you see your veterinarian for an exam. A urinary tract infection can cause pain during urination and constipation can cause pain during defecation. I would want to be sure there is nothing more serious going on if this behavior continues. Best of luck to you and Cindy!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My puppy is 12 weeks old. Female Shihpoo. We are in the process of potty training her, however, I will take her out every 20 min to go pee and she ends up not peeing outside but inside as soon as we get back. How can I change this?
Housetraining a puppy is not as easy as you may think, and there are many things that can affect how easily a puppy is housetrained. I am attaching a link to a handout below with very detailed information about housetraining.
https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2421
And this is an article on housetraining pitfalls.
https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2461
Since you didn't give me the specifics of your training, I will offer the following advice for Bindi. Be sure to give a lot of positive reinforcement when she does actually go outside (which may be praise or treats). Do not allow her to run around the house after going outside and not urinating. Crate train her and put her in the crate if you go outside and she does not urinate until you take her outside and she does urinate. An alternative to this is to keep her on a leash when you come inside and she has not urinated outside. This way you can make a quick scolding noise like "No!"
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is 12 years old and I used to be able to hold her by her scruff. Recently she's been getting spanked for going to the bathroom in the house. Is she getting old or is she scared of getting spanked?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I would recommend that you do not spank her as dogs respond much better to positive reinforcement. This means that she would probably respond better to you rewarding her positive behavior such as when she does it outside. You can use praise and treats. It is basically focusing on the positive instead of the negative. You will start noticing that she will go outside more and inside less. This works consistently usually. Good luck and have a good day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My boyfriend has a 14 month old German Shepard for the majority she is great at going potty out side. But lately she has been going potty inside when he puts on the leash. She has never done that with me. And never st my house. Just his and with him
If there is a specific pattern in the behaviour then re-organising the routine may help to rebuild a new pattern. Getting her to come, sit and receive a treat somewhere else in the house and then putting on the leash as he praises her may help to bypass the behaviour until she builds up more confidence. Revisiting basic recall/sit/wait training during walks and ball play by with may help to improve her confidence also
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. All of a sudden, my dog will not use the bathroom outside. She normally does and she also loves the outdoors. She will not step foot outside at all. And when I do put her outside by carrying her out, she will run to the side of our house and s
Hello and welcome to Boop by Petco. The behaviour you are describing sounds like Ginger had something happen to her in the yard there that has scared her. The most likely is that she was bit by a bug or stung by a bee in that location. Other possible causes are that another animal got into the yard and got in a fight with her in that location. I would try to encourage her back to that location of the yard gently and with positive reinforcement. Maybe get a chair and sit out there with treats, and show her it's ok, and sit outside and pet her in that spot. Best of luck with Ginger.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My two year old dog has stopped going to toilet in garden. Even if I stand with him every hour he will stand there then come in and wee. When out on daily walk all is normal, it's just the garden that is the problem. Help!
yIts possible that he may have a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or another health issue that has contributed to this becoming a problem.. sometimes their potty habits changing are the first (and sometimes only) sign that something is wrong in their urinary tract. If his health is cleared after a physical exam and labwork (urinalysis and possibly blood work), the we can say this a behavioral issue. If that is the case, it may take some time to re-establish good potty habits. Were there any major changes in the garden or stressors in his life at the time this behavior changed? Any new animals in the house? You might try taking him to a new area to relieve himself... take him on a short walk, etc. You also need to clean the areas where he has peed inside very thoroughly, and if they are carpeted areas they need to be steam cleaned; often the pad also needs to be pulled up and replaced. Once they smell where they've previously gone inside, they recognize that as an ap
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
I just adopted an adult rescue dog, about 2 years old. She came on a transport from Texas. I was told she was shy. She is very fearful and doesn’t want to leave a corner of the kitchen. Is afraid to be outdoors. I ether understand the need for a res
Poor Lillian. Make every effort to get her outside to potty. Also work on making her more comfortable. It's a big change for her. Once she is comfortable in the house, you can begin trying to get her comfortable outside. It's possible something has scared her in the past and now she has developed a negative association. You may try to counteract this by creating a positive association. Begin by having a high value treat or toy. Start playing/a training session inside the house by the door way. Do this for a few days. Once Lillian seems comfortable playing by the door way, toss the toy or treat outside and allow her to retrieve it and come back inside. Do this until Lillian is comfortable. Then move outside by the doorway way. Gradually move further and further away from the door way. Then begin gradually decreasing the play time and just hanging outside with her. Try not to leave her outside unattended until she seems comfortable. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I tried some tips for potty training about trying to get my dog to pee in "her spot" outside. I've kept her on a leash when I bring her in because she just lays down outside and refuses to pee. Could it be a medical problem or is my dog just stubbor
Though it is most likely a behavioral problem, I would have her checked by the vet just to be sure. If she refuses to pee, bring her back inside but keep her on the leash. As soon as she starts to circle or sniff (but be watchful, as some dogs do neither!), take her immediately back out, even if she has started to pee. Just give her a sharp "NO!" and go out. Change your tone of voice right away and say encouragingly, "go outside" (or some similar phrase). The trick is not to let her go in the house. Sooner or later she will have to go, and if you are right there with her you can catch her in the act and take her out. You may have to crate her at night to prevent nocturnal mistakes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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