Have you ever experienced this "fast" walk with your dog that seems to be dragging on? Of course, like all of us. All dog owners have already waited at least 37 times in their life for their dog to finally get out of bed somewhere.
It happened to me a few days ago, and now I know why!
This is what happened ...
I had just returned home after a few hours of absence and, of course, my dog Westin was very eager to go out to do his needs. Of course, going for a walk with him was my priority as soon as I got home.
But I also had a whole list of things to do ... lots of other things to do.
For me, it was clear that after a short walk of 10 minutes, I then had enough to devote myself to my other tasks. Dinner, family, work ... I was going to have to go to bed very late to finish everything, but how else? Everything had to be done. I accepted the program as long as everything went as planned.
But that day, Westin had other plans!
As soon as we stepped out of the door, my dog was distracted by the neighbors' pussy. She seemed to like getting attention because she was staying there, just out of Westin's reach. I always admired the relationship between cats and dogs ...
I wanted to let him play, but the list of things to do always tormented me.
And we finally arrived at his usual "corner". It is there that he stops doing his needs almost every night. But that night, it was definitely not like the other nights. Maybe because of the moon phase? Or a special inclination of the Earth that would have made this little corner different today?
In any case, this little corner no longer fulfilled its function. Westin really did not want to go to bed tonight.
In all, the walk lasted 20 minutes before Westin finally managed to do its homework. It was twice as long as a usual walk, and I wondered why.
How do dogs choose where to go? The question may sound silly or useless, but I thought that by finding the answer, I could help Westin find his little corner much faster.
So I did some research, and here's what I found ...
Instinct plays an important role
Disposal of waste meets a physiological and social need. Yes, it is a necessary biological function, but it is also much more than that. Whenever your dog needs it, he sends a message. In nature, wolves will leave what is called an olfactory mark. This means that they leave feces and other marks to say that this is their territory. In summary: "Outside, I'm here! ". Domestic dogs may have retained some of this territorial instinct. Most often, however, their needs are just business cards. During a walk, your dog can learn how many dogs are in a certain area, if they are males or females and what these dogs have eaten, just based on the smell. It's amazing when you think about it! Your dog uses 300 million olfactory receptors to decipher these smells. Sometimes, the smell of the needs of another dog can be enough to push your dog to do his own needs.
Every dog is different
The reason your dog will avoid one place to focus on another may be different from Westin's, but there are commonly accepted theories. This can also vary depending on the mood of your dog. But if you know all the possible reasons, then you can determine what's going on in your dog's head at that time.
The habit is the key
As for case number one, dogs are not so difficult. In reality, they are more likely to mark a place that is new, to tell other animals that they have been there. Things are a bit different in the second case. Most dogs like to feel comfortable and relaxed before doing their needs. You know it's true if you have a dog who is reluctant to go on vacation, for example. And that's also why dogs like Westin have a tendency to put their needs in their favorite "corner". They feel like home. Melissa Bain of UC Davis's School of Medicine explains that dogs decide on their surface preferences at an early age.
If you want your dog to find his little corner quickly, avoid the unknown points during your walk. Always go through the usual points to give him the opportunity to do his needs. If he is choosy, then consider going to a less familiar area. Then come back to his favorite corner.
The quality of the toilet makes the difference
And yes, the cleanliness of the toilets is important for us. So obviously, it's just as important for our dogs! Dogs also tend to like greasy grass. If your dog's favorite spot becomes a little dry and thorny, then it's normal for him to stop going. Think about how you feel when you enter dirty toilets ... You just want to get out of there as quickly as you can, right? Ditto for dogs with an uncomfortable grass. Also remember that every dog is different. Your dog may also prefer to feed on concrete, gravel or thorny grass. If you know your dog's preferences, then make sure there are options like this throughout your walk.
Dogs also feel the anxiety of performance!
When Westin was distracted by the cat at the beginning of our walk, he may have changed his focus. Instead of concentrating on self-indulgence, he began to think of how to get closer to the feline. Imagine his surprise when he found himself in front of his little corner when he was not ready. In case of distraction, consider returning to the level of the small corner of your dog on the way home. After seeing it the first time, your dog will start thinking about it again. He will just need a little time to do his needs. So do your walk, then bring back just after your dog to his little corner
Note on digestion
Generally, the reasons I mentioned above are enough to explain what kind of situations your dog can not do as usual. However, it also happens that these small delays are caused by constipation or poor digestion. If you have tried everything but your dog is not doing his needs ... Or if he is obviously struggling to do his needs ... Then he may be constipated. That's what happens to Westin from time to time. In this case, simply add the remedy Constipation to its daily diet. And if you think your dog has digestive problems, do not hesitate to contact us. We can recommend a diet designed to solve digestive problems for a healthy dog.
