My dog won't potty on leash after surgery. Is off-leash safe for sutures?

I'm wondering if sling walking or propping him up using towels might be an option depending on the type of surgery that he had - if he's able to posture in a semi-normal position he might be more willing to urinate. Ask your vet if this might be an option before trying at home. https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/how-to-make-a-supportive-dog-sling/

Hi and thanks for your question. Maggie is quite young to be trusted off leash just yet. I would definitely recommend keeping her on the leash to go potty until she is fully trained and into her adult years. Most pets aren't fully trained until they are closer to 12 months of age. You also will ensure that she is mature enough to handle being off leash. It is best to be safe than sorry.

This can be a normal reaction to dogs who are used to pottying in the backyard, off leash. When you walk them and they’re on a leash they become anxious and nervous about going to the bathroom out in the open and on the leash. My best advice for you is to try and walk him frequently so he gets used to being on the leash. If he is able to hold his urine and bowel movements then it shouldn’t be a big issue. He will need to lease go to the bathroom every 10 to 12 hours. When you do walk him on the leash and he potties use lots of positive reinforcement like praise and treats to let him know you are proud of him and did a good job. Consistency with walking him will help improve this problem. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Poor Loki! I'm sure he's very confused by all of these changes. If he's always been accustomed to "doing his business" off leash in the yard, he may not know what to do when he's on-leash - this is a common problem for many dogs who have never pottied on-leash before. Rather than using a retractable leash, which keeps constant tension on the collar, I would recommend getting a long line for him - this is a very long, lightweight leash (up to 40-50' long) that he can easily drag without noticing. Attach the leash to his collar, and follow at a distance keeping the leash loose with no tension at all. This will allow him to feel like he's loose, and he should have an easier time going to the bathroom without tension on his collar and having you so close to him.

As tempting as it can be to let Mochi run around I highly advise against it. The screws and plates can become dislodged requiring another surgery. The surgical site could also become infected or inflamed. Perhaps share this information with your husband as well as the potential for having to pay for the surgery again. I am so sorry and I hope your words of wisdom to him will help him comply in the future.

As long as your pup is just going outside on-leash long enough to use the bathroom, the stitches shouldn't get wet enough to be a problem. A little water won't hurt, we just don't want dogs to be fully submerged in a bathtub or swimming pool until the incision is completely healed. But a bit of snow or rain shouldn't cause any problems. You can use a towel to gently dry his belly when you get back inside, just to be sure.

3. WalkingtheOtherWay In order to reinforce a dog’s natural tendency to follow, once your dog pulls out in front, you should turn quickly and walk the other way. Reward once you feel slack on the collar. This can cause a walk to go no more than a few feet at the beginning, so be patient. The pull back should only be strong enough to get your dog’s attention. Excessive force, especially when using choke chains, may cause neck trauma. For more information, please contact your veterinarian or a trainer who uses humane training methods.