How to Train Your Dog to Pee While on Leash
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Introduction
Have you just got a rescue dog, that you haven’t had a chance to teach recall to yet, so you always have to walk him on the leash? Do you find that he won’t go for a pee unless he’s off leash and in the house? By now, you’re sick and tired of always having to wipe up those smelly damp patches that are turning your nice clean carpet a shade of yellow. Even if your dog knows recall, sometimes it’s not appropriate to let them off the leash or maybe they’re sick and you need to monitor how much urine they’re producing, therefore, training them to pee on the leash is a useful skill regardless. Now is the time to teach your pooch to pee while on-leash.
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Defining Tasks
This command is important because although it’s not natural for dogs to want to pee on the leash, imagine going to the bathroom in front of someone. Dogs like their privacy too. However, learning the command will have lots of practical benefits, such as always checking their toileting habits are ok and picking up something abnormal quicker if your pet gets sick, as they’ll be peeing close by. Learning this command will save you those unpleasant hours cleaning up urine off of the floor, if they’re peeing inside because you can’t let them off the leash, which is the case for life for some dogs that are dog aggressive or those that have poor recall such as Pomeranians. Another benefit is that you can get them to go in a designated spot, if you want to keep your backyard urine free for example. It will take a few weeks to train your pooch to learn this trick and it is best suited to younger dogs, while they’re still learning. However, older dogs can be trained also.
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Getting Started
To begin training your pooch to pee on-leash, you’ll need some high-value treats such as boiled chicken, hot dogs, or cheese. If you’re teaching your 8-week old pupper to pee on a leash straight away it would also be a good idea to fence off an area of a room and keep him in it when he’s unattended so it’s easier to see him showing you signs of going, so you can get him on that leash and outside. When he has an accident inside, you’ll need to correct him but not scare him, so make sure your voice is firm and authoritative, but not frightening. And when he does his business on the leash, make sure your voice is rewarding and encouraging, you’ll need to make the training fun for him. Now let’s get started.
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The Puppy Method
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Understand your pooch
Different breeds will have different frequencies at which they need to go. Know your pooch's breed and therefore how often he or she will need to go, so that you can get him on that leash and outside accordingly.
Watch their behavior
Keeping a close eye on your puppy means you can watch for behavioral signs that they’re about to go, such as sniffing, scratching, circling and whining. If you see these, get them on the leash and outside straight away.
Stop him off leash
When he has an accident and pees off leash, stop him by saying ‘no’ and clapping or making a noise to put him off, be careful not to scare him though.
Choose a designated area
Choose a particular area outside and consistently take him to it on their leash, to avoid confusion. Make sure they’ve had their vaccinations if it’s going to be somewhere outside of your backyard though.
Praise when he goes on-leash
Give him a tasty treat and lots of tummy rubs when he goes while on leash. Peeing on-leash needs to be a fun and rewarding experience.
Introduce a command
If you like, once he's got to grips with peeing on leash, you can even get him to associate it with a command such as ‘pee’ or ‘go’, so that he’ll pee on leash when you use the command.
The Routine Method
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Establish a sensible routine
Make sure that your pooch is taken out the correct amount each day for his or her breed and/or age. Make it a routine thing, so that your pooch knows when he'll get the opportunity to go. Take him out around meal times, for example.
Clean up accidents quickly
To make sure your pooch doesn’t associate an area of your home with peeing, make sure you clean up any accidents that occur right away.
Designate an area
While on-leash, choose an area outside where you want your pooch to go and consistently take him there, so that he recognizes his scent.
Let him relax
Although you’ll have him on the leash, make sure you give your pooch as much space as you can to let him do his business, and don’t distract him while he's in the middle of it.
Rewards
Give lots of praise and a lovely, tasty treat when he goes while on the leash.
The Crating Method
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Get an appropriate sized crate
Crate your dog while he’s inside to stop him from peeing. Dogs don’t like to pee where they rest.
Leash him
Pop him on the leash and take him outside, it’s likely he’ll have been holding it in and will be keen to do his business. Make sure you take him out enough times a day for his size and breed though.
Be patient
Take your pooch for a good walk around, don’t just go outside and expect him to do it. A 20-minute walk may be necessary. Don’t be anxious or impatient, as this may put him off.
Try again
If he doesn’t go on the first walk, keep him on the leash inside and have a 5 minute rest. Take him back outside somewhere free from distractions, he should now pee. Make sure you take him out the required number of times, at roughly the same time every day. Dogs are creatures of habit.
Lots of treats
When he goes on the leash, give him lots of high value treats and praise so he knows he’s been a good boy.
Written by Catherine Lee-Smith
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/10/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Catherine Lee-Smith
Training Questions and Answers
Milka
Border Collie
One Year
Question
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I adopted Milka 1 week ago and she is 1 year old. The previous family could not take care of her anymore, so i got her. She is well trained and does not do at home. The problem is, she got used to use their garden and she did not have many social activities nor taking walks outside on a leash. She only does her stuff when i go to a big park 10m walking distance from my place and take out her leash. But if i take between 20 to 40m around my house on a leash, she does not do at all, but neither at home. What should i do? Thanks 🙏
Nov. 20, 2022
Milka's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, First, I would start this when you have a couple of days off work in a row. When you are home take her outside to go potty in the yard. Right before you take her out, spray the spot you will be taking to potty to with a potty encouraging spray, like "Go Here" or "Hurry!" so the smell will encourage her to go potty also. While outside in the yard, walk her around slowly on the leash for 15-20 minutes. Tell her to "Go Potty". If she goes potty, praise her and give her five small treats kept in your pocket or out of sight in a pouch, then also take her to the park she likes to go too - at least at first, so that she learns to go quickly in your yard in order to get to go to the park, rather than hold her bladder until at the park. Many dogs, especially smart ones, learn that as soon as they go potty they have to go home, so they will hold it to get a walk in and go at the end of the walk. Reverse the order and let the park be the reward for going quickly, so that when it's not time for a walk she will still go quickly. The first couple of days you do this, she probably won't go potty in the yard right away. After 15 minutes, take her back inside and keep her tethered to yourself with a six to eight foot hands free leash (you can add a small carabiner to a normal leash so you can clip it to yourself and make hands free), then take her outside to try again every hour until she goes potty and you can reset the clock and wait another 3-4 hours before the next potty trip and let her have supervised freedom in the home without the leash tethering until its time for the process to start over again if she won't go potty again when taken out. Commit to full days to the process, staying consistently, rewarding with treats and the walk when she goes in the yard. Know that she may hold out on going potty for 8-12 hours the first couple of days; that time should get shorter as she sees that she is rewarded when she goes and you are consistent. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Nov. 21, 2022
Puma
Boxer
14 Months
Question
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Good morning, I adopted my boxer when he was between 8-9 months. He is so good, house trained. He was not too comfortable walking on a leash when I got him, have been working on that and he has come a long way. He is not too comfortable walking on a leash in my neighborhood but has no problem in the woods or at the beach. He loves his fenced in backyard, car rides, toys and his zoomies. He hasn't peed on a leash yet. He will pee on a leash when I take him in the back yard , but not the front or while walking him. Any suggestions?
June 29, 2022
Puma's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Sherry, I would purchase a long training leash, like a 15 foot leash. Coil up the excess so that pup has a regular 6 foot leash worth of slack in it. If pup isn't staying with you during the walk, I would practice the Treat Lure or Turns method from the article I have linked below, using the turns method if pup is pulling and the treat luring is pup is more fearful. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel If the issue isn't how pup works on a leash but pup being uncomfortable during the walk, which sounds like is the case, then pup is probably not peeing because they are nervous and don't want to do something that would make them vulnerable. I would go to various spots in your neighborhood with pup on the long leash and simply hang out there for 30-60 minutes each time, often, giving pup slack in the leash to sniff around and relax (away from the road). If pup will take food or play with a toys while out, take them and stuff hollow chew toys with treats or kibble, practice tricks and easy commands and give treats, or play easy treat hiding games in areas that are free of any car spills or pesticide sprays. Once pup is less fearful in your neighborhood and enjoys being in your neighborhood, then I would bring potty encouraging spray and spray that on areas you want pup to pee on when pup goes out. You may have to make the walking route the only place you take pup potty to for a while, but I would spend time getting pup used to your neighborhood and using the potty encouraging spray first, so pup is less hesitant to go potty somewhere new. I would also use the long leash for this at first, giving pup enough slack they can wander several feet away from you to go, in case pup is shy going in front of others and needs to be able to find a spot to hide a little in the new location. Just be sure pup doesn't have so much slack they can wander into the road or bolt and pick up enough speed you loose the leash when they hit the end of it. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 29, 2022