Dogs often do many things difficult for you as a dog parent to comprehend. While some of their activities would bring a smile to your face, a few of them would leave you worried. So, the situation is this – you have taken your dog for a walk, and you see him pooping all the way. Now, that may cause you to panic. Especially if it is your first time seeing your dog doing the same, let me assure you that you aren’t alone. Many pet parents face this ordeal as well.
Pooping and walking can happen at the same time because of several reasons. Your dog wants to mark out its domain or is stressed or anxious. However, the cause might be severe as well. Your dog may be battling constipation or experiencing pain or discomfort.
Why Does Your Dog Walk and Poop?:10 Possible Reasons
Read on to know the possible reasons why your dog walks and poops. The earlier you can understand the actual cause, the sooner you can find a solution.
1. He Might Be Anxious
You’ve just shifted to a new home or planned to take your pooch for a walk in a new area far from his comfort zone. Under such circumstances, it isn’t unnatural for your dog to feel anxious or uncomfortable. If nature calls, your dog may not prefer to squat to poop in a specific area. He may think that he could become vulnerable to predators or strangers by doing so. Hence, the best option would be to do his business as he moves along. All he desires to do then is to leave the unknown territory and enter a familiar domain as early as possible. If that makes him poop as he walks, it doesn’t matter.
All your dog is concerned about them is his safety. You would notice this even more if your dog gets anxious for the slightest reason. Moreover, if you have adopted a dog subjected to abuse previously, you may also observe this trait in them.
2. Your Dog Wants to Mark His Territory
It’s no unknown fact that dogs mark their territory with their urine or poop. They have anal sacs on each side of their rectum. The sacs’ walls have several sebaceous glands that secrete fluids that smell foul. As they walk, more fluid is released from the glands. So by pooping as they walk, they are leaving behind their traces. Did you know that your dog’s poop contains chemical messages? It conveys much about your dog’s age, health, gender, and reproductive status.
3. Your Pet Has Constipation or an Upset Tummy
This one is a little medical, but not a cause to worry. Your dog may have trouble clearing stool in the morning or throughout the day. He doesn’t move around much within the bounds of his home. So as you take him out on a walk, he may poop, as his bowels may have been stimulated while he is on the move. Have you often seen your dog go around in circles or make a back-and-forth movement when exercising in the yard? That’s one of the signs that he is constipated. Motioning that way would help the bowel pass the intestinal tract, relieving the dog.
Your dog could even be suffering from an upset stomach. Walking means more movement, which triggers the leakage as your dog is on the move.
4. He is Weak or In Pain
Hip dysplasia, a common condition encountered by many dogs, mainly the big ones, isn’t unknown to you, right? Dogs with hip problems may find it difficult to eliminate by squatting. The easier option for them would be to poop as they walk. That way, they wouldn’t have to put too much pressure on their hips. It will save them from a painful experience.
That will not be the only sign to warn you that your dog’s hips are faulty. They would even display unsteady movement, have trouble climbing stairs, or even limp. Muscular atrophy could cause your dog to poop as it walks. The associated symptoms include weight loss, problems holding the body up, and uncoordinated movements. So, it is essential to keep a close watch on your dog and report to the vet if you encounter anything abnormal.
5. They Learned this Behavior as Puppies
During their puppyhood, they frequently meet with accidents at home. Maybe they have seen other dogs in the house or vicinity poop while walking. When faced with such a situation, try shifting to a safer location to avoid mess. Or he too may have shifted on hearing your firm ‘No.’ Now they have learned the behavior of moving mid-poop and sometimes eliminate it when on the move if the need arises.
6. Your Dog is Too Excited
Peeing or pooping in excitement isn’t a new thing. That would be more likely to happen if your dog has missed its morning rituals and is headed for a walk with you. On the way, he sees a bird or a squirrel and excitedly starts running after it. Now, with movement, his bowel also gets stimulated. The result is pooping while walking. Another scenario would be that your dog has stopped to poop. But, suddenly, something exciting meets his sight. He starts running while continuing to do his business (pooping).
7. It’s The Case of a Stuck Poop
It may often happen that your dog has been eliminated, but the stool hasn’t come out all at once. A part of it may be dangling. Walking involves physical activity and may have helped in dislodging the stool. If this happens once in a while, it is okay.
However, a regular occurrence may indicate something wrong with your dog’s digestion. Perhaps he is eating things that he shouldn’t in plenty like grass, sticks, etc., especially when he goes out. His digestive tract doesn’t seem to digest them well.
If you have a long-haired breed like the Havanese or Pekingese, they could swallow their fur mostly during the shedding season. The fur binds the stool together, resulting in hard clumps. So as an owner, you must watch what your dog is eating closely.
8. He’s Just Got Into the Habit of Doing the Same
Well, there may be no reason why your dog poops while walking. Your dog does it because it has been habituated to doing the same. As simple as that. Your dog may have always done it since its puppy days. The problem may not have been rectified and has been carried to adulthood.
9. He Doesn’t Have Control Over His Bowels
Besides an upset stomach, your dog might have trouble controlling his bowel movements. It’s because of other underlying medical conditions. They could suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or Parvo (canine parvovirus). It may result in bowel incontinence. In such cases, he wouldn’t just poop while walking but may also have frequent accidents at home.
10. Improper Nutrition
Does your dog have too much of treats? Are you giving him the proper kibble? Does his dog food contain preservatives, unhealthy fillers, and additives? If the answer is yes, then you possibly have an answer to your dog’s pooping as he walks. He needs to get the adequate nutrition that he should. So, he is either constipated or suffering from an upset stomach. In such cases, he wouldn’t just poop while walking. But, you would notice that your dog has a problem passing stools at home.
How Do You Stop Your Dog From Pooping While Walking?: 4 Different Ways
Pooping while walking isn’t a good thing. The earlier you correct the problem, the better it will be for your dog and you too. Contact your vet immediately for appropriate advice if they are related to your dog’s health. If the reasons are behavioral, then they should be rectified through proper training.
1. Socialize Your Dog
When you socialize your dog early, at 7-8 weeks, he will develop desirable behavior as he grows. Try bringing him out of his comfort zone. Expose your dog to new places, people, and situations immediately. In this way, you can help control his anxiety. Going to a new home won’t make him anxious.
2. Train Him to Follow Commands
Training your dog to follow your commands as early as possible is one of the best ways to correct your dog’s habit of passing stool while walking. If your dog has learned the command ‘Go,’ use it appropriately during housetraining. Select a spot in your house. Leash your dog and take him to where you want him to poop. Say ‘Go.’ If he goes and passes stool there, reward him with a treat. You could do the same thing when you go out. If it is an unknown place, show him a spot and give the command ‘Go.’ If he does as directed, remember to reward him. Also, simultaneously use the ‘Stay’ and ‘Wait’ commands if you find him moving away from that place while pooping.
3. Keep a Watch on His Diet
Make sure you give your dog good quality dog food that doesn’t contain preservatives or artificial coloring. You should also limit the number of treats you give them. Moreover, always consult with your vet while planning a diet for your dog. When you take him out, keep a close watch on all that your dog eats. If you see him nibbling on something, he shouldn’t pull him away and say a firm ‘No.’ Your dog will be less prone to constipation or diarrhea when you care about his diet.
4. Contact Your Vet If You Sense Any Underlying Medical Condition
If you find your dog has difficulty squatting, which is the reason behind his pooping when walking, you would have to identify if the cause is health-related or not. If he has associated symptoms (as mentioned above), don’t delay consulting the vet. Early intervention could help arrive at a quick solution to the problem.
FAQ’s
How to get your dog to stand and poop?
It will be achieved by training your dog in obedience and teaching him to follow commands from the time he is a puppy.
When should you worry about your dog pooping when walking?
Suppose he has other symptoms like limping, facing difficulties, losing weight, displaying a loss of appetite, etc. In that case, it could indicate an underlying medical issue that needs immediate treatment.
Conclusion
So if your dog has pooped during his regular walk once in a while, it isn’t a cause to worry. However, if it turns out to be an everyday affair, then it’s time to address the problem immediately to prevent further hassles.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.