"Gotta Go, Gotta Go!"
Tips for Preventing Relieving Accidents in Harness
Has this happened to you? You take your faithful guide dog out to his usual area to relieve. It is the same time that you take him every morning, the weather is gorgeous, there are no distractions and you wait for 10, 15, perhaps 20 minutes for your dog to 'do his business'. During this time, he stands there, like a lump, looking up at you as if to say "What are we DOING out here?. You begin to get frustrated and start pulling dog to get him to move and relieve. He resists and so you begin to think that perhaps he doesn't have to go after all. You harness him up and begin on your usual route to the bus stop to get to work. Perhaps one or two blocks into the route, your wonderful dog suddenly stops, hunches and evacuates...right in the middle of the sidewalk. Embarrassing? Yes! Frustrating? YES, indeed!
There is no doubt that accidents in harness are a significant source of grief and irritation for many guide dog handlers. It seems particularly frustrating when the handler is very consistent with the schedule and then their dog still has the occasional accident. What is happening? How do we get them to stop!?
First, it is critical that the handler understand that defecation is an involuntary act. This means that the dogs can't help themselves and when the urge strikes them, they must 'heed the call', as it were. It is clear that some dogs are better able to 'hold it'...some can do so for long periods without strain. Other dogs must evacuate immediately if the urge strikes, regardless of where they are. Understanding this critical point is crucial for the handler to recognize. Venting anger or severely correcting the dog when they do have an accident only teaches the dog to evacuate the next time in a more 'covert' manner. I have seen guide dogs that will not stop when they relieve, but keep walking, to avoid getting corrected for this involuntary behavior. A far more successful strategy is to do everything possible to get the dog to eliminate prior to going out for a walk.
There are several key factors that can impact a dog's relieving habits:
1. Regular, predictable schedule
2. Stimulation (movement)
3. Type of surface (grass, asphalt, dirt etc.) 4. Feeding time and Frequency of feeding 5. Quality of food being fed 6. Distractions in relieving area 7. Handlers attitude during scheduled relieving 8. Water intake 9. Olfactory stimulation during guidework
Any one or all of these factors can increase a dog's propensity to have regular or occasional accidents in harness. Let's address each issue one by one.
Regular, predictable schedule There can be no doubt that dogs thrive on regular routine and schedules. Guide dogs are far more likely to relieve regularly and at appropriate times if they have a consistent daily schedule and get to relieve in the same areas. Each handler and dog has a schedule that works best for them. Your schedule does not have to completely mimic the schedule you had while in class training. It is critical that relieving opportunities coincide with important aspects of daily routes and feeding. In short, your dog should have an opportunity to relieve prior and after a workout, after feeding and first thing in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Another important point to consider is that taking the dog out to relieve 20 times a day is not going to prevent accidents in harness. It is the quality and timing of relieving opportunities, not the number of times or the amount of time a dog is given to relieve. It is important that you allow a dog at least 10 minutes at a time.
Stimulation (Movement) Let's face it... Humans have the advantage of gravity on their side, to assist with bowel movement and regularity. Dogs bowels are horizontal to the ground, making it more difficult for waste to move through the bowels in a natural manner. For this reason, physical movement is one of the BEST ways to get a dog to 'feel the urge' to defecate. This is also the reason dogs may not go while standing at the relieving area but immediately feel the urge once they start working and walking. A great strategy is to set aside 10-15 minutes prior to relieving time and give dog an opportunity for active play...tug, chasing the Kong, anything that gets them moving. Some dogs are resistant to active play. Another successful strategy for this type of dog is to calmly heel the dog up and down a set of stairs or from one room to another. The goal is to get the dog moving and active prior to relieving. This strategy helps dog to be 'more productive' when he actually goes out to relieve. There are some dogs that 'naturally stimulate' during relieving times. These dogs walk around the handler in a circle and then go without prompting. Other dogs are less active and are stoic when relieving. These dogs benefit most from play sessions prior to relieving.
Type of Surface Most dogs have a 'preferred surface' upon which they will readily relieve. Most dogs enjoy grass, as it holds smells that stimulate relieving. Some dogs actually don't like grass, particularly if it is wet. Some dogs relieve willingly on asphalt, other dogs abhor relieving on asphalt and will hold it rather than relieve. Class training focuses on relieving on asphalt because this surface is more readily available when out working. It is however, not the preferred surface for many dogs. If grass is available to you in most of your travel areas, it may be an easy solution just to allow dog to relieve on grass or dirt surface. A valuable strategy to avoid accidents in harness is to evaluate the regular relieving area you use and whether your dog 'embraces' that area. Allowing a dog to relieve on their preferred surface can prevent or minimize accidents in harness. If you choose to keep dog on asphalt or concrete surface, make sure the surface is clear of glass or debris and cleaned regularly. Here's a trick to help your dog embrace a new asphalt surface: Try catching some of your dog's urine or feces from another area and put it on the asphalt surface to stimulate relieving.
Feeding Time: There has been some noted success with eliminating accidents in harness by changing the time of day a dog is fed. We recommend that guide dogs are fed twice a day. Our vets recommend separate feedings and then relieving the dog within about 20 minutes after eating, if possible. This time gives all the autonomic nerve functions in the colon a chance to "enjoy the meal", realize there is too much on board, and then signal to your dog that it is "time to relieve". Sometimes switching the dog to a single feeding can prevent accidents. Most people prefer to single feed in the late afternoon or evening, allowing the dog all evening to digest food so they evacuate first thing in the morning. This may work but some dogs also do better being fed in the morning. In short, just making a big change in the feeding time can help resolve the problem in some dogs. Please don't try this strategy if your dog has medical diet or has sensitivity to an empty stomach (vomiting bile). You should consult with your vet about any change in feeding routine.
Quality of Food Being Fed Guide Dogs for the Blind recommends feeding your dog a high quality dog food such as Eukanuba or Science Diet. High quality dog foods contain nutrients that your dog is able to absorb and utilize for energy. Lower quality foods have bulk 'filler' material such as corn. Dogs don't utilize or process corn very well and so the bulk of the food passes through the dog's system, creating more waste. In general, higher quality foods produce less waste. There are some premium diets that have very little filler and create very little residue waste. Please consult with your vet before considering a food switch due to relieving issues.
Distractions in the Relieving Area If possible, pick a relieving area that is quiet and away from complex or populated areas. Some dogs get so distracted by watching 'activities' in the environment; they forget to focus on the task at hand...doing their business!
Handler Attitude during relieving times Some dogs are shy and modest. Some dogs require quiet and concentration to do their business. Many dogs are very reluctant to relieve if the handler is constantly chatting to them, pulling them around the relieving area or constantly reaching down to check if the dog is relieving. Staying calm and quiet and allowing dog to relieve on long leash without interference is a simple way to help your dog get the job done. Most dogs will clearly indicate that they are about to 'do the job' by moving or circling. This is the time to reach down and check. Conversely getting sighted assistance to confirm when dog is going is a reasonable option rather than constantly touching dog and distracting them from their business.
Urinating in harness: Water Intake & Marking Up till now, we have been focusing on the problem of defecating in harness. Urinating in harness is frequently related to the amount of water a dog drinks during the day. In general, too much water intake creates the need to urinate more frequently. If your dog has a propensity to drink water to excess at every opportunity, this dog should be put on a water schedule and offered 2 c. at each offering to avoid tanking and relieving issues. Some dogs will also urinate in harness because they are 'marking' their territory. This is a normal dog behavior and both males and females can exhibit this negative behavior. This is a behavior issue rather than a water intake issue and should be addressed in a firm manner. Dogs that are marking, frequently release just a small amount of urine as they walk and may lift their leg on a bush as they do so. If you detect your dog doing this, you should stop and immediately correct dog verbally with a "NO" command and then correct him into a sit position. It is important not to allow your dog to sniff bushes while working to minimize marking behavior. It is also important to note that some urinating in harness or in house issues may be related an undiagnosed medical disorder such as a urinary tract infection. If you suspect this, please consult with your veterinarian.
Olfactory Stimulation during Guide Work As stated earlier, dogs that have regular opportunities to casually sniff bushes and grass while they perform guide work, are more likely to get stimulated to relieve and have accidents. A successful strategy to minimize sniffing during GW is to utilize a gentle leader, which allows handler to better detect when dog is lowering his head to sniff. If a Gentle Leader is not available, keeping leash in right hand while working and giving small leash corrections when dog lowers head may be an alternative technique. You may also utilize sighted assistance to help you detect when dog is attempting to sniff nearby bushes. Consistent handling and control is key.
In conclusion, preventing relieving accidents in harness is a matter of taking the extra time to evaluate your routine, relieving environment and your dog's relieving habits. Taking preventive measures to ensure you dog is 'empty' prior to going out for a walk is the best way to avoid the embarrassing accidents on route. Remember, your dog can't help his relieving habits, but you can!
[Guide Dogs for the Blind]<