my dog wont go potty at all !!!!

Question
today is Tuesday and i adopted my dog on Thursday at about 6:00 pm she is two years old she is very shy and took a little while to adjust she just started eating her food Sunday and she has only went to the bathroom twice Friday and Sunday. Sunday at 1:00 i don't know what to do i have tried staying in one spot and she doesn't do anything she actually will lay down and the place that she went pee the other two times she wont go into that area even if i try like guiding her and tugging on her leash she wont go if she does its for a second and then she has to get back on to the road. please help i hate letting her "hold it" that long.

Answer
Hi Amanda,

For an adult dog, arriving in a new home is incredibly stressful, even though you are being very loving and tender with her. It can take a month or longer before the dog really feels a part of your home.

So, because you only have the dog 6 days, she's still quite freaked out by this whole experience. Under periods of stress, it's not at all uncommon for dogs to refuse to go to the bathroom. It's utterly amazing to me how long they can "hold it", but hold it they do!

Continue to give your dog frequent opportunities to go to the bathroom outside, since you don't want it to get it in her head that it's okay to "go" in the house. On the walks, take her to quiet areas, if there is a place you can walk to with ground cover, such as shrubs that can help her to not feel exposed, or vulnerable. It could help if you took your dog to an area where other dogs have been known to go to the bathroom. Using a longer leash, or one of those leashes that automatically extend in length can help, it gives her some space from you.

When she finally does go to the bathroom on a walk, praise her lavishly, and give her a food treat  immediately. You want her to know that this is very good behavior, and good behavior should always be rewarded!

After a while of getting treats for going outside, she will gradually start to trust you. Right now she is scared, in shock, and doesn't know where she is or who you are. Stay with her, let her get to know she can totally trust you. Try finding out if she prefers to go on grass, concrete, rocks, mulch. Dogs often develop a preference depending upon where they've been taught to go in the past.

Best of luck!
Patti