I just adopted "Sasha" from our local animal shelter. Every morning I take her for a long walk and she will not do her business. As soon as we get home she makes a dash for the back yard and empties out behind a large bush there. Why does she do this?

signed,
Puzzled Peep

Dear Puzzled,

It is extremely common for dogs to avoid eliminating while being walked but then rush to eliminate upon returning home. This is interesting because there are two radically opposing reasons why dogs do this. One reason is that the owner has done an excellent job in housetraining and the other is that someone has inhumanely and improperly attempted to train the dog.

Dogs are creatures of habit. If from the beginning they only are given opportunity to eliminate in one area, then they will want to continue using that spot. Look at it this way, our culture and upbringing has taught us to use western-style private toilets to do "our business." If suddenly the law said we had to use phone booths in Jack London Square, we would "hold it" when we were out and as soon as we returned home we would rush to the privacy of our privy. So if a dog has only used his own private toilet area, he would naturally be reluctant to go elsewhere.

A second reason a dog will do this is because he was improperly housetrained. Some people erroneously think they should punish a dog when caught in the act of soiling in the house. If the dog is traumatized enough, he will avoid the mistake of eliminating in front of humans. If people are around, the dog will "hold it" for fear of being clobbered again. So again, he will wait until he can "do it" in privacy.