Q&A: How To Make My Dog Poop In Public

This is a VERY good and unique question!
Most dogs go to the bathroom wherever they please…sometimes where you DON’T want them to.
But dogs like a Teddyhilton.com reader’s labs can be a little gun shy.
She writes:

I have labrador retrievers. I kept the only litter my lab had, meaning, I have 5 brothers and sisters who are turning 3 in a few weeks. Two girls, three boys, and none of them will ever do anything outside their backyard. It is kind of a pain since every day I take one for a 4-miles-walk, and they need so bad to go to the bathroom, but they will wait until they go home.
What can I do? My daughter is soon going to move out with the two girls, and I have no clue how to teach anyone to urinate for instance outside their comfort zone. I can say the magic word “pee” a thousand times, they won’t do it. They will do it if I say it at home in their yard.
I raised my other labs the same way, and it was never an issue. Just with my 5 labs litter!
Help!

Luckily, Dr. Patrick has the solution! He responds:

Thank you for your unique question. Having dogs that are only willing to urinate and defecate in their backyard and not out in all of the other environments seemingly suitable as the perfect place to pee or poop.
Firstly, get your dogs out to where you want them to urinate/defecate (now to be known as UD) first thing in the morning, even before AM feeding.
Take them to various locations where you want them to UD, ideally places other dogs have gone as well so that the scent of UD will provide stimulate for your dogs to leave their deposits. When they UD in a desired location, give them praise and a tasty food treat as sources of positive reinforcement.
I also like to the term “good pee” (at least with my dog), when a desirable urinary habits are displayed (same goes for “good poop”).
Eventually, these or similar terms become the voice command you can use once the good habit has been established. Also, the need for a food treat will be reduced once your dog is routinely UD in the place of your choice.
Be consistent, stay positive, and get your entire family/friends/etc involved to make a positive behavior change.
Good luck,

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[Image via Dr. Patrick Mahaney/Russel Baer.]