The way a dog "marks" - is it normal?

A Petville reader, Ellen, posts a question... can you help her?
She says: My problem is as follows: I have a year old male Airedale and who has had this problem since he's been 7 months old. Frequently, although not always, when I walk him into town from my home he will have a bowel movement, need it or not. He will then have another and another every few feet, progressively softer and mushier and eventually just squatting with nothing coming out. This does NOT occur when I am walking through our develpment, or when we take him to show grounds. It has nothing to do with exercise, as he plays hard with other dogs and we also work hard in his Intermediate Obedience classes. Once we are back in our development he stops, and doesn't "go" again until his next appropriate time to "go", and that movement will be perfectly normal. He has had several negative fecal tests, including Giardia because we live along a river.

The walk into town is a rural road, with no sidewalks. There are overhead electrical wires, which are NOT present in our development.

I don't know if he is marking with these bowel movements, is reacting to the overhead electrical wires, is exhibiting an anxiety disorder, or what. I'd love to know if anyone has any clues for me. We're already been to three vets, with no success. Other than this, he seems totally healthy and full of energy and happy in every way. In fact, he doesn't seem to even notice he has this problem.

Comments

[puggirl]

My sister's boxer did exactly this - just his way of marking. It was a nightmare to pick up after him!! (rest his cute little wagging tail in peace). I don't think he's nervous about the environment.

[Todd Hunt]

My experience tells me that your dog is probably doing this as a result of anxiety. Dogs often do this when nervous or anxious. It is often mislabled as marking.

[CINDY]

I would experiment with the diffent walking locations, maybe avoid the city for a month and just walk in the park, then go back and see if you notice anxiety or if it stops.

[gareth evans]

I too have a dog which has to empty his bowels on a walk. He is so embarassing! He is a 10 yr old westie and has always done it, he is not happy with 1 movement, he has to keep stopping ,sometimes up to 10 times!! until just drops of fluid come out,he especially does it when people are about, and when we get home his back end is like a sheeps!!! But we love him!