My 6 month old westie (Baxter) will not wee when we go for his walkies. Should I be worried? He wees in our back garden when he needs to go, but if we go walking (twice a day, for up to 40 mins a time) he will not go. Sure, he stops to sniff other dogs wee, and I encourage him to mark his territory so to speak, but NOTHING!

What do I do? Should I be that bothered?

so long as he's weeing outside in the garden and not on your carpets, i wouldnt worry. sounds like he's just set in his ways. some people can only relieve themselves in private loos, not public bathrooms, maybe Baxter is the same

Hmmm, never thought of it like that, I hate using public bathroom - like mother like son eh?!

Don't worry about it. It will happen in time. I had a dog who initially wouldn't wee on walks but she did eventually. As long as he's weeing in the garden he'll eventually realise he can do it on walkies too.

It took my dog a while to realise it was ok to wee when out on walkies. Bless him, he used to hold it in and then do the biggest wee as soon as we stepped foot in our garden! Perhaps he has stage fright? He's only young.

My sisters rescue dog has always been the same. Bless him it does not matter if they walk him for miles he will only pooh or wee in the garden! This is after five years! He is a perfect dog and so loveable but this is just something he does.

My dogs the total opposite, If you shut him out in the garden and watch him he just sniffs around but no wee's. He then comes back in and hassles me for a walk by prodding me with his nose.

Thats exactly how Baxter is! I'm guarenteed he will wee in the back garden as soon as he gets home!
Maybe he will grow out of it. I've decided its probably not a big deal!

I had a dog that would only do her business in the back garden. It was quite handy not having to scoop in public and carry bags around with you. When she was about 7 she cocked her leg at a lamp post a few times, which was pretty strange.

Try training him to wee on command. ie - say "pee-pee" when he wee's in the garden, then praise him or give a treat. He should soon learn to perform to this command when out on walks.