Why Does My Dog Poop Multiple Times On A Walk? (8 Reasons & How to Stop It) 

As a dog owner, I completely understand how important it is to have a properly potty-trained dog. But then potty training hasn’t been a smooth sailing journey for me when it came to my dog. My dog had developed this habit of pooping multiple times while on a walk! So, I had to find answers after an indepth research and visit the vet.

Why does my dog poop multiple times on a walk? Well, dogs have an innate need to mark their territory. Although dogs commonly urinate to establish their territory, pooping multiple times is the other way of claiming their territory. Also, when a dog engages in high levels of physical activity, pooping multiple times is a common outcome. 

However, there are a lot of other reasons that I found through my research. Something helpful I understood was that this isn’t abnormal. It can be regulated. Read on to find out all the reasons your fur baby may be pooping so frequently on walks. 

8 Reasons My Dog Poops Multiple Times on a Walk 

For dog owners, it is a relief to see their dogs poop outside the house while on walks. However, it can be very alarming if you see your dog defecating multiple times. It can be a very unnerving experience. Here are 8 reasons your dog may be pooping multiple times:

1. Increased Physical Activity 

When dogs are inside the house, it is natural that their level of physical activity is lower. They can’t really run around as much or as fast as they would like to. So naturally, when they’re out on walks, they run around a lot. This heightened physical activity can cause increased bowel movement.

When your dog is sedentary, the muscles of the bowels don’t get stimulated. So, your dog doesn’t poop at home but when he’s out on walks, all the running around makes your fur baby poop frequently. For dogs that never poop at home, stimulation of the bowel musculature through exercise can therefore make them poop frequently.

2. Bad Potty Habits 

As already mentioned, one of the biggest challenges that a pet parent faces is potty-training their dog. It is, without a doubt, a huge challenge for pet parents. Poor potty habits are common amongst puppies because they’re still in the process of getting potty-trained. They will mess up.

However, it’s important to know that adult dogs poop anywhere between 1-2 times a day. And when it comes to puppies, they can poop up to 5 times a day usually half an hour after meals. However, it is important to start potty training as soon as possible so that this situation can be avoided.

3. Fecal Impaction 

A fairly common digestive issue that dogs often deal with is called fecal impaction. Fecal impaction is the medical term for constipation amongst fur babies. Fecal impaction has an effect on the number of times your canine buddy may be pooping whether indoors or outdoors.

Drinking inadequate quantities of water, consuming food deficient in fiber, trauma, inadequate exercise, and eating foreign objects are common causes of fecal incontinence.

Older canines are more prone to fecal incontinence. So you must remember to be mindful of your dog’s age and dietary habits to take the necessary steps to treat their constipation issues. 

4. Overstimulation 

It is common for pet parents to spend a lot of time figuring out whether their puppy is overstimulated. What level of stimulation is considered normal for dogs? Is the puppy hyperactive? Pooping multiple times while on walks can be the reason pet parents think about overstimulation.

Research has shown that there is a link between excessive physical activity and diarrhea among dogs. Yes, that’s right! If your dog is overstimulated through play, it can activate his or her bowel movements. This can make your canine buddy poop very frequently when on walks because that’s when they are the most active. 

5. Bowel Incontinence 

When it comes to dogs pooping multiple times on walks, remember that it’s important to take note of the consistency, content, and color of the poop. Fecal incontinence is a common phenomenon amongst older canines. Weaker anal muscles are a key cause of fecal incontinence.

If your dog has diarrhea, fecal incontinence will be a symptom. Kidney disease, colitis, lack of muscle tone, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and other gastrointestinal issues can cause your fur baby to pass small amounts of poop involuntarily. So, it’s extremely important to take note of the quality, consistency, and color of your dog’s poop.

6. Anxiety and Stress 

Research has indicated that dogs can suffer from mental health issues. Dogs pooping multiple times on walks can be an indicator of mental health struggles.

Extensive research work has shown that gastrointestinal issues in the form of frequent pooping are one of the most common responses to stress among canines. If your fur baby is stressed, which could be for reasons like a change in the physical environment, loss of someone special, etc., they’ll experience gastrointestinal issues. 

7. Gastrointestinal Upset & Diarrhea 

New pet parents are usually in the habit of keeping a regular check on the quality, quantity, color, and consistency of their fur baby’s poop. Most dog owners are used to this! This is important because your dog’s poop quality is a direct indicator of your canine’s digestive health.

When it comes to gastrointestinal issues, constipation, diarrhea, and colitis are the most common ones. These can change your dog’s pooping schedule and frequency. For instance, colitis refers to the inflammation of your dog’s large intestine. The colon’s potential to store fecal matter and absorb water decreases. This leads to runny and thin stools.

8. Muscle Pain & Paralysis 

There is research that is out there about how your dog pooping multiple times may be linked to neural issues. Research has shown that dogs that have suffered from injuries to their spinal cord may deal with irreversible autonomic and locomotor dysfunction including fecal incontinence and urinary incontinence.

Dogs who are paralyzed have no control over their bowel movements or bladder. So, this might be causing your fur baby to poop very frequently.

It is best to contact your veterinarian in situations where you think that your fur baby might have sustained an injury to their spinal cord or is experiencing muscle pain.

How to Stop My Dog From Pooping On Walks 

When it comes to implementing effective strategies to stop your dog from pooping multiple times, patience is key. Here are some key pointers to keep in mind:

• You have to teach him obedience commands. Take your dog to a designated spot. Applying principles of conditioning is essential in effective potty training. Wait till he poops in that spot. Reward your dog when he poops in that designated spot.
• Consistency in terms of your dog’s walking routine is essential. You have to encourage your dog to poop in a particular place while on his walk and not just whenever your dog wants to poop. Research has shown that puppies naturally respond faster to training than adult dogs.
• Active supervision is essential. Without active supervision, your dog’s potty training can be negatively impacted. Try your best to not miss pooping accidents. It’s important for you to identify a particular place where you want your dog to poop before anything else. You have to dedicate about 10-15 minutes more to training your dog with a leash on for a couple of weeks. 
• Your dog’s diet is key to a sorted pooping schedule. Sudden changes in your fur baby’s diet can have a huge impact. The quantity of poop and frequency of pooping is significantly affected by sudden dietary changes.
• Giving human food to dogs is a natural part of having a fur baby. However, too much human food is not good for dogs. Make sure you research the type of human foods you’re feeding your dog. Whether it’s whole foods or processed foods, research is key.

Is it normal for my dog to poop 3 times on a walk? 

One of the most common questions that dog owners deal with is how often should my dog poop? Well, when it comes to dogs before you ask yourself this question, you need to know your dog’s life stage.

If you are dealing with a puppy, it is considered normal for your puppy to poop up to 5 times a day. This especially happens approximately half an hour after meals. So, if you have a little puppy whose poop quality is normal, it is absolutely fine for them to poop up to 5 times a day. When it comes to adult dogs, anywhere between 1 to 3 times is normal. 

Why does my dog poop 3 times in a row? 

When it comes to addressing this particular question, it is very important that you have a baseline established. How often does your dog normally poop? 1-3 times a day? Then it’s normal. However, if your dog usually just poops once a day, then this sudden increase in the frequency of defecating can be due to a number of reasons.

Do not be alarmed! Some of these reasons are quite normal. Dietary changes or changes in the level of activity can make your dog poop more frequently than normal. But remember that the poop quality has to be normal. 

Dog poop starts solid, then soft 

Before you start getting all worried about this phenomenon, it is important for a dog owner to understand what is considered to be normal poop for dogs. So, what is considered to be normal stool quality, quantity, and color for dogs?

The stool that is smooth and structured (log-shaped and firm) but not too hard with a chocolate brown color is considered to be normal poop for dogs. Now keeping this in mind, if you notice that your dog’s poop is suddenly changing in quality and consistency, it could be due to gastrointestinal issues like colitis, constipation, diarrhea, or mental health issues.

Final Thoughts 

I understand how nerve-wracking it can be as a pet parent to notice unusual bowel movements in your canine buddy. However, it’s important to have a comprehensive idea of normal poop quality, quantity, and frequency amongst dogs before getting all worked up and thinking that something is wrong with my dog.

Dogs can poop more frequently while on walks if their level of physical activity has suddenly increased or there have been dietary changes, gastrointestinal issues, or they’re suffering from stress and/or anxiety. So remember to research well and reach out to your veterinarian for your dog’s well-being.