We are disagreeing...

[CC]

...on where exactly Diesel's toilet should be located. I was thinking outside in the yard, he seems to think the den is better!!! This is a two-year-old...actually 26 months!

Almost every morning since two weeks before Christmas, he's been pooping in my den. I have no idea why - I let them out first thing in the morning, and lately I'm letting them out a second time, five seconds after they come in from the first time, just in case they were screwing around on their first trip. Then I go have a shower, and come downstairs - 20 minutes - sure enough, there it is, steaming in the den!! And he knows it's wrong. I say "what did you do?" and he gets all slinky and runs away from me and away from the dump. I put him outside again while I clean it up (too late, I know), but what am I doing wrong??? He knows it's naughty, he knows I hate it, and he knows the yard is where to go...we've lived here for 4 months and this is new! The only things I can think is that we did get a new foster dog at the end of November and he's quite jealous of her getting my attention, plus the times kind of make sense. Also the week after we got Indy, I had a horrible stomach flu and was bedridden for 4 days, so I didn't get them out as regularly as I normally do - a few accidents happened during that lovely time. Also it *has* been exceptionally cold here for the last month. I only got Diesel last spring, so I have no idea if he's done this before.

I like to think I'm pretty good at dog training, but this is just so bizarre! I can't figure out why this keeps happening or what to do about it! HELP!

 

[Evie&Adam]

You might just need to leave him outside a bit longer. And watch him go potty, then praise like mad!! :D My Evie (yea i know - she never does anything wrong! Adam is my monster ) when she was a pup was like this. Drove me insane! It was just a matter of giver her more time outside. sometimes MAKING her stay outside and encouraging her to go potty.

 

[kerry001]

try this?

If he doesn't poop when you take him out the first time,crate him until you are out of the shower, then take him out again-he will quickly re-learn that there is a time and a place to do your business

 

[gmacleod]

Yep, if he doesn't go when you take him out first thing, then you should crate him while you can't be watching him. The more often he does it, the harder it's going to be to break the habit.

Another thing you could do is to give him a little exercise when he goes out first thing. Don't just let him out and expect him to go right away - obviously his bowels aren't quite co-operating with that scheme. However, exercise is a great bowel stimulant - so get out there with him and take a frisbee or something for him to chase. It'll probably only take 5-10 minutes running round before he needs to go, and it sure beats cleaning up poop every morning

 

[CC]

Leaving him outside longer probably has to wait until things warm up a bit...he's at the door knocking and barking after a few minutes with the terrible arctic weather we've been having lately, and next week is supposed to be even worse! Poor guy hates going outside anytime with all the snow and cold. But that is exactly why I've started adding the second trip outside. I'd say that with both trips, they're out for almost 10 minutes, which *should* be ample time. And I definitely do have a big party every time we get one outside - his evening loads are always done out there...this just seems to be a morning habit.

I've been thinking about crating him, or closing him in the bathroom with me, but it just seems so silly to have to do that with a 2 1/2 year old...yeesh, what a dork! Maybe I'll just try that anyway though and see if it helps after a week or so.

Thanks for the comments, and if there are any more, keep 'em coming!

A very frustrated mommy...

 

[gmacleod]

Mmmm. I didn't mean leave him out there alone for longer - I meant go out with him. Aside from the exercise thing to stimulate his bowels (which is only going to work if you're out there throwing the frisbee), you need to be reinforcing the good behaviour - pooping outdoors - by praising him when he does. You can't do that if you just put him outside and hope for the best. It is also how you're going to know whether or not he has actually pooped...

 

[Rlr.Giraffe]

Has it at all coincided with the weather? Because it has been so darn cold here lately that I wouldn't want to go outside right after waking up either. I know Willis has been holding it until the last possible second and then he goes out and stands on 3 paws to keep one warm. (that's how cold it is!! ) Or does he have issues at all with you going to work? Willis gets really anxious when he sees us getting ready because he associates it with crate time... just trying to throw out some ideas!

 

[CC]

We're in a townhouse with a really tiny yard - basically just a patio and about a 3-foot by 5-foot strip of grass (buried in snow at present). Don't really have room out there for frisbeeing or ball-chasing. I do go out with them sometimes, but I can (and always do) watch them out the den window, so I always know when business has been done. And Indy's out there with him too, setting a good example by pottying nicely where she's supposed to!

It totally seems to be related to the shower, I think - on weekends, if I'm just hanging around home and I don't jump in the shower immediately, he poops outside. Or perhaps that's just because I do leave him outside longer or take him out more times and I just don't notice the difference since I'm not in a rush to get to work.

Great ideas - I'll try making him run around in the house a bit before they head outside, and I think I will bring them into the bathroom with me - they like it in there anyway (I don't like having the door shut though - oh well, too bad for me!), and on warmer days they (and me too sometimes) will be staying out extra. I will conquer this pooing monster!