My dog does his business where he shouldn't

[Ipun1sh3di]

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Hi I don't know if this right area to post but I have a collie cross and it's been happening for a bit now but if I let him out or take him for a walk he does his business then when I let him in or after we get back within an hour or so he wanders upstairs and does it all over the landing and in the bedroom the thing is its really ruining the carpets I just don't know why he ia doing it so much even after he has done what he needs outside I mean he is 10-11 years old now so don't know if its due to his age or something that needs looking into just want a few ideas if possible what could be wrong

 

[JoanneF]

It could well be his age, or a medical problem, especially if he has always been clean before. Dogs can suffer from canine age related cognitive disorder - a bit like doggy dementia, which can lead to them forgetting their toilet training. Have a word with your vet, there are medications that can help and take a sample along in case it's a medical issue.

 

[gypsysmum2]

I agree that a vet check would be the best thing first. There is a lot that can be done for age related problems now.

Just one other thing to consider, though, is have you changed his diet? The words "all over the landing and in the bedroom" make it sound as if, on top of his going on his walk, he is producing a lot of poo. Some foods cause dogs to produce a lot of poo.

 

[Ipun1sh3di]

I've always kept him on same food never changed his diet but I will try getting him into vet see what they say thank you for the replies

 

[JoanneF]

Also, in case there is a behavioural element, never react to an accident indoors. Just clean it up and show no emotion. If your dog fears your reaction to his toileting he may sneak off to toilet out of sight. That's the opposite of what you want him to do.

 

[Martyn01]

Hi

Please can anyone help I'm having a nightmare training my 13 week old Westie to use training pads in the day when I'm home he will go anywhere but, however, I thought sleeping and night and potty training was going to be a nightmare however, that has been the easiest part I wake up for him to go every 2 hours and he just does it on the pad but in the day it's a different story. I take him out for walks but he doesn't do anything and I can't keep walking him forever because of his age unless I'm wrong. Please can someone help?

Many thanks

Martyn

 

[JoanneF]

I don't like puppy pads - they give mixed messages about whether it's ok to toilet indoors and confuse the puppy, they make the process of toilet training a lot slower.

Ideally you want him to not be in a position where he needs to toilet before you have him outdoors, so that every toilet is outside - as far as possible, there will be accidents! So set him up to succeed by taking him out - and WAITING with him - even more than he needs; for example every 45 minutes to an hour and always after sleeping, eating, playing. When he toilets outdoors make a huge fuss (never mind the neighbours, act like outdoor toileting is the best thing you have ever seen) and reward him with a high value treat. Do that immediately, don't make him come to you for the treat so he is clear that it's for toileting and not for coming to you. The idea is that he eventually wants to earn the treat enough to hold the toilet until he is outside - once he is physically able to control his toileting obviously. If he has an accident inside don't react at all. If you get annoyed he may learn to fear your reaction and avoid you if he needs to toilet - the opposite of what you want. As he is actually performing the toilet you can introduce words he can associate with it (like 'do weewee' and 'busy busy') that later when he is reliably trained you can use these to tell him when you want him to toilet.

Indoors if you see him circling or scratching the floor, that can sometimes precede toileting so get him out fast.

 

[gypsysmum2]

I agree with JoanneF. Ditch the puppy pads! By putting them down you are saying "here you are a nice indoor toilet". The puppy has no idea that it is the pad you are wanting him to target. He thinks that it is fine to toilet indoors. The only reason puppies use them is because they are absorbent.

Only by following the advice above and training your puppy to want to go outside in order to get a fantastic treat, and a very happy owner, will you make any progress.

 

[Marz]

Hi I am having issues with my cockerpoo x collie 7months old she keeps pooing in her crate after she has been out she goes out last thing at night arons 11pm and we get up to let her out at 6:30 then she goes back in her cage till around 08:30 when she is back in the crate from that time she does a poo even if she has done one outside. Any ideas to help with this we have even tried leaving her outside till we go back at 8:30am still the same.

many thanks x 

 

[JoanneF]

So she goes out at 6.30, then poos in the two hour period after? I would keep her out at 6.30 until she has done a poo, reward massively, take her back in and wait with her until 8.30 so if she attempts to poo again you can get her out fast. Train a cue word by saying it while she is in the act of pooing. Later, when she understands what the word is for you can use it to prompt her to poo on cue.

 

[Marz]

cheers we do use a cue word peepee  for going out but never thought of a cue word for poo. Will give that a go and see how we get on. Thanks 

 

[gypsysmum2]

Guide dogs use "be busy" for the poo.

It is all about rewarding the right behaviour and ignoring the wrong behaviour. The dog starts to try to work out how to get rewarded and, once the penny drops, they start to look for you to go outside and give them a reward for a poo in the right place.

 

[leashedForLife]

basically, the future 'Cue' starts out as a label -
we attach it to the action by speaking the cue-to-be WHILE the dog is doing the action, Ex, dog has been standing at my side while we await a break in traffic to cross the street; dog sensibly sits to relax while waiting, & AS that butt goes down, i say, 'Pup, sit', in a cheerful tone with slight emphasis on the future cue, AND deliver a tasty tidbit as that bum hits the sidewalk.

It takes some timing to capture spontaneous actions like that one - attaching the label to pee / poop is much simpler, as it's during a walk or while awaiting a deposit during potty-training, so it's much-more planned; voiding is expected, & U'll have pea-sized tidbits on U in anticipation... Right?...   
It takes on average 3 to 5 days for most pups to connect the action 'pee' with whichever label U use, assuming U use it every single time, even at 3-AM; the label for the action 'poop' takes longer to attach, as pups don't stool nearly as often as they urinate - just like us.
How long it takes to make the label into a cue depends on accuracy [don't say it while they circle & sniff! - only when they're DOING it], consistency [say it every time], & avoid chattering to the dog, or multi-tasking: don't catch up on e-mail, text, play with the pup, etc; STAND & WAIT quietly & patiently, in an area where the pup has voided before.

Most pups are 'dry' overnite by 15 to 16-WO, & housetrained [can hold their bladder or BM for about 6 to 7-hours, day or nite - assuming they were taken out to potty B4 the time indoors began] by about 6-MO.  Hang in there.
 -- terry