Night time pooping

[Gillzzzz]

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Hi,

I have a 21 month old Jack Russell/Dachshund cross.

Recently she has regularly started pooping in the hallway through the night, previous to this we've had no problems with her doing this. She sometimes wakes us up through the night to be let outside for the toilet, but we often get up in the morning to find a little present despite her being let out before bed and through the night.

She is fed twice a day (8am and 6pm) on a diet of raw natures menu meat cubes mixed with some wainwrights dry food (the only thing that we have changed is moving from the puppy dry food to the small dog version approx. 1 year ago, long before this issue started).

We tried moving her 2nd walk of the day from 5 or 6pm (pre dinner) to 8pm or later (post dinner), which hasn't seemed to make much difference.

Any advice on how to stop this continuing? I am also interested/concerned to know why this has started all of a sudden?

Thanks in advance

 

[JoanneF]

If it is out of character maybe a vet check would be a good idea to rule out a medical issue.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Yes, vet check first.

If all is clear then think about chews etc. Is she having bones/rawhide chews? This can fill the bowel and make it hard for the dog to hold on until morning.

Next I would just run through the house training with her again. Whenever you see her go in the right place reward her well. Timing is everything. She must realise she is being rewarded for pooping outside. For this to happen you have to be there, on the spot, with treats. If you have forgotten the treats then lots of praise

If your dog seems to be avoiding pooping when you are around then consider that she may have picked up on your displeasure around poop. This can cause dogs to hold on until they are alone. This may be when you are out or have gone to bed.

It can be quite difficult to deal with this, if it is an issue, because you have to convince your dog that you like poop but just in the garden/outside. Any indoor poop has to be met with indifference not frustration or anger as this causes the situation to deteriorate and the dog to wait until you have gone to bed.

It may have started as a one off accident and then become a pattern to avoid your reaction around poop. Dogs do not think ahead that you might be upset to find poop "later" they just think "oh good, I am alone, I can poop safe from human displeasure". It does not have to be punishment that causes them to think like this. Just a frustrated sigh can do it!

 

[Zena Conkey]

I agree get her checked out by the Vet first, if all is well try moving her last feed to earlier in the day.

 

[Gillzzzz]

Hi guys, thanks for the advice. I have her booked in to see the vet on Wednesday. As mentioned above by gypsysmum2 - I think it's probably a bad habit that started as an accident but has continued into a habit. She seems happy in her self otherwise, but better to be safe than sorry though and get her checked out

 

[JoanneF]

Let us know how she gets on.

 

[Gillzzzz]

Hi all,

Lily had the vet today and has a clean bill of health. He said it's probably a behavioural issue where she's fallen in to a bad habit. He has suggested crate training her (just now she just sleeps in the living room on the sofa). As well as making a big deal when she does go outside like she's supposed to. Does anyone have any thoughts on crate training at her age?

 

[gypsysmum2]

Crate training can be done at any age. It is best to buy a crate that the adult dog can stand up, turn round and lie down in comfortably. Too big and they sometimes toilet at one end

When you introduce it you should treat it as the best new toy in the world. It is not a punishment cell for a naughty dog and should never be used as such.

Fill the crate with a lovely soft bed and put it in a quiet location favoured by the dog. Toss treats and toys in for her to go in and get. Allow her to enter and leave at will for a few days until you are sure she is comfortable with the concept.

Progress to feeding her in it with the door shut for a few minutes. Always let her out before she cries or makes a fuss. Give her things like stuffed Kongs and chews to have in there with the door shut. Encourage her to sleep in there during the day.

Once she is comfortable with it you can use it, at night, to prevent her from pooping. You should still listen out for her to need the toilet. If she does need to go out then be very boring. Just open the crate, take her outside, reward the poop calmly, ignoring all other behaviour, and pop her back in her crate until morning.

Apart from any middle of the night crying for the toilet try to ignore all other calls to be let out. Quiet dogs get let out. Noisy ones have to wait. Stand with your back to the crate if you want to let her out but she is making a lot of noise. As soon as she pauses in her noise then let her out. Wait for slightly longer quiet periods each time you let her out.

 

[Gillzzzz]

Thank you for the advice! Really appreciate it. Will take it all on board and hopefully get her sorted out

 

[JoanneF]

Gypsysmum gives great advice and I have learned a lot from her posts. But we seem to disagree on leaving a dog crying

I think if a dog is distressed, we shouldn't leave her to cry. Many people make the mistake of allowing a puppy to cry in the hope that they grow out of it, when actually all they have done is cement in the puppies mind that being left in the crate is indeed a terrible thing, and for many dogs this fear becomes a learned habit. If you can assess your dog's tolerance you can interrupt before she reached it. Say she starts to cry at 3 minutes go back to get and let her out after 2.5 minutes. So she gets to see the crate isn't a terrible thing before she realises something is wrong, if that makes sense. Gradually build up. Outside of the crate; I agree with Gypsysmum's theory completely about rewarding her with attention when she is being independent and not when she is being clingy; it's just the practice of leaving her to cry out her distress that I suggest an alternative approach. Sorry Gypsysmum

 

[gypsysmum2]

JoanneF, I took account of your opinion, in my last paragraph, by suggesting just standing by the crate ignoring the dog The dog should not, therefore, become distressed as it has company but is merely being ignored.

I might, wrongly, assume sometimes that an owner would not let their dog get too distressed before intervening.

 

[JoanneF]

Apologies; I must have misread you ☺