Fussy Pooper

[DaisySunshine]

My little girl Daisy is finicky about where she goes. Piddling isn't a problem and she uses the backyard just fine. But she won't poo in the backyard. She did when she was younger but now she just won't. Even if I go out there with her. Instead, she waits til I am not looking and then goes in my bed room or in the second bedroom. She also has a weewee pad in the utility room downstairs that is available for her use.

What can I do about this?

Thanks!

[mrsgrubby]

You didnt' say how old she is, but I would be tough with her until she understands that outside is where she goes potty.

Keep her on a feeding schedule so you know about when she should poop.

Then around that time take her outside. Don't stare at her, my dog violet likes privacy to poop. Just busy yourself doing something in the yard, or leash her but don't stare at her. Give her 5 minutes. If she doesn 't go potty take her in and crate her for 20 minutes. Then back out for 5 minutes. If she goes this time she has earned freedom in the house, if she doesn't go, take her back to the crate for 20 more minutes. Then 5 more outside. She doesn't earn freedom in the house until she poops. When she does, give her a treat and praise and freedom in the house.

Then wait until the next time she should poop again and do it all over again.

[DaisySunshine]

Oh sorry! She is a 16 months old dachsund/chihuahua mix. Sweet as she can be.

That is a great plan! I will definitely try it. I know that she knows she is supposed to potty outside. If she can piddle, she can poo out there.

Being smarter than the dog is very difficult sometimes.

Thank you!

[Tiffany0204]

Mrs Grubby gave excellent advice.

Gizmo is a finiky pooper as well. In fact, he changes where he likes to poop on a regular basis (although funny, he's not so discerning when it's inside my house!).

I walk around with him alot and try to figure out where his next place to poop is going to be. I find walking also gets the bowels moving. Plus, there's been days when we've spent nearly an hour in cold weather or rain or whatever for him to do his buisness.

[bigdoglover]

Mrsgrubby is completely correct....and I am going to add on to her post.

Lots of people will wait to praise a dog for pooping outside until they are inside. Boy, that came out confusing!! My point is, as soon as he poops give him the treat and praise IMMEDIATELY. Don't wait til you get in the house. Its a common mistake that we have all made, so don't feel bad!! JMO

[Barrett]

My Mom's dog would not use the bathroom on a lead. She tried letting the leash drag while the dog was in the yard but it didn't work. I took her out on lead and waited for her to go. It took a full day but she finally went. I kept pieces of hot dog in a baggie in my pocket the whole time and the second she went potty she got half the bag of hotdog pieces and the most happiest praise. It took another day for her to go again and she got the hotdogs again. We did this everyday for two weeks and she finally got the idea. Now she goes on command on lead. I was thinking this would work for your dog. Keep a baggie of hotdog pieces and play the waiting game with your dog. Make sure she isn't out of your sight when she is in the house and take her out every hour all day long. The second she finally goes poo, give her the hotdogs and praise. Keep it up until she gets the idea that going poo outside gets her the treats. You can slowly phase out the treats over the next few months. Make sure she gets the treats for a while though...maybe 2-3 months and then phase them out and only praise.

[D.Schäferhund]

hmmm
i would call that getting yardclean....
well the pottying in the bedroom is bad , but all my dogs, even the little ones prefere after a while to put their poo further away from the house, meaning the backyard is to close and they decided it is not a pooing area, so if they can they carry it all the way down towards the horses...
doesn't bother me, don't have to pick up as much poo. but now i have to have them under close survailence, so they have to go in the yard.
but it is true they really don't like to be watched too close....
maybe start pottytraining all over again....

[DaisySunshine]

Originally Posted by Tiffany0204

Mrs Grubby gave excellent advice.

Gizmo is a finiky pooper as well. In fact, he changes where he likes to poop on a regular basis (although funny, he's not so discerning when it's inside my house!).

I walk around with him alot and try to figure out where his next place to poop is going to be. I find walking also gets the bowels moving. Plus, there's been days when we've spent nearly an hour in cold weather or rain or whatever for him to do his buisness.

Amazing how that works isn't it? What goes on in their furry minds? Good thing they are so cute. We would kick them all to the curb!

[DaisySunshine]

Originally Posted by bigdoglover

Mrsgrubby is completely correct....and I am going to add on to her post.

Lots of people will wait to praise a dog for pooping outside until they are inside. Boy, that came out confusing!! My point is, as soon as he poops give him the treat and praise IMMEDIATELY. Don't wait til you get in the house. Its a common mistake that we have all made, so don't feel bad!! JMO

Daisy did good this morning. I went out with her, instead of letting her do her own thing. She went like a good girl. And she got lots of praises while she was doing it too!

We went out last night into the back alley but she was to busy sniffing to do her business out there. She piddled but no poo. Silly girl.

[DaisySunshine]

Originally Posted by D.Schäferhund

hmmm
i would call that getting yardclean....
well the pottying in the bedroom is bad , but all my dogs, even the little ones prefere after a while to put their poo further away from the house, meaning the backyard is to close and they decided it is not a pooing area, so if they can they carry it all the way down towards the horses...
doesn't bother me, don't have to pick up as much poo. but now i have to have them under close survailence, so they have to go in the yard.
but it is true they really don't like to be watched too close....
maybe start pottytraining all over again....

I wish I had a big yard like that! Cool!

I keep the yard picked up but I think after awhile the smell just stays. We can't smell it but to dog it is there. I don't know.

The constant surveillance is hard. After finally getting a trash can that had a lid on it, I thought I was home free with letting her have the run of the house when I am home. But NOPE! She came up with something new. Pooing in the bedrooms.

Pottytraining her wasn't hard to begin with. She knows. It just needs to be reinforced.

[D.Schäferhund]

Originally Posted by DaisySunshine

I After finally getting a trash can that had a lid on it, I thought I was home free

i know what you mean, I put my trashcan in the garage and now they move furniture, yesterday, while i was at work, they tiped over the couch, it is a threeseater with recliners, not very light, but i found it tiped over.....

[DaisySunshine]

Originally Posted by D.Schäferhund

i know what you mean, I put my trashcan in the garage and now they move furniture, yesterday, while i was at work, they tiped over the couch, it is a threeseater with recliners, not very light, but i found it tiped over.....

Oh My!!! They must have been throwing a party or something! Goodness! Were there beer cans scattered around too?

[DaisySunshine]

Daisy did okay over the weekend and this morning! I am making sure to go out with her. She is kind of mopey about it but she does her business. I give her lost of praises but she is turning up her nose at the liver treats. Go figure! I would rather her be a picky eater than a picker pooper.