Pooping in the house

[ReadingMama]

Our new rescue dog, not me.

We adopted a 3 yo lhasa apso mix almost 2 months ago. He has a grooming phobia and separation anxiety (especially if we lock him in his crate when we're gone), but otherwise he's doing great.

Except that when we don't put him in his crate when we leave the house, we sometimes come home to a poop pile on the floor. This is despite taking him out right before we leave. And not leaving him for more than 3-4 hours at a time.

Today I let him out before going to the pool, and there was poop on the floor when my husband got home 2 hours later. Tonight I let him out and less than 45 minutes after coming in, I found poop on our kitchen floor.

And when I tell him no, he acts like he has no idea what I'm saying! He feels no shame!

One more thing: Often we find a partial poo. Meaning--I think he might eat some of it after he poops.

Help!

[Oubliette8]

Have you figured out his poo schedule yet? My dog goes about the same time every day. Are you SURE he's going before you leave? Often I let my dog out and she pees and wants back in. Or does nothing at all. If I know I'll be going out and its approaching her poo time, I take her for a walk. That might just mean walking her in circles around the yard. Although, for some reason, a walk around the block seems to work faster- maybe the excitement coupled with the activity? My guess would be, he is approaching his time to go, and when you leave him, the anxiety loosens things up for him.

[nd_deadhead]

Mydog is 9 years old, and there are still times when I confine him (gates in and out of the foyer) when we're gone. He's fine during the day, when he expects us to be gone, but there have been times when we've all gone out for the evening after being gone all day, and he poops on the floor, or pees on the carpet (I'm pretty sure he does that out of spite, because it's happened when we haven't been gone long).

There's no reason to give a dog the run of the house when you're gone, if you suspect he might make a mess. If the crate freaks him out, maybe confining him to a small room, or get a "puppy playpen" in the kitchen.

[greenmagick]

Several things

First, totally normal in a new house

Second...do not tell him no if you find it after the fact. That really means nothing to them and if anything confuses them.

Third, he may be used to hiding and doing it...depending on his previous home he may have been trained to go inside or never trained at all.

A new dog you have to treat like a puppy as far as potty training. Either they need to be in your direct line of sight, preferably tethered to you, or in a crate.

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by ReadingMama

And when I tell him no, he acts like he has no idea what I'm saying! He feels no shame!

Well, he probably really doesn't have any idea what you're saying. And dogs don't feel shame either, so don't expect that.

I agree that you need to watch him to make sure he's pottying outside when you take him. Exercise is fabulous for getting the bowels moving - I often throw a frisbee for one of my dogs for a while before she feels the need to poop. Walks are great for this too, and make it more likely the dog will "empty".

Which brings me to another point - exercise and a predictable routine has been the key for my dog's separation anxiety. We'd go on a minimum 20 minute walk before we left the house and that really helped to take the edge off. Plus we'd also leave him a couple of treats when we were heading out - if he didn't eat them I knew he was really stressed, but once he started eating while we were gone I knew things were improving.

Oh, and make sure you're cleaning the area he's pottying in with a good enzymatic cleaner, otherwise he will still be able to smell it and it may become a habit!

[nd_deadhead]

Good points about routine!

My dogs have not had separation anxiety, but I do make sure I let them know that we are leaving the house. I tell them "Guard the house" - of course they don't understand the words, but they know it means that they might as well go lay on their blanket, because they don't get to go along. It eases some of the excitement surrounding us putting on shoes and coats, and the dog wondering if he's included in the activity.

[ReadingMama]

Poopology

Thanks for these suggestions! I don't think I've had a dog that goes outside and then comes in and poops before. I hadn't even considered that he might have a poop schedule! I just figured they go when they go and it varies.

I've been paying attention since you recommended it and he does seem to have a schedule of a late afternoon poo. As evidenced by his inside pooping, it seems like he's a twice a day pooper. I don't know when his other poop is because my dh lets him out in the early morning and I can't see him in the backyard late at night. But I will continue my poop detective work!

And it takes him FOREVER to get down to business. He's distracted by everything (my other dog, a bird flying by, a dog barking in the distance, me walking a few steps). So if my other dog just pees and goes to the door, he automatically follows her. He doesn't want to be outside by himself, so he won't take the time he apparently needs to get in the pooping mindset, smell half the yard, spin a few times and go.

It was incredibly helpful to get the advice you gave. It was common sense I guess, but I'd just never had to deal with it. Thank you. I still haven't decided about using the crate. Sometimes he does fine in it and sometimes he's drooled a bucketful. We have hard floors throughout the house now, but we're building a new house with carpet and will be moving in 6 or 7 months. I'd like to get this worked out before then!

Originally Posted by Ola_

Well, he probably really doesn't have any idea what you're saying. And dogs don't feel shame either, so don't expect that.

I think you're right about him not understanding what I'm saying. I think he's more of a body language guy. I've even tried using commands in different languages to see if his former owners were of another culture! It was no help!

My lab/border collie mix does seem to feel guilt. She's not allowed on our bed, but as soon as we leave, she hops right up there. I've come right back in because I forgot something and she comes slinking out of my bedroom with her head held low, squinty eyes, tail wagging submissively. If I go to her, she falls on the floor and rolls on her back. I know she's been on the bed because I can hear her jump down (dog nails on hard floors) and because there's a warm, furry spot on our bed!

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by ReadingMama

My lab/border collie mix does seem to feel guilt. She's not allowed on our bed, but as soon as we leave, she hops right up there. I've come right back in because I forgot something and she comes slinking out of my bedroom with her head held low, squinty eyes, tail wagging submissively. If I go to her, she falls on the floor and rolls on her back. I know she's been on the bed because I can hear her jump down (dog nails on hard floors) and because there's a warm, furry spot on our bed!

It's not caused by guilt or shame though. She has simply learned that if you come in and she's on the bed, she's likely to get in trouble.