Night pooing

[river1]

Advice appreciated - we have a 1.5yr old pointer who was crated until recently at night. No issue previously lasting overnight and he goes out and does a poo last thing (fed at 5). Now out of the crate he has suddenly started pooing when he gets up in the morning but waits to pee until he is let out. I don’t think he is so desperate he can’t wait but obviously if up and walking around he has got into a bad habit. Don’t know how to break it! Thanks

[EndUser]

What time are you going down to let the dog out?

We had this with out 7-8 month old puppy and resolved it by going straight down to letting her out before any noise is made in the house.

We found if we go in and wake her up she's clean, but if she heats up showering or brushing teeth upstairs first it wakes her and she can't seem to hold on.

Or film the dog overnight to see what time the nightly accident happens and go to let the dog about 5 mins before it's due to happen. Or if you can't film it then take a punt. If you wake at 7 normally try 6:30 and if that doesn't work try 6 until you hit the jackpot and once you've identified the pop-o'clock time, work your way back up to a decent hour slowly.

[EndUser]

Or go back to using the crate to break the habit again!

[CrackersDontMatter]

I've just had this with our lab. Lots of things were discussed, implemented but it turned out he was helping himself to the dog food over night and then needing to poo. He'd figured out how to get into the storage bin. I've got a better one now and also moved it and now no pooing. Does he have access to food overnight? Even if you think it's secure?

Just wanted to offer my experience as I was looking at separation anxiety, illness, senility etc and it was something really obvious that I hadn't considered.

[river1]

Thanks all. Def no access to food and yes imagine it is happening just before we come down (we are up at 6.30). Enduser - did you manage to work back being able to wait a bit?

[missbattenburg]

Lots of things were discussed, implemented but it turned out he was helping himself to the dog food over night and then needing to poo. He'd figured out how to get into the storage bin.

I realise it must have been annoying (and maybe distressing) at the time and I am definitely not minimising that but... how bloody sneaky-clever is your lab?!?!

[longearedbat]

I have always let dogs out first thing before doing anything else (except perhaps have a pee), do you do this, or get dressed etc first?

[EndUser]

did you manage to work back being able to wait a bit?
Yes but it's still a work in progress, and by that I mean although we haven't had any more accidents, I live in fear of them and so don't dare increase the time again just yet!

DH gets up at 6am for work and if he goes downstairs straight away before showering, he finds her sleep and lets her out.

If he showers first I worry she will need the toilet because he has woken her. That's what used to happen.

On his days off he sleeps in until 6:30-7, and so long as we don't wake the dog she seems to manage to wait. But as soon as people make noise I'm down there like a shot to let her out each time. So I haven't relaxed to the 7-8am time frame I could afford to with my last Labrador. She is still young though!

[EndUser]

How did it go last night OP?

[river1]

Hi - still doing it 😔 and we are beginning to think he is doing it in the night not first thing as he immediately goes out and does another. Odd thing is he went to bed at 1.30 last night ! So poonat 1.30 before bed, another one sometime in night, another one at 6.30 when taken out this morning! Only thing we can think of is to crate him again to try break the pattern but really don’t want to . V confused.