Pooooooo!!

[Itsallfuckery]

We have the most beautiful 15 week old pup, he’s fun, cuddly, loving, great with the kids and all the things you would generally wish for. But....he won’t stop pooing in the house!! 😫 we have cracked the wee. He goes outside when we take him, or he will scratch at the door to go out, perfect. But he seems to have an issue with pooing outdoors. He will take himself off quietly and do it indoors, or he will have ‘performed’ in his crate while we are out or overnight. We do not leave him for any real length of time, the longest would be an hour and a half at a time in the day. Overnight he sleeps through and would appear to poo first thing in the morning in his bed and then tell us afterwards. We don’t sleep in late, someone is always up by 6.30am, so it’s not that he’s left til late morning. Just wondering if anyone has any training tips, or has experienced the same? We have training booked for him after Xmas so I’m hoping they can help too

I think some dogs are quite shy when they poo. I have to avert my gaze when BiteyDog goes as he doesn't like it so that could explain why yours takes himself off to do a secret poo.

If mine doesn't poo at night then he will definitely need one first thing in the morning and that can be at 5am. I would try two things. First is that exercise helps them go so last thing at night if you don't already do so take him for a walk. If he goes then lots of praise just like you did at the start of toilet training. The second thing would be to set an alarm so you get up earlier than the dog. Maybe start at around 5 or 5:30 and wake him and then straight outside until he poos and then praise. This should hopefully break the habit he has got into with pooing in his bed. Obviously wash the bedding very thoroughly and all the other places he poo in.

Elfpup was terrible for this - I'd find little deposits in all the dark corners. It does come though - we've cracked his routine. He likes to "go" after breakfast so he's let out to bumble around the garden for 10 minutes or so.

I honestly thought he'd never get it but we haven't had a poo accident for weeks now I come to think of it

Another idea is to change feeding time to change when pup does a poo. Stay out longer. Maybe a longline would give him more privacy to poo?

Thankyou everyone, there are some extra things to think about and try here. I guess it’s just a case of waiting it out really, he’s still only a baby. Everything else has fallen into place with him, and at least his poos are tiny! 💩

I can't believe I'm going to suggest this but here goes! Cats won't go if it doesn't smell right! Maybe put a dog poo outside in an area you want pup to use?! Long shot I know.

Haha Wolfie, I’m up for any suggestion! A poo outside, if it’s the answer would be much welcome! Thankyou 😊

Only to add, don't shout or punish him when he poos indoors, or he'll basically associate doing a poo anywhere, especially near a human, with being shouted at. When he poos indoors, ignore him, nothing that could be viewed as praise or as being told off, nothing at all, complete silence. So when he does go outside you can heap so much praise on him it might just click!