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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Pooch poos in the night

48 replies

Righthandcider · 26/09/2022 22:36

We have two dogs. A 7 year old female wire haired vizsla and a 3 year old male wire haired vizsla / lab cross. Both neutered, not related.

The boy eats three times a day - 9am, 12pm and 4pm. The girl twice at 9am and 4pm.

They have three walks a day, with the last one at 6ish.

I'm looking for advice as they both regularly poo on the floor at night. Which is nice. If we take them out last thing they may wee but they won't poo. It just seems that most nights they don't need it until the small hours at which point they let loose!

They eat good quality kibble. We can't feed raw owing to minimal freezer space.

Any ideas how we could fix this nocturnal poo problem?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Clymene · 26/09/2022 22:38

Have they always done it? Have you had them both from puppies and the older one did it and so the younger one did it too?

If it's both I'd say it's behavioural rather than a health issue but think you'd need to work with someone.

Original poster
Righthandcider · 26/09/2022 22:44

Yes, had both from puppies. I agree it's not a health issue. And yes it could be behavioural but I think it's probably more to do with timing of their meals and walks. Wondering really what other people do on that front.

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Clymene · 26/09/2022 22:57

I think it's very unlikely to do with that. My dog has his dinner at 6pm and just goes for a wee in the garden after that. He doesn't poo until our morning walk.

My dog is 8 and hasn't done a poo indoors since he was a puppy.

ApplePears · 26/09/2022 23:07

4 is quite early, it leaves a huge gap between meals. Could you push it back to 7pm? Then if you let them out first thing they might hold off until then.

stevalnamechanger · 26/09/2022 23:23

Are they crated ? Dogs are unlikely to toilet in their "bedroom" space

I'd take them out much later than 6, ideally just before bed

mountainsunsets · 27/09/2022 06:02

Change their mealtimes - either much earlier or much later. My dogs' last meal of the day is just before bed with his main meal around 1pm.

KangarooKenny · 27/09/2022 06:55

Walk them before bed. Doesn’t have to be a long walk, just enough for them to sniff other dog’s smells.

Blueuggboots · 27/09/2022 07:01

We used to feed our dog at 3. Any later would result in a delightful "gift" the next morning.

Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:07

ApplePears · 26/09/2022 23:07

4 is quite early, it leaves a huge gap between meals. Could you push it back to 7pm? Then if you let them out first thing they might hold off until then.

Yes, that's what I wondered. We tried making their meal earlier (was 5.30 pm, now 4) but it hasn't helped. Perhaps later is the answer.

We usually do take them out for the loo last thing, say 10ish (in the past we've also tried making this a 15/20 min walk) but it still doesn't make a difference. They don't poo until we're all fast asleep.

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/09/2022 07:09

our dog did this when a puppy so we took her in the bedroom
can you change where they sleep?

Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:16

Blueuggboots · 27/09/2022 07:01

We used to feed our dog at 3. Any later would result in a delightful "gift" the next morning.

Hmm, interesting. Did you ever try pushing it to bedtime instead?

OP posts:
Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:17

KangarooKenny · 27/09/2022 06:55

Walk them before bed. Doesn’t have to be a long walk, just enough for them to sniff other dog’s smells.

Sadly that doesn't tend to do the trick for these two.

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HumbleApe · 27/09/2022 07:18

What other times of day do they poo?

Do you know what time in the night they go?

Do they try to wake you up or just go?

Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:18

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/09/2022 07:09

our dog did this when a puppy so we took her in the bedroom
can you change where they sleep?

could be worth a try although if they're in our room we'll get no sleep!

OP posts:
Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:20

HumbleApe · 27/09/2022 07:18

What other times of day do they poo?

Do you know what time in the night they go?

Do they try to wake you up or just go?

They go on each walk - about 8, 1.30 and 6.

Not sure when they're going in the night. Maybe we need a camera.

They don't try to wake us.

OP posts:
Beamur · 27/09/2022 07:24

My last dog went through a phase of inappropriate toileting (she was quite highly strung) and I switched feeding her to once a day in the morning to break the habit. In the evening I would give her a small handful of kibble scattered on the floor and a chew so she had a little something in her stomach (and didn't look so sad!)
This has become normal behaviour for your dogs. Are they toileting onto a hard floor?
My friend crates her dogs to help train toilet times as they won't poo in their beds.

Rollerbird · 27/09/2022 07:24

Our dog did this BUT when she came to sleep in our room she does now whine or lick us if she needs to go (didn't while downstairs)

FeralWitch · 27/09/2022 07:33

Sorry, but your thread title was answered in my head by,

’…exchanging glances..’

FizzyTango · 27/09/2022 07:40

I think based on what you say you should feed them later on. If that doesn't do the trick then it's behavioural and you'll need to change things up (routine/where they are sleeping etc) to try and break the habit.

Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:43

Beamur · 27/09/2022 07:24

My last dog went through a phase of inappropriate toileting (she was quite highly strung) and I switched feeding her to once a day in the morning to break the habit. In the evening I would give her a small handful of kibble scattered on the floor and a chew so she had a little something in her stomach (and didn't look so sad!)
This has become normal behaviour for your dogs. Are they toileting onto a hard floor?
My friend crates her dogs to help train toilet times as they won't poo in their beds.

Thanks - will try this too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:46

FeralWitch · 27/09/2022 07:33

Sorry, but your thread title was answered in my head by,

’…exchanging glances..’

I'm going to be singing that all day now. With slightly adapted lyrics of course. 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:48

Rollerbird · 27/09/2022 07:24

Our dog did this BUT when she came to sleep in our room she does now whine or lick us if she needs to go (didn't while downstairs)

Our two large and not very well trained dogs would spend the entire night jumping on the bed. Think poo might be the lesser of two evils!

OP posts:
Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 07:49

FizzyTango · 27/09/2022 07:40

I think based on what you say you should feed them later on. If that doesn't do the trick then it's behavioural and you'll need to change things up (routine/where they are sleeping etc) to try and break the habit.

Think we might try that first.

OP posts:
Ivedonethisthreetimesalready · 27/09/2022 09:55

They are doing a lot of pooing in a 24 hour period if they are going 4 times a day.

Is there a reason your dog is on three meals a day?
How much kibble are they getting a day?

Most dogs you would be aiming for 2 poos a day after meals and maybe what I call an ecercise induced poo.

I would not bring feeding earlier, you do not want them to wake up earlier as they are hungry. I would be pushing the last meal later and encourage them to wait until morning for the poo

Original poster
Righthandcider · 27/09/2022 12:35

The girl has 250g a day in two meals and the boy 325g in three. It's James Wellbeloved.

They're both quite large dogs but slim and in his case muscly round the haunches. Vets always say they're in great nick.

The breed has a deep chest and a small waist, and we were told to be careful about feeding big meals in one go as it can result in twisted intestines.

OP posts:
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