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How do I keep my dog from crapping in my house?
12/24/2011 10:09:56 AM
I have had a lot of Labs and never had this problem. We just got a Scottish Westie in October. He is about 4 months old. He was pooping in the house in spite of our best efforts. We would put him outside for 2 hours and the second we let him in he would run downstairs and crap. So we made a rule, either he was outside, or in his crate. No exceptions. We have done this for about a month to 5 weeks. We let him have a little freedom the other day and he did it again, first chance he got.
What do we do now?
What do we do now?
12/24/2011 10:36:31 AM
Well, if it is so obvious that he is going to go as soon as you let him out of the cage then you have to watch him, catch him in the act and correct him. Yell NO! Slap him up side the head and make sure he gets a good wiff of his bizness if its too late then take him to the door and outside.
My dog is 6 months old and I still think he would go in the house if I didn't crate him while I was at work. I can't let him upstairs. I've kept the top floor off limits since I got him b/c I have new carpets. So now I think he equates the top floor with outside.
And I think it is true what they say, dogs have about 9 minutes of memory. You run across the a fresh pile then you still might have time to give him a good scolding and he will still know why you're yelling at him.
My dog is 6 months old and I still think he would go in the house if I didn't crate him while I was at work. I can't let him upstairs. I've kept the top floor off limits since I got him b/c I have new carpets. So now I think he equates the top floor with outside.
And I think it is true what they say, dogs have about 9 minutes of memory. You run across the a fresh pile then you still might have time to give him a good scolding and he will still know why you're yelling at him.
12/24/2011 10:41:31 AM
Lots of praise when they go outside, use the treat approach if you need to at the beginning, wipe their nose in it and swat them on the ass if they do it inside. Worked on every dog I've ever owned.
12/24/2011 12:13:06 PM
Some dogs just take longer. Crate them longer and immediately take them out to the same place so they get the scent of where they need to go. Praise them a lot. If you leave them out of the crate while indoors you need to really watch them. Scold them if they make an pile. I never hit my dogs but scold them severely. They don't like it. Persistence pays off. Cheaper brands of dog food have more bulk and they tend to go more.
12/24/2011 12:24:25 PM
Originally Posted By akconvert:
I have had a lot of Labs and never had this problem. We just got a Scottish Westie in October. He is about 4 months old. He was pooping in the house in spite of our best efforts. We would put him outside for 2 hours and the second we let him in he would run downstairs and crap. So we made a rule, either he was outside, or in his crate. No exceptions. We have done this for about a month to 5 weeks. We let him have a little freedom the other day and he did it again, first chance he got.
What do we do now?
I have had a lot of Labs and never had this problem. We just got a Scottish Westie in October. He is about 4 months old. He was pooping in the house in spite of our best efforts. We would put him outside for 2 hours and the second we let him in he would run downstairs and crap. So we made a rule, either he was outside, or in his crate. No exceptions. We have done this for about a month to 5 weeks. We let him have a little freedom the other day and he did it again, first chance he got.
What do we do now?
Like others have said, from the crate immediately outside. Don't let him run free though, leash him and take him to where you want him to shit. If he doesn't go, back in the crate. He doesn't get free till he pisses and shits. Rubbing his nose in it doesn't do anything for the dog.
You mention he runs down stairs, BABY GATES are your friend. Maybe a little inconvenient but baby gate him to where you can see him when he's out of the crate. He hasn't earned the right to roam yet. Does he keep going in the same spot or is it just inside in general? If you just leave him outside you still don't know if he shit or not and he may be holding it to spite you.
12/24/2011 1:26:28 PM
As said above, baby gates to keep the dog from going downstairs, put the dog on a leash when going outside so you can praise as soon as the dog does his/her business. Lots of praise when your pooch does what you want, scold when they misbehave.
12/24/2011 4:39:39 PM
I wouldn't shove their face it their feces. they will likely lick you later.
scold when bad, praise when good.
scold when bad, praise when good.
12/24/2011 6:37:57 PM
First rule of potty training: Make sure that the dog never goes in the house.
If you can just do that, potty training will take place. That's all it takes. It sounds simple, but that's all it takes. The trick is that it takes more consistency and time than you might think - 24 hrs/day for a couple of weeks.
Here's how to do it:
1. If the puppy just woke up, take it outside, don't take it back in until it "goes". Reward the dog for going outside with a "yes" and a treat IMMEDIATELY AFTER it finishes. Not 10 seconds later, IMMEDIATELY after.
2. If the puppy has had water, take it outside until it goes.
3. If the puppy has eaten, take it out within 10-40 minutes until it goes.
4. If the puppy has been playing for a little bit, take it outside until it goes.
5. If the puppy hasn't been out for 30 minutes or so for other reasons, take it out until it "goes".
6. If the puppy is sniffing at the ground, take it out.
That's it. It's just a matter of consistency. Make the sacrifice NOW to do that, all day, every day, and it will work.
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!".
If you can just do that, potty training will take place. That's all it takes. It sounds simple, but that's all it takes. The trick is that it takes more consistency and time than you might think - 24 hrs/day for a couple of weeks.
Here's how to do it:
1. If the puppy just woke up, take it outside, don't take it back in until it "goes". Reward the dog for going outside with a "yes" and a treat IMMEDIATELY AFTER it finishes. Not 10 seconds later, IMMEDIATELY after.
2. If the puppy has had water, take it outside until it goes.
3. If the puppy has eaten, take it out within 10-40 minutes until it goes.
4. If the puppy has been playing for a little bit, take it outside until it goes.
5. If the puppy hasn't been out for 30 minutes or so for other reasons, take it out until it "goes".
6. If the puppy is sniffing at the ground, take it out.
That's it. It's just a matter of consistency. Make the sacrifice NOW to do that, all day, every day, and it will work.
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!".
12/24/2011 11:10:34 PM
Originally Posted By GlutealCleft:
First rule of potty training: Make sure that the dog never goes in the house.
If you can just do that, potty training will take place. That's all it takes. It sounds simple, but that's all it takes. The trick is that it takes more consistency and time than you might think - 24 hrs/day for a couple of weeks.
Here's how to do it:
1. If the puppy just woke up, take it outside, don't take it back in until it "goes". Reward the dog for going outside with a "yes" and a treat IMMEDIATELY AFTER it finishes. Not 10 seconds later, IMMEDIATELY after.
2. If the puppy has had water, take it outside until it goes.
3. If the puppy has eaten, take it out within 10-40 minutes until it goes.
4. If the puppy has been playing for a little bit, take it outside until it goes.
5. If the puppy hasn't been out for 30 minutes or so for other reasons, take it out until it "goes".
6. If the puppy is sniffing at the ground, take it out.
That's it. It's just a matter of consistency. Make the sacrifice NOW to do that, all day, every day, and it will work.
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!".
First rule of potty training: Make sure that the dog never goes in the house.
If you can just do that, potty training will take place. That's all it takes. It sounds simple, but that's all it takes. The trick is that it takes more consistency and time than you might think - 24 hrs/day for a couple of weeks.
Here's how to do it:
1. If the puppy just woke up, take it outside, don't take it back in until it "goes". Reward the dog for going outside with a "yes" and a treat IMMEDIATELY AFTER it finishes. Not 10 seconds later, IMMEDIATELY after.
2. If the puppy has had water, take it outside until it goes.
3. If the puppy has eaten, take it out within 10-40 minutes until it goes.
4. If the puppy has been playing for a little bit, take it outside until it goes.
5. If the puppy hasn't been out for 30 minutes or so for other reasons, take it out until it "goes".
6. If the puppy is sniffing at the ground, take it out.
That's it. It's just a matter of consistency. Make the sacrifice NOW to do that, all day, every day, and it will work.
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!".
Almost perfect.
When you take it out to go, use a "go potty" command. If you don't like "go potty" make something else up. Always go to the same spot. Praise and treat immediately. "Good potty!" Bring treats––do it right there. Play after praise/treat. If no action within 5 minutes it's straight back into the crate for 30 minutes. This will get you a dog that will go on command where you want. And the dog will understand no potty, no treat, no praise, no play.
1/1/2012 12:16:53 AM
Walk your dog. Really, try it. Get a leash and walk him. Walking stimulates the poo process the same way it helps move gas thru the intestines.
Dogs are creatures of habit. Right now he has a poop place, just happens to be inside. He doesnt understand, hes holding the poop in while outside so he can poop in his poop place. You have to use positive reinforcement to get him to make the connection between being let outside and pooping.
When you walk him he will urinate and eventually have a bowel movement. When he pees say potty good boy, lots of praise andd give him a treat. When he poops say poopy good boy, give lots of praise and a treat. He will start to get the mesage poopping outside when walking gets a treat, poopping inside gets him put in the crate.
Dogs are creatures of habit. Right now he has a poop place, just happens to be inside. He doesnt understand, hes holding the poop in while outside so he can poop in his poop place. You have to use positive reinforcement to get him to make the connection between being let outside and pooping.
When you walk him he will urinate and eventually have a bowel movement. When he pees say potty good boy, lots of praise andd give him a treat. When he poops say poopy good boy, give lots of praise and a treat. He will start to get the mesage poopping outside when walking gets a treat, poopping inside gets him put in the crate.
1/1/2012 8:45:24 PM
Originally Posted By NimmerMehr:
I wouldn't shove their face it their feces. they will likely lick you later.
scold when bad, praise when good.
I wouldn't shove their face it their feces. they will likely lick you later.
scold when bad, praise when good.
Good advice. And, I wouldn't take some of the advice on here to hit the dog for correction, unless you enjoy dogs that cringe whenever you raise your hand around them for other reasons. Treats and praise make very good motivators. Crate training is the way to go with your dog. Maybe he is just not getting the message because he wasn't properly crate trained or crate trained long enough to internalize the behavior.1/1/2012 8:53:32 PM
never hit your dog unless you want to take the chance of making him run into traffic. my dog runs to my hand and puts his collar in my hand.
I have trained all my dogs to go in the yard by peeing in the yard myself, then when they followed and did the same it was lots of praise, thankfully they figured crapping in the yard by themselfs.
I have trained all my dogs to go in the yard by peeing in the yard myself, then when they followed and did the same it was lots of praise, thankfully they figured crapping in the yard by themselfs.
1/3/2012 2:17:08 AM
Like a poster above said, let them out all the time. Pay attention to what they are doing, don't let them out of your sight. Use baby gates, furniture, whatever it takes to make sure they are always in your focus.
One crate training trick is space limitation. A crate shouldn't be as comfortable as YOU think it should be, it should be just enough space for them to stand and turn around while house breaking them. Any more room and they will create a bathroom "over there" where they don't lay down. Make sure you take them straight outside when you let them out of the crate, no if's ands or butts. No letting them out and then taking the shoes off, putting groceries away etc.
Some people scold their dogs in their way, but I have never hit any of my dogs and aside from the occasional hop to tongue punch a new person in the mouth, they listen very well.
The whole smear their face in it thing doesn't work. I tried that along time ago with a female and her alternative wasn't to stop pooping where she shouldn't, she just made the decision that it was better to just eat the evidence. Oh yeah, come home to a happy dog, let them lick your face, then realize what happened and you will forever wonder why people let dogs lick their face.
In the end consistency is the BIGGEST part of it. No matter what method you chose, dogs CRAVE consistent rules. And praise. Praise will take you ten miles further than a swat on the ass.
One crate training trick is space limitation. A crate shouldn't be as comfortable as YOU think it should be, it should be just enough space for them to stand and turn around while house breaking them. Any more room and they will create a bathroom "over there" where they don't lay down. Make sure you take them straight outside when you let them out of the crate, no if's ands or butts. No letting them out and then taking the shoes off, putting groceries away etc.
Some people scold their dogs in their way, but I have never hit any of my dogs and aside from the occasional hop to tongue punch a new person in the mouth, they listen very well.
The whole smear their face in it thing doesn't work. I tried that along time ago with a female and her alternative wasn't to stop pooping where she shouldn't, she just made the decision that it was better to just eat the evidence. Oh yeah, come home to a happy dog, let them lick your face, then realize what happened and you will forever wonder why people let dogs lick their face.
In the end consistency is the BIGGEST part of it. No matter what method you chose, dogs CRAVE consistent rules. And praise. Praise will take you ten miles further than a swat on the ass.
1/3/2012 10:24:51 PM
OP, I forgot another tip I read about foster dogs. Some people who foster tether the dog to them while it is not in the crate. It helps the dog learn how to learn to trust the human and it helps the human stay attuned to the dog and its body language. When the dog shows signs of wanting to go to the bathroom, the human notices right away and can take the dog outside right then.
