Getting a dog to poop in one place??

[roadrunner]

We have a large, fenced in yard, so our dog is always given free range of the yard. However, this dog is a real pooper - poops about 3-4 times a day, and is so unbelievabely random about where she goes!

In the past month or so, she has started to poop right at the front of the yard, next to the main patio and walkway, and it's really gross! Mainly because our 2.5 year old daughter plays in that area a lot - particualrly in her pool, and likes to run around bare foot.

I really want to get this dog to go in one spot, and just can't seem to get her to do it! I've been so irritated with her these past few days because of the poop (well, maybe also the fact that I'm in my last month of pregnancy as well) that I've tied her on down at the back of the yard all day. She certainly didn't mind, just slept in her dog house all day, but I don't like to have her tied on.

Any suggestions as to how to get her to poop in one place?

[bird_feet]

It'll take some time to retrain your dog to poop in one spot. It'll also take some work for you and the dog.

I'd suggest taking her out on a leash whenever it's time for her to poop, assuming she's on somewhat of a schedule. Take her to the spot where you'd like her to go and walk her around until she does her thing. Once she poops (and/or pees) praise her and even give her a treat. Keep doing this and she should learn that that's where she should go. Don't let her play until she's done at least doing something (ie at least peeing if she doesn't have to poop) and gets rewarded.

I've seen this work for some dogs. It did for ours but we trained them this way when they were puppies.

[Chimichanga]

I second that. We have an area for our dog to go poop. Pee, we don't really care as much. We have a burm at the back of our yard and behind us is an open field. So, we trained him to go poop behind the burm.

When he was a puppy, we would take him out on a leash and keep him out there until he pooped. Now he knows to go back there when he needs to poop. Occassionally he'll poop on the front of the burm, but that is just trees; no one goes there.

Be patient with your pup. Take the pup to the area you want to poop and keep the pup on a leash. After about a week or two the pup will go back there on her own. Remember to praise, praise and praise when she poops where you want her to.

[roadrunner]

Ugh! So, basically I'm looking at this being a tedious process, since our dog is about 4 years old?

It's never really been a huge problem before, but i just don't like this new behaviour of pooping right at the bottom of the patio steps!! We have approx. 80 feet of property behind us!

It's gonna have to get done though. Too bad her pooping pattern is as random as the areas she chooses, as it will make trying to get her to 'go' very difficult.

And, (silly question) but, do all dogs poop that often (3-4 times per day?) Our other dog would only go once a day. We only feed her once a day, so I'm always surprised to see how often she goes!

[boilermaker]

I have to agree with everyone that this will take time and effort on your part to retrain her to do what you want. But if she is an itelligent dog, then it should go fine.

We have a large dog, a golden, and he typically goes once in the morning then 2-3 times in the evening when he gets more exercise. It isn't "scheduled" per say but it's pretty easy to tell when he's going to go.

Also, we trained him to go potty on a command. So when we are in a hurry, we can tell him to 'hit it" (our choice of words) and he will try his best to go. So put some words in there and it should help with the training.

[bird_feet]

Poop frequency could be the food you're feeding your dog. It could also be the frequency (or lack of). And it could also just be the dog.

Most of the dogs I've encountered go twice a day. Sometimes three if we go on a walk.

I second using a command along with praise and treats. If you dog starts to pick up on the command she'll realize sooner what's being asked of her.

[jajacobsen]

I agree with everything posted above. Also, some foods have "lower volume" of elimination - that is less waste and filler product. We witched our two large dogs to Noutra - Natures Way and it really helped. Cust their poop down by 2/3. They are not constipated at all. They just have to go less. Which makes it easier to monitor them and praise them when they do it in teh right place (bottom of yard in trees). They sometimes forget because they are still young (9 months old).

[roadrunner]

Thanks for the replies everyone.


But if she is an itelligent dog, then it should go fine.


I wish she were, unfortunately, she is quite possibly one of the stupid dogs I've ever encountered. She's a great family dog and very sweet, but horribly stupid! :rolleyes:

Last night I let her out and she started getting ready to go right at the bottom of the step again. So, I went out and brought her to the back of the yard, where she peed. This morning, I let her out, and she went to her doghouse, and wanted to be tied on. The worst thing is that she will hold it for up to two days, then, when she gets her chance, will go poop where she wants.

I'm going to do what I can to encourage her to go potty at the back of the yard, but it's very difficult being almost ready to deliver a baby and exhausted!

Thanks again for the replies!

[Hello Kitty]

Poop frequency could be the food you're feeding your dog.
ITA. Our dog pooped so, so often when she was eating Pro Plan - it was actually part of the reason I switched to super premium food. Now she's a one a day kind of gal.

I know you're about to give birth and all, but I hope you guys can patiently make the change together. Give her a little credit and direction and she should catch on.

[Chimichanga]

Our dog poops twice a day; and if we take him on walks he likes to "mark" his territory with poop rather than pee :rolleyes: We have him on Eukenuba and his poop patterns are pretty regular. If we give him a lot of treats or "soft" treats, then he has digestive problems and will poop more.

I can totally sympathize with being pregnant and exhausted (I'm due on Friday) but, it will make things a LOT easier in the long run if you work with your dog now.

[jajacobsen]

Dogs often poop on walks or when running around at a favorite place for two reasons. First the exercise stimulate the GI tract, which stimulates elimination. Second, the excitement of a walk or run stimulates adrenaline, which stimulates the GI tract, which.....

Instead of letting your dog out, seeing that it is about to poop, and then hurrying to drag it to the bottom of the yard, could you walk it out to the bottom of the yard FIRST, on a leash if you have to, give it a poop command, such as "do it" or "go quick" and then try to keep it in this area until it poops, prasie lavishly, and then let it run free. This technique works better if your dog is fairly reqular and you pick a time when you're pretty sure it needs to poop - usually first thing in the morning or 20-45 minutes after eating are the most common elimination times for dogs.

If you do this repeatedly - and it may take a month or so of doing this every day - then the dog will learn to run to the bottom of the yard first, do its business, and then run around and play.

And finally, a premium, low filler dog food will really help reduce the amount of poop. To economize somewhat. Since our two dogs eat 20+ lbs per week so we mix Purina One with Nature’s Way Nutra and this works for us.

And a positive side of not so bright dogs - it may take them a while to learn something, but once they do, usually it's stuck in there good as gold forever. It's those darn super-intelligent ones that are always "trying something different" that sometimes need "reminding" of the rules. So while you may have extra work now, you should be home free once the baby arrives.

[roadrunner]

It's those darn super-intelligent ones that are always "trying something different" that sometimes need "reminding" of the rules.

That's for sure! We also had a Border Collie, and she was just too smart - she would find ways to creatively get around the rules!

It never really occurred to us to change her food. I think I'll see what our local pet shop has in the way of food.

She's so strange. She was tied on today, so she hasn't gone all day :rolleyes:. I KNOW that she's waiting until I let her out later. She's eating right now, so in an hour or so, I'll bring her to the back of the yard again and hope she does something.