Natural "Business" Problems

[Tricia]

I have a 2 1/2 year old Maltese (female) and an almost 2 year old Maltese/Shih Tzu (male). One of my problems with them lately is where they do their 'business'. They used to always do it either on the back lawn or around one side of the house which has a gravel path, which was never a problem. Straight after breakfast was the norm. Now, they seem to hold on till we go for walks. Also, on occassion, Benny will do it in our bedroom on the carpet.....always on my husband's side of the bed! (Usually when it's raining, but not always). I have tried to show him that it's the wrong place to do business by picking it up in front of him and taking it outside and placing it on the gravel, but to no avail. Thanks for any advice given.

[KOPcaroline]

Hi Tricia,

Some dogs just have relapses with house training - youre not alone! Is it just your boy having trouble at the moment?

My best advice would be to redo your house training with both dogs - even if the girl isnt having accidents at the moment, she may start if your boy keeps on unfortunately! Just go back to the start - even if you have to confine them while you're not directly supervising them so they can't access the rest of the house and have slip ups.

I'd also suggest taking them outside more often. I know they hold it a lot til walks, so maybe try to take them for quick walks when you go out, just 5 minutes if you can. If its raining you may just have to leave them out longer than they might like, but you should try to be firm on leaving them out until they toilet. If you let them in before they go, make sure you are with them immediately after, so you can get them outside again if they look like they are thinking about going to the bathroom

Its just about going back to the start and giving them a revision course to get the idea in their heads again. I hope this helps

[Tricia]

Thank you for your reply. It is only Benny that does his 'business' indoors on a rare occasion. Perhaps I should have explained myself a bit better earlier. As I have a broken collarbone and am on my own most of the time, it is a little awkward to take them for walks as well as pick up their waste with one arm in a sling. I do take them for plenty of walks, but it is quite difficult to hold on to their leashes at the same time as cleaning up. I just don't understand why they hold on for walks......only since I broke my collarbone. We live in a quiet cul-de-sac, so I also let them run around outside for about 10 - 20 minutes at a time, but they invariably end up 'poop-ing' on someone else's property.

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi Tricia,

I am sorry to hear about your injury and I understand how hard to do some things with just one hand

I think Benny's problem is a sign of marking. You might think marking is only peeing but pooping can also be a way of marking.

Puppies poop soon after they eat so it is more like a mechanism of the digestive system. As they get older and more mature, I think pooping gets triggered by other dogs' smell, rather than the mechanism of digestion. Don't you see dogs scratching the ground after going poop? That is not covering their poop with soil but to releasing their own smell coming out of thier paws on the soil and spreading it.

Therefore, it looks totally natural that your dogs now want to poop outside on walks, rather than their own yard

As for Benny's pooping on your husband side of bed, it can also be a sign of territorial behavior. Especially if it started when you broke your collarbone and started needing your husband's help in taking care of dogs more than before. He sensed some kind of insecurity due to your disability. I think dogs are more sensitive than we think

That's my speculation and unfortunately I don't have a good solution to Benny's going business in your bedroom, rather than keeping the bedroom door closed when you are not with him.

As for picking up their poop while holding the leashes on your walk, I would drop the leashes and step on them while picking up poop with your hand in a plastic bag, without scooping with a shovel. I don't like just letting them run loose and go poop on someone else's property. You might get reported to the authority soon or later. I hope this will work for you