House Training Troubles
Michelle writes: Riley is a dog that hates to go outside to poop and it is driving his owner to distraction. It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s rain or fine, nothing can induce Riley to use the great outdoors and he has become very skillful at doing the deed indoors and making a clean getaway before it is discovered.
Sometimes he will poop outdoors – but only if there is no other choice.
Much has been tried to change his ways – even aversion therapy. In desperation he has had his nose rubbed in it, and even been locked in his crate with it, but that has made no difference.
Kingdom of Pets replies:
There are a few different ways of dealing with house training troubles, with the best outcome achieved if all methods are combined to some degree.
Prevention
Dogs tend to leave a mess indoors where they recognize similar smells have been left before. Therefore a method of prevention would be using a good quality Dog Odor Neutralizer, removing the nasty odors that the dog could otherwise easily sense. Ensure that the cleaning product you choose does not contain ammonia or chlorine as the smell of these can often be mistaken for urine. After thoroughly cleaning the areas, place an object that suits the spot over it, such as a pot plant. Dogs generally dislike eating where they poop, so starting to feed Riley in these areas would be wise in order to discourage him from going to the toilet.
Reaction
Often the sight of feces inside the house can cause owners to react with horror and severely reprimand our dogs, regardless of the length of time that may have passed between the dirty deed and the sighting. Dogs have a short memory span, so they should only be scolded if you catch them in the act, otherwise they will not associate the punishment with his pooping and just become confused and upset about the unexpected reprimand. To let Riley know that he has done wrong, use a stern, loud guttural growl, which is what his mother would have used to chasten him if he misbehaved.
Never rub your dog’s face in his poop or cage him up with it as he will not understand why you have done this and only get frightened, which will have no positive outcome whatsoever.
Redirection
Choose a spot where you would like Riley to go. It should preferably be in relatively sandy soil, with some greenery and shelter if possible. It is important that your dog has a regular spot to return to. Put some of his own poop there, and this will hopefully encourage him to relieve himself in that area. Dogs are creatures of habit, and will return to an area they know they have been before, which they recognize by smell. There are certain times of the day when dogs will most commonly go to the toilet, such as in the morning, before bedtime and right after they have eaten or woken up, so it is important to take them to their designated toilet spot at those times. Be extra vigilant and try not to let Riley have even one accident inside.
If Riley is insisting on pooping indoors, and it is too difficult a transition to get Riley to go outside, use a litter pan with newspaper in the bottom and place it near where he is currently going to the toilet. Once he is consistently pooping in the litter pan, gradually move it towards the door and eventually outside. You may find it easier if you place it outside under cover initially, for instance a carport, on the patio, in an old shed or somewhere with some shelter, away from wet grass. However it is preferable to be persistent, patient and consistent until he learns that pooping inside is not acceptable rather than letting him poop inside at all.
Praise
If you can identify an outdoor area where Riley prefers to poop, always lead him to this spot after he has eaten or woken and always praise him for going to the toilet here. Let him know he has done well by giving him something that is of value, such as your attention and a treat or toy. Your attention should be something to be sought after and not freely given whenever he wants. You can do this by only giving him attention when he has obeyed a command, such as ‘sit-stay’, or has gone to the toilet in the desired place. This will reinforce your Alpha dog status in his eyes and he will work even harder to gain your approval and attention.
Eventually Riley will understand if he poops indoors he will be reprimanded, but on the other hand he’ll be praised for going to the toilet outside. As he gets older and more consistent, you will not need to reward him every time he does so, but make sure you are still giving him a treat occasionally, just to let him know he is on the right track.
For more information on house training your dog – refer to our bonus book “All the House Training Methods and Tricks”.
All the best,
Daniel Stevens and the Secrets to Dog Training Team
"Secrets to Dog Training - STOP Dog Behavior Problems!"
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/
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