Pooping in the house

[trishpsl]

Hello all, I am new to this site. I was hoping to get your thoughts on my situation with my dog Biscuit. I have a 3.5 year old Lab who has just recently started pooping in the house. I am thinking he is doing it in spite because I notice that if I come home from work and not make a big deal saying hello to him, he will poop on the floor, if I play in my daughter's room and she shuts the door he will poop outside her door. It just seems that lately, he has been doing it more often at least once a day. My husband came home from work yesterday, left the back door open for him and went out back to clean up his messes for the last few days since it is garbage day and when he walked in the dog pooped right inside by the door which was open. His poop is solid, not loose to where he couldn't wait to go but I just do not understand? Has anyone had this issue and if so how did you fix it? do you think it is in spite or do you think something else may be wrong? He does go outside often so I am really baffled any help with this would be appreciated.

[dxboon]

If I was experiencing a significant change in my dog's normal behavior the first thing I would do is rule out something health-related, so I'd take my dog to the vet for an exam and bloodwork. Also, I'd question whether any routines around the house have changed (is the dog alone more than previously, is he being exercised less, new house, etc.). Also, I'd make sure the place where he is expected to relieve himself is clean. Most dogs naturally do not want to be in their own mess, so yard pickup after he goes or daily is helpful. Make sure any indoor messes are cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle to ensure that all traces of the mess are gone. If there's no underlying health issue then start at step 1 of housebreaking again would be my advice. Proactively let your dog out more frequently than you might have previously and crate him when you can't monitor him. This should give him every chance for success and to NOT have accidents in the house.

Just wanted to add that he is not doing this behavior to spite you.

[POPTOP]

IMHO, I don't think it is in spite as that is a human trait, not a dogs.

Has his routine changed recently? What was his normal poop schedule? When was his last vet check up?

Be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner wherever he pooped. You may think the smell is gone but to his nose he can still smell it. Then go back to potty training 101. I have to do this when we home a senior who was used to being able to poop wherever and whenever they wanted. No reprimands for pooping in the house, get him outside as quickly as possible. When he poops outside, make it a party of praise, treats and love. If it is a designated trip to potty, put him on a leash and make is a "business" trip.

How much exercise is he getting. At that age, he needs tons of exercise.

[trishpsl]

Well the only change is that my girls are no longer home for the summer and are back at school during the day. He had his last physical about 2 months ago and all was fine then. He doesn't get as much exercise as he did while the girls were home with him. He is not walked on the leash but has the run of the backyard. He goes out often when we are home and when he comes running in after he does his business we have been giving him a treat and making a big deal. I thought that may help but he then pooped yesterday with the back door open to where he could go out. He doesn't poop in the same spots. Thankfully I have wood floors and when he does poop upstairs on the rug I do use pretty good pet cleaner but I will check to see if it has that chemical as you had mentioned.

[dxboon]

Well the only change is that my girls are no longer home for the summer and are back at school during the day. He had his last physical about 2 months ago and all was fine then. He doesn't get as much exercise as he did while the girls were home with him. He is not walked on the leash but has the run of the backyard. He goes out often when we are home and when he comes running in after he does his business we have been giving him a treat and making a big deal. I thought that may help but he then pooped yesterday with the back door open to where he could go out. He doesn't poop in the same spots. Thankfully I have wood floors and when he does poop upstairs on the rug I do use pretty good pet cleaner but I will check to see if it has that chemical as you had mentioned.

Dogs who have the "run of the backyard" don't exercise themselves. It would probably help to up his exercise, both mental and physical. Games of fetch, hide and seek, walks, and short training sessions will help to wear him out. You may have to step up your interaction with him. Also, it is more effective for the dog's training for you to praise/treat immediately after he goes potty outside. Treating him when he runs inside is not causing the association with going potty in the yard. I would treat him like a puppy. Go outside in the yard with him, give him a command (at my house it's "go potty" for #1 and "more potty" for #2) to associate with going to the bathroom, and then praise him like crazy/treat him right after he goes. He will associate the command with the action and the reward.

[trishpsl]

Thank you, yes I will definitely have to spend more time outside getting him running more since the girls have returned to school. I do play fetch with him in the house as he always has his tennis ball and is looking to play. We have a good amount of open space downstairs that he does run and get tired each evening. I did call the vet and they seem to think that his routine has gotten messed up and that we will have to work with him to get back on a schedule. Thank you all for your reply. I do appreciate the advice. Biscuit is a very smart dog and while we have started giving him his treat when he comes in the house after going out, he likes to go outside a little more often (even to the point of just stepping out on the pavement for a second and walking right back in) and when he comes running back in he goes directly to the pantry where his treats are.

[POPTOP]

LOL, he is training you with the treating. Save a special treat for when he goes outside and give it to him outside immediately after he goes.

[SunDance]

I truly believe that there is such a thing as dog spite.

My first Basenji urinated in the middle of my mother's bed after being scolded by her for the first time in her life (Sandy was already an adult but I forget how old). There was no issue of needing a walk or any change in timing of anything....no health issues, etc.

Sandy was then banned from Mom's bedroom. She usually slept with me anyhow so this was no big deal...never wet my bed, either.

She got scolded by my mother again and proceeded to go to the sofa and pee on the pillow on "Mom's side" of the sofa.

Can't tell me that dog wasn't miffed.

I don't have an answer for your poop but I definitely wouldn't automatically discount spite.