Troubling questions on my labs popping.

[Bo's Handler]

Hello, my name's Nick and I've been with my lab for 2 years. He's the best thing to happen to me and I've always been a little worried about my dogs pooping habits. He only goes to the bathroom twice a day, and sometimes only once. One other thing that is strange to me is that unless he's on top of another dogs markings (pees) he'll hold it back when I can see it starting to crown....If it's been raining with the grass being cut we're sometimes out for a couple hours. I've had these questions for two years and I'm hoping you guys could answer it. Thank you

[smartrock]

Mine go anywhere from 1 to 4 poops per day. It's frustrating when i'd like them to go ahead and get it over with but I figure if they have to go, they'll go. Some dogs get a bit funny about where they'll go, too. Not in their own yard, not anywhere except their own yard, not in snow (I guess you don't have that issue too much), they can just be quirky. Some foods are just lower residue so they don't have to poop as much. As long as he's otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry about it.

[POPTOP]

Both Mardi, a lab, and Archie, a GSD, both only poop twice a day. On daily scooping I know I have to find four piles.

Archie always pees over where Mardi peed and then Mardi will come back and pee over his. Crazy dogs.

I agree with Smartrock, as long as he is otherwise healthy, sounds normal for him.

[MikeLynn]

Agree with smartrock; I'd say that Mel's standard is twice a day, sometimes three times, and when I first saw her hold it for 24 hours I got sort of worried as I found it very unusual. Got used to it though figuring out that she's the one who knows what's going on in there, not me. So now it's 1-3 times a day, depending on what she's eaten, how much, how much exercise she gets (the more exercise, the more poop), and how she feels.

[SunDance]

Yep, your dog seems normal to me, too...they have their preferences and their bodies are good at behaving in the manner that's exactly right for each dog.

Welcome to the board.

[Snowshoe]

Sounds normal to me too. Oban poops twice a day, both times on the same walk around 9 or 10 in the morning.

By "crowning" do you mean you can see drops of liquid on the end of his penis? That's normal for male dogs too. They issue secretions of smegma, some more than others. It is often a very pale, translucent greenish colour. If it gets thick and opaque or otherwise changes in appearance or amount then it might be a concern.

Welcome to the board. Congratualations, your very first post and you see the word "smegma" LOL

[BaconsMom]

Welcome! That seems normal to me, as Bacon only poops 2x per day.