My puppy has started something new. She's pooping on the street. She is 7 months old and is housebroking. I always take her down to the same spot every day and she goes. Now she is doing something strange. She'll either not go or she'll go and then go again when we are walking down the road.

I have tried waiting longer at her initial spot, but she just doesn't do anything.

I'm wondering if there is something going on in her head and she is acting out. I don't know enough about dogs to understand if this is just a phase, a handler problem or a deeper problem.

I posted this here, because I want to know what I can do in terms of training to ensure she relieves herself in only the spot I choose.

Troy

 Quote:

My puppy has started something new. She's pooping on the street. She is 7 months old and is housebroking. I always take her down to the same spot every day and she goes. Now she is doing something strange. She'll either not go or she'll go and then go again when we are walking down the road. ...I have tried waiting longer at her initial spot, but she just doesn't do anything. ...I'm wondering if there is something going on in her head and she is acting out. I don't know enough about dogs to understand if this is just a phase, a handler problem or a deeper problem. ....

Hi, Troy,

What were the results of the salmonella tests? What's happening with the diarrhea? I'm sorry if I missed that -- I was following the thread, but I don't remember seeing the resolution.

Since she has had pooping problems, I'd give her lots of encouragement and help here.

When you get to the spot, and she goes, can you then walk her a short distance and right back to the spot? I have had more than one dog who often went twice and needed a little activity to get both times going. And the times she doesn't go, then goes later -- I'll bet that she needs a little more exercise than she gets by the time you reach her spot.

If she has gotten over the diarrhea, she might be normalizing how much walking time she needs before going.

I'll go waaaay out on a limb here <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> and say that this is probably not a handler problem or a deeper problem......... probably just internal mechanics.

But let us know how that test went, if you would.

Hi.

I haven't received the results of the Fecal Culture exam yet. I'm waiting for the vet to return my call. However, she's still having diarrhea, even though I have put her on cooked rice and cooked ground beef (two things that always firmed her up). Well it firmed her up but after a couple of day of it she went right back to diarreha. So I took out the cooked ground beef, leaving just the cooked rice and throwing in a tiny bit of Wellness dry food. Very tiny bit. She was fine for a couple of days and yesterday the diarreha came back.

I'm really curious as to what the exams will say.

Anyway, I'll try giving her more play time in the back yard before taking her for a walk.

I appreciate your response.

Troy

I just wanted to let you know that I tried what you suggested and it worked! <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I let her go, then took her for some play in the back. After 10 mins of that I brought her back to her spot and she went again. <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

At the risk of sounding gross, I have to say I never seen so much crap in my life. Also, who would have thought that after having a dog for sometime one becomes very knowledable on bowel movements. I'm sure my mother is proud! <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I just wanted to let you know that I tried what you suggested and it worked! <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I let her go, then took her for some play in the back. After 10 mins of that I brought her back to her spot and she went again. <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

At the risk of sounding gross, I have to say I never seen so much crap in my life. Also, who would have thought that after having a dog for sometime one becomes very knowledable on bowel movements. I'm sure my mother is proud! <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> True, true, true, and thank you for a Friday-morning laugh.

Looks like everything came out ok at the end........

<img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The results are in from the fecal culture exam. She doesn't have Salmonella poisoning.

It's Clostridium Perfringens!

My guess is she had it when I got her. The pet store I bought her from is known for being filthy (I found this out afterwards), and she has had this problem since day one, along with the wicked case of round worm too.

Anyway, antibiotics is the next step.