Just read the o.p. again.

Not clear what this mean: "it seems she wants to be outside."

Also, I had missed the ear infection part. How is the ear infection now? I'm asking for obvious reasons, but also because I adopted a dog years ago who had indeed become deaf due to ear infections (secondary to allergies, after many years on crap-in-a-bag grain-based foods).

Also, can you estimate the amount of structured exercise she gets daily? I mean walks, play with a human, even short motivational upbeat obedience training sessions.

All these things have direct bearing on the challenges you mention.

Last night I felt bad for her being outside all day. I did play with her out there but thought i'd spend some 'one on one' time with her. I put the other dogs away, let her in and went to get the toys out of the laundry room. By the time I walked in she had already gone on the floor. She had been out since about 10am that morning.

She eats once a day- at about midnight.

The barking has stopped since she's been outside.

I dont understand?

She's outside ALL Day and goes right after she walks in.


She's fine after her ear infection. All clear. Vet says she probably had it for a few months, but its gone now.


Thanks for all the help on this, but i'm pulling my hair out. Needless to say she went right back outside after her 'accident', and is still out there. Any other suggestions?

Dogs can get really attached to going on a certain type of surface. If she was kept in a kennel or on a hard surface she might be used to going on that - or she could be one of those dogs that someone "paper trained" (AKA "teaching your dog to poop in the house" or reverse house-training) What type of surface does she pick in the house?

Did you do any of the below? Please tell us exactly what you did and what happened.

 Quote: connie sutherland

She does not get it. It's not her fault; she does not get it yet.

Take her outside on a day off and stay outside until she HAS to go. When she does, mark and praise and reward like a lunatic.

Take her for a long walk. When she has to go, see above.

QUOTE: She's out every 5-8 hours END Once she gets it how wonderful life is for her with outdoor potty, I'd make sure her opportunities for outdoor potty are numerous. I'd also keep a log of her poop times and make SURE I was outside with her at those times.

I'd make as many opportunities as possible to catch her going outside so I could reinforce it with praise and rewards and make it her favorite new hobby.


I would also make sure not to give in to my frustration and scold her when I found poop in the crate. Unless caught IN THE ACT, this is not only useless; it puts you back a step. It means to the dog that when you come home you are angry and she gets scolded. The poopy crate doesn't connect in her mind with her scolding.
JMO.

If none of the marking ("yes!") and praise and rewarding for outdoor potty has happened, then what would have changed?

She does not get it. Also, did she poop or pee when you brought her in? Is she showing signs of submissive urination?

 Quote: lynn cheffins

Dogs can get really attached to going on a certain type of surface. If she was kept in a kennel or on a hard surface she might be used to going on that - or she could be one of those dogs that someone "paper trained" (AKA "teaching your dog to poop in the house" or reverse house-training) What type of surface does she pick in the house?

Absolutely true. That requires even MORE diligence to "catch" her going outside, to praise and reward..... many times.

She also may have been in a kennel where there was no choice but to go in the kennel.

Good point, Lynn, that this sounds very much like following "training" from her past owner.

I wish I could say that I have all day to spend watching her poop... It would make sense that it would happen at a certain time, but the problem is.. it doesnt.

Today we went for a REALLY long walk. I have a problem with my ankle, so it was about a mile and I was starting to hurt. She didnt poop and it almost looked as if her hips were bothering her. Ill have them xrayed. No poop. It rained and I just got home, and she's soaked. She didnt go for shelter in the two places she had it.

I had all night at work to think about this.

MAYBE... would bringing her in the house on very short occassions and not allowing her to 'go' inside work? If she was basically forced to use 'grass'... Do you think she would catch on that way? She doesnt seem to care if she sits in the stuff, and doesnt want to use the outside. Maybe if I teather her to me for about 5 min intervals 4-5 times a day and slowly made them longer, she'd catch on? I dont think I'm going to catch her doing it... I dont think keeping her in the crate will teach her eaither.

No, she didnt show signs of submissive urination- she just went off found a corner and pooped(last night)

Actually, for me this would be a non-issue. My approach would be: if she likes being outdoors, leave her outdoors. If she goes to the bathroom in the crate, don't crate her, leave her outside. Not all dogs are crated. If she doesn't bark when outside, leave her outside. She likes it there.

Right now you can start bringing her inside for a few minutes at a time, no crate, you at her side, leash tethered to you, do a little obedience in the house, praise and treat and take her back outside to play with her. Don't turn your back so she won't have a chance to poo in the house.

The dog is not stupid and absolutely has no memory loss. You don't know her history, so I would approach it completely differently than what you've been doing. She's confused and if what you've been doing isn't working, try a different way.

She doesn't have to be a house dog. Later on, since you've been bringing her in for a few minutes at a time, you can extend the time little by little, still tethered, and do some fun obedience with treats and praise, then back outside to play with her. She'll either get used to being in the house more or she won't. I wouldn't push it. When summer comes along next year, give her the wading pool, lots of cold fresh water and shelter. By then she may be completely reliable in the house (as far as potty is concerned) and may be able to spend more time inside. Time and patience.

Rebekah,
How long has this dog (you) had this problem? It was asked earlier in the thread. The answer might help us all to come up with a solution to the puzzle for you.
Randy

Actually its been somewhat of a problem all along, only its become for frequent recently. I havnt changed anything, and didnt understand why she was doing it to begin with.


She now lives outside, but instead of using the grass, she poops on the cement where she sleeps. I truly do not understand this. It didnt happen at first when she went out there, but it seems wherever she sleeps she wants to use as her 'potty' too....