I’m turning to you because after a bit of googling, I haven't really found any answers to my question...
I adopted my boy a few months ago; he’ll be two in January. What’s bothering me is that he (rarely) messes in the house (specifically pooing), and not just anywhere – on the carpet, of course! ^^ I work Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, but I pay a young woman who comes to walk him for two to three hours during the day while I'm at work. Before that, I take him out for half an hour in the morning, I still come home at lunch for another half hour, and in the evening it usually lasts an hour. So he gets a good four hours outdoors easily. He does his business outside in the morning, yet when I get home at lunch, every now and then I find a little 'present' here or there – and they’re about the size of an elephant's! -_- I don't really want to tell him off because I'm not sure he'd understand since I wasn't there at the time. Usually, I put him in another room so he doesn't see me clearing it up, so he doesn't think it's normal, but I'm not really sure what to do. I wonder if it’s down to me being away... because the walker comes just after I've left at lunch. If I'm there, he never does it, but even if there are people in the house, he’ll still do it. And I don't get the impression he's desperate to go. I don't know exactly what he was like with his previous owners; I bought him from a man who didn't want to look after him anymore.
Does anyone have any idea why he might be doing this?
Thanks in advance for your replies...
Translated from French
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Punishing a dog isn't a good idea, even just telling them off a bit—they’ll only end up hiding whenever they need to do their business!! Just keep them in a crate when you’re out. The pet sitter can let them out when they arrive and pop them back in afterwards; that way there’s no mess, no fuss, and everyone’s happy.
Clever, rubbing your dog’s nose in their pee—or even just holding them over it—is completely pointless, and any decent vet or trainer will tell you the same. You also need to catch them in the act; if you wait an hour, the dog won’t remember what they’ve done or understand why they’re being told off. Rubbing their nose in it won’t help them learn, and it can actually lead to more behavioural issues. It’s possible your dog is stressed while you’re out, which is why they’re urinating or doing their business indoors. If that’s the case, the best thing to do would be to get in touch with a dog behaviourist. Whatever the reason, you shouldn’t punish the dog because they won’t know what they’ve done wrong. You could try giving them a treat if they haven't made a mess while you were away, but they might not actually make the connection.
Since she’s out from 8 am to 6 pm, she won’t be able to catch him in the act, especially as a dog isn't going to go right in front of its owner. Obviously, nobody likes shouting at their dog – I’m the first to admit that. Let me rephrase what I said: I’m not talking about rubbing his nose in it. You just need to bring his head near it; he’ll try to pull away, which is only natural. Give him a bit of a telling off and let him know he shouldn’t do that. After a while, he’s bound to realise that if he messes in the house again, he’ll be in for the same earful.
Look, a dog makes the connection right there and then, not an hour later. Rubbing his nose in it is more like animal cruelty than actual training. If your dog is acting out like this, it’s because there’s an issue with the hierarchy, and the photo you’ve shown us is clear proof of that. While you might think him putting his paw on your face is just a big cuddle, it’s actually a sign of dominance from the pooch.
You should really see a dog behaviourist. Gaina, my GSD, stays in the flat alone from 8 am to 6 pm with no damage or accidents. As soon as I get home, it’s time for a massive walk!
Personally, I don’t agree at all with the idea of dragging him over to it; he’ll just feel like he’s being threatened and won't make the connection with what he's actually done!
It’s definitely worth checking how many times a day he’s going, though, to see if it’s normal... Maybe keep an eye on his feeding times... they usually need to go anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after eating, so perhaps try feeding him at lunchtime so he goes during his afternoon walk...
And whatever you do, give him plenty of rewards when he goes outside (kibble, a stroke, a ball, or anything else he loves)... He’ll soon realise he’s got much more to gain by going outside...
When you get back, if the place is clean, give him a treat. If he's had an accident, you've obviously got to raise your voice and take him over to it, otherwise he'll never make the connection. Having a big dog in a flat sounds a bit tricky, but you seem well-organised. I reckon it might also be that your dog misses you, or maybe it’s a physical issue and he just can’t hold it in like he wants to. For your sake, I hope that's not the case?
I’d suggest trying to see a dog trainer, just to get some advice. I know it’s not easy; I’ve got several dogs myself and they’ve all got their own little quirks! I totally get where you’re coming from, though, because with one of my boys, the second he comes inside—straight away, he pees!!! And that’s even though my lot spend all their time outdoors!!!! People tell me 'he’s marking his territory' or that he's doing it to get attention, and I really do think it’s for attention!!!
Hi everyone, when I adopted my girl a year ago, she was fine if I just popped out to the shops. But if I was away for more than three or four hours, she’d leave a couple of messes—one on the rug in my son’s bedroom and another on the living room rug. When I got home, she would come over to me looking terrified, with her tail between her legs and blinking, as if she was scared I was going to hit her. I’d just tell her it’s alright and that accidents happen. She hasn't done it for two months now, so I think she just needed time to settle in.
