How can I stop my 3 yo shih-tzu from pooping in the house every time he's alone? I hate to crate him forever.

Question

It doesn't matter if we're only gone 20 minutes. It's spiteful. We can even be in the house, but if he is not able to get to us, he'll poop. It is always in one corner of the dining room or in our 2.5 year old daughter's room. We used to crate him every time we went out, but we started backing off this summer because we thought he might get too hot cooped up in there. He did okay for a while, it seemed, but now it's practically every time he's alone. It makes no difference if he's just pooped outside--it's like he holds some back to use as ammo. I think it's probably an attention thing. What is the best way to give him the attention he wants in a short amount of time? Or any other theories about why he might be doing this...

Oh, as a puppy, he also liked to eat his poop, if that's relevant.

We don't hit the dog--we love the dog--we are not even thinking about getting rid of the dog. The "spiteful"ness I mentioned as a joke. Just want him to stop pooping--some of you are getting a little over excited.

Answer 1

Crating is the best thing for him, it makes him feel secure. That was the big point behind crating. It is not a punishment. If you really worry that his crate is too small or hot, get one of the larger mesh type ones, and drape a blanket over the top and 3 of the sides.

Answer 2

First, abolutely AVOID attributing human motivation to a dog! Dogs are NOT spiteful, they just think differently. He is probably stressed out by being alone, or maybe he's a little spoiled and can't handle not being the center of attention. He relieves his frustration and anxiety by pooping because he's learned he gets attention that way: negative attention may be better than no attention. Make sure he has interesting toys when inside to keep his mind busy.

You don't say how old he is, but it takes months for a puppy to achieve reliable bladder and bowel control. With independent breeds like Shi-Tzus, it may take longer. He needs to be on a strict schedule of going outdoors to relieve himself, every hour or so if necessary, until he's reliable. Every time he DOES poop in the house, it reinforces itself. If he does poop indoors, DON'T make a big deal out of it and don't punish him: just take him outside, then put him back in the crate with a toy or treat. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER hit him or rub his nose in it! All this does is teach him to be afraid of you. Take him out again before he gets free time indoors. Make a big fuss of him when he does poop outside, and maybe decide on a specific place in the yard for him to go. That way, when you take him there, he'll know what he's supposed to do. After he comes in, give him a little free time and play as a reward. If you take him out and he doesn't go, put him back in the crate. It's a lot of work at the beginning, but it's worth it in the long run. Guess how many dogs land in shelters because they aren't housebroken properly?

You can get a wire crate that's cooler for summer (if he still need the crate by then), and even set up a fan for him if necessary. The crate is not and never should be seen as a punishment! It is used to help the dog housebreak, to keep him and your house safe when you're out, to give him his own, safe place where he can go when tired or when he wants to be left alone AND if he should ever need to travel, to stay in a motel (some hotels now will allow a crated dog in the room), or overnight at the vets, his comfort with a crate is a godsend. When he goes in the crate, he should get a favorite treat or a special toy used only in the crate: He'll learn to see the crate as a good place to be. Remember, wild canines usually live in dens (crates?) and is a natural thing for them.

Finally, make sure he's getting LOTS of exercise! A happily tired puppy is a better behaved puppy and much less anxious. Remember, he's a toddler and needs to play hard every day.

Good luck! My dog took a year (she has anxiety issues) but she's now completely reliable and we wouldn't part with her!

Answer 3

I agree. Ive seen many dogs do this out of spite. Many will disagree but when doing the reward thing fails its time to use negative reinforcement. When he poops in the house, stick his nose in it smack him around with a paper and take him outside. let him know he is in trouble. Never let anyone tell you that dogs have no short term memory. You can let a dog out and he will run three blocks jump five fences, and swim across a stream to get to a pile of poop you dragged him away from a week earlier. Make sure you carpet is clean. The odor of pee and poop from previous episodes can encourage him to go in the house. Use the good deodorizer, the enzymatic stuff from the pet store. he is doing this out of spite and has to be made realize that its not worth the cost he has to pay. If there are no consequences or if the consequences are such that he can live with he will continue.
The crate is the only other solution. Its the best solution.

Answer 4

Okay first off limit the amount of places he can go to inside the house, limit him off to just the kitchen say or something of a smaller area so he doesnt have too much room that he can poop in. second when ever he poops or pees in the house scold him and immedietly take him outside, NOT the crate or he will never learn that he has to go outside. If he is put in the crate everytime he will think he is supposed to relieve himself in the crate and he will think of the crate as a bad place to be and he will become to hate his crate. Okay so once he is outside praise him lavishley and treat him once he goes outside. Then take him inside to his area and take him out every 30minutes to every hour to relieve himself this should help prevent him from going inside the house. Also to make his crate a better place treat and praise him while he is in the crate so he associates it to be a good thing, not punishment. but if you dont like the idea of a crate you can always get a larger crate meant for larger breeds so he has room to walk around and play. this way when you are gone for long periods of time hey can have toys, bed and food available to him so you dont have to worry about him being to cooped up. If you really just dont like the crate idea then just leave him in the house alone only when he is fully potty trained and limit the area that he is in to prevent any destruction or pooping in the house. Hopefully this helped, bye

Answer 5

1. This is a family member, not what you might have been taught as "a dumb animal".
2. Do you wish to continue to recognise your elder child as your baby...because that what he internalises himself as.
3. Snacks are Love. Did you feed this child in the dining room, because that is where the message is being delivered...as well as in the room that provides the source of competition.
4. How aware are you of this child's capacity to communicate needs of Love,Identity, and other Feelings. If you see something that you just can't figure...then here's a hint... people are not the only sentient and processing creatures on this planet,,,there are Cetaceans and other Mammals that are just as aware of the world around them as is (how coincidental) your 2.5 y/o daughter.
5. You are right...it is an attention thing...nothing "unaware" would require such...if you don't have the time, then you need a babysitter...do not give your child away.
6. Some elephants eat their poop as children on a regular basis...not relevant
7. God Bless You

Answer 6

You were on the right track with the crate. If you want him to have more room, put him in a playpen or in the kitchen with a baby gate.
The fact that he's gotten into this bad habit and it's continued for years means breaking the habit will be hard. You have two places in your house that are well marked as acceptable (to him) toileting spots so you have to keep him away from those places each time you go out.
Restricting him isn't cruel.

Answer 7

It sounds to me like he's insecure and the pooping is anxiety, not spite. He probably feels more secure in his crate. I crate my dogs daily while I'm at work. I get home for lunch several times a week to let them out, and they go to daycare once a week. (They are chihuahuas). A dog like that, or a shih tzu can get enough exercise in the morning and evening to keep it fit and healthy.

The crate makes them feel secure when you are away.

Answer 8

Unfortunately the crate is the only way to go until he shows he can refrain from going in the house. The wee wee pads are just going to reinforce his going in the house. And it isn't spite, dogs lack the cognitive ability to be spiteful.

Answer 9

I hired a dog trainer drop the dog off for 3 weeks came back such a different dog...My dog was not house broken, chew stuff, jumped up on everyone...did not listen at all...It was expensive but worth every penny! G/L

Answer 10

the dogs that r grown eat the cat poop that is around our house. but anyways maybe u should bring ur dog with u everywhere u go so it wont do that. it will definitly feel like it is really loved.



good luck

alycat