Why does my dog poop inside my house and pee outside?

Question

I have a 5lb female chihuahua puppy. She's about 2 years old but still has problems with potty training. She pees outside on our front lawn but for some reason she still poops inside the house. I've noticed that she likes to go in covered areas such as.. under the bed.. under the drawer.. I think it's just weird. And no matter how long I wait outside for her to go, she doesn't go until she gets inside the house. It's like.. when she has to go, she will go no matter what time it is or where it is. It doesn't seem like she can hold it in. Does anyone have any ideas? Suggestions?

Answer 1

It is because she is fearful. She is afraid that the boogiman (predator) can find her by her scent, so she does it where it is best hidden.
You need to build her confidence. Take her for long walks around her neighborhood, so she can see what makes noises, and learns that there are no predators awaiting her. Teach her things that she can learn to do, to make her more confident.
Put a bag of garden sand down where you want her to go, in a secluded place. Put a teeny smear of her poop there, so she knows that its ok to go there...When you walk her on a leash in your yard, take her to that place after she has snooped around a few minutes, and stand there, being patient. When she sniffs the spot, praise her..when she gets the idea, praise her lightly, ( don't make a big deal over it for a timid dog) and let her off lead to play a bit before going back inside.
In the beginning, take her out seven times per day..this can be reduced when you learn when she needs to go..Feed her at regular times, removing dish after she eats, so she will get on a schedule. Dogs love a routine, and they love knowing when they are to go outside..same time every day..

Answer 2

get a book on crate training. it isn't cruel as long as you apply the rule of only leaving the dog in the crate for short periods of time (2 month old -2 hours max, 3 month old-3 hours max...etc). It also prevents furniture from destruction. Give them water and a good chew bone inside the crate. The crate shouldn't be used as punishment, it should be there as a safe-haven (Den). Leave the door open so the dog can go in whenever s/he wants. You can also try using potty pads throughout the house. It has a scent that attracts the dogs. Then slowly move the potty pads towards the door and then out on the grass. Make a routine and stick to it. Take them out when you wake up, before breakfast, after breakfast, before you leave for work, when you get home and so on... A schedule is the best way to get them routinely going rather then whenever they want to (which they end up going inside!). Just like a baby :) Never put there face in the mess, it only scares them and makes them afraid of you. they don't understand after the fact... Also clean up any pee spots inside with a pet enzyme solution (found at any pet store) to prevent them from going in the same areas again! Good luck!

Answer 3

It is similar to what my Dachshund used to do. I trained her to use a litter box when she feels like going to toilet inside the house, but she'd only pee in it and poop somewhere else. Every time she poops in the house, scold her then take her poop (you cand use some plastic gloves or a newspaper) and take it outside where she is sopposed to poop. If possible do that with one hand and in the other hand hold the dog. Then let the dog down besides her poop , show it to her and say:"This is where you poop from now on. " Hope it will work.

Answer 4

He doesn't understand that the whole house is your den. He needs to be taught that (housebreaking). If she is going in covered areas, it is most likely because you scolded her too harshly (in her mind) for going and she misinterpreted that as shouldn't go when you can see me. The small kennel idea should work as long as you don't leave her in there too long - if she is given the choice of peeing where she is laying or going outside, she will choose outside (but you will have to reinforce that with praise).

Answer 5

I have a two-year old chihuahua, and I used to incounter the same problems. I suggest you buy your female chihuahua potty pads. You can find them at pretty much any store (meijers, kmart, petco, petsmart). They aren't too expensive and it saves you cleaning up all that pee! Chihuahua's are very small, and when they go outside sometimes they get scared because of sudden movements or noises (by birds, squirrels, cars, etc.) and if they get scared they will NOT go to the bathroom. Just like if you try to take a chihuahua out in the rain, ITS IMPOSSIBLE!!, they just dont like it! The potty pads are designed with a special scent that attracts your dog to it, and to go potty on it. I suggest everytime your dog relieves herself on the potty pad, give her a reward. I did that to my male chihuahua, and he ALWAYS either goes on the potty pad or outside!! I wish you the best of luck, and im almost 99.9% positive that this will work, because I know a lot of chihuahua breeders and owners and that is what they do. =)

Answer 6

Try a kennel. Dogs hate pooping where they sleep.
If she does have an "accident", bring her outside right away. It helps her associate the two.
Good-luck

Answer 7

There are a lot of answers here that are just BS. I won't pick on anyone in particular, but I hesitate to recommend this board to anyone, because of the nonsense being distributed.

Answer 8

Well
I recommend this dog training course: http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572
. It has fantastic videos on dog training. It explains good, gentle, simple and effective techniques to stop stop unwanted behaviours of your dog. I recommend it.

Answer 9

Chihuahua are a neurotic bread.
Try walking her outside more often (some say you can train them >>while<< its happening with a spritzer bottle.)

Answer 10

That's really gross!

Try trading her in for a cat. Cats are much smarter, sweeter, and more intelligent than dogs, so it's easier to toilet train them. You'll love the cat a lot more, trust me! And cats aren't gross! And they love you more.

LOL, here's my real answer:

The dogs probably doing that because it hates you. I had a jack russel that did that, so I gave her to my best friend who the dog likes much more than me.