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Confined = no poop. Unconfined = repeated poops!

Posted : 3/30/2006 8:36:26 PM

I have a sweet 9 month old male (neutered) pomeranian (about 5lb); I've owned him for 6 months. When I got him I made some serious mistakes for which I am still "paying".

I feed him a handful of slightly moistened Innova at 5am and 5pm. I almost never give him anything else (very occasional small treat).

I have 3 confinement areas: Crate for overnight where he has never soiled, not once. A kitchen area which is closed off by toddler panels. This is where he eats and about an hour later poops. There is also an outdoor fenced area which he uses except during rainy or cold weather (that's not often, since this is Los Angeles CA area). Stools are well formed, occasionally semi-soft.

As long as he is confined to 1 one these 3 gated areas, he has one BM in the morning in the kitchen, very occasionally/rarely in the outside gated area.

This is the good news - now my problem: No matter what, within an hour after being released into run of the house, he will have another BM in a very unsatisfactory area (bedroom) and will continue to do so about every 2 hours throughout the day!

I have tried confining him for 24 hours and he will never have another BM after that first morning one - and I mean not one! Same is true when left in outdoor gated area - very, very rarely a BM.

But if I release him from the kitchen/outdoor confinement, as sure as sun comes up in the east, he will have these repeated soilings thoughout the free time in the bedroom (where I made my errors when I got him). If I close off the bedroom, he will use some other even worse inappropriate area (furniture).

I am at a complete loss how to get control of this undesired behavior. He is certainly capable of holding his feces when confined!

willowchow

Posted : 3/31/2006 6:22:25 AM

I just wanted to say that I sit for a pom who also does the same thing.

He is confined to a designated area for the day and then to an x-pen with a litter box in it at night. He is only allowed to roam free in the house if someone is watching him.

pwwwayne

Posted : 3/31/2006 9:55:05 AM

Thanks, I've confined him like that but it seems somewhat cruel to him - he's a joyous little thing but can sneak off into the bedroom so easily - I only catch him when he comes back out. I hope I can find solution so that I don't have to give him up over this. I've had 3 previous poms but none with this behavior.

agilebcs

Posted : 4/1/2006 6:16:05 AM

Why did you train him to eliminate in the kitchen? It seems to me that you've taught him that it's ok to go potty in the house.

I'd go back to step one of housebreaking with him. If he's pooping in the house every 2 hours then take him outside every half hour - don't let him have a chance to go in the house. No loose time in the house unless you're supervising him, etc.

He shouldn't be pooping so many times a day though. Have you thought about changing his food?

pwwwayne

Posted : 4/1/2006 11:14:39 AM

As I said I made errors when I acquired him at 3 months.

The kitchen is the only place I can confine him inside the house and when I am away. His poop cannot damage the floor there.

Supervising him and taking him outside every half hour does not give me much time for myself. Furthermore, when I take him ouside for walk/play on grass or stone patio, he never poops -- never!

yes, this pooping like every 2 hours is "crazy" - since he eats only twice a day, a "medium" handful and usually leaves some in dish (which I immediately pick up when he appears finished).

Yesterday, he was confined in outside pen entire day and then kitchen, and then crate. He pooped once at 5am and never again for 24 hours (24 hours!) until 5am this morning.

I chose Innova because it was recommended here as organic and less stool. But I agree that I may need to change. (But I don't think this is the source of the behavior - note yesterday's experience.)

Thank you for reply.

denise_m

Posted : 4/2/2006 3:23:14 PM

I agree with Agilebcs, you should start over with the housetraining. First of all you have to decide where you want your dog to go potty. Pick 1 area and stick with it. The dog might be confused as to where the appropriate place is. Once you got your area, try to get a more regular schedule. A lot of people train their dogs to go on command. This might be a good idea for you. Dogs are creatures of habit. If they can count on being taken out to the bathroom everyday at the same times, they will soon learn that is the time to poo.

good luck