Dog training recommendations?

Question

I have a 2 year old shih tzu who is very well behaved minus one issue that has really got me worried. She likes to p**p in the house. I will let her out to go to the bathroom (and she does, both poo and pee) then she will go to the door like....I'm done. This whole going to the bathroom process takes a good 10 minutes. Once she gets in the house she will wait about 5 or so minutes and find somewhere is the house to take a poo. She never ever pees in the house though. She does get a walk everyday and is fed on a schedule. I do disapline when she goes in the house, and clean it very well with sanitizer. What can i do to make this stop. I have a baby on the way and cant have my child crawling around in dog poo.

Answer 1

Try taking her out for 30 minutes.  I sometimes rush my dogs and the same thing happens.

Answer 2

Wish I could help, I've been trying to think of something to help you as I imagine this would be frustrating.  I would perhaps talk to a dog trainer or dog behaviourist.

The only thing I can think of is to leave your dog out longer, or when it comes inside have it attached to a leash so that you can keep an eye on it.  That way when it starts to sniff, you can stuff it back outside.  

Good luck.

Answer 3

If you have your dog pee or poo on a newspaper and put it in the yard and that's where the dog will want to go to the bathroom (also helps with a p**p free yard so the little one can play.) if she goes on this newspaper give her her favorite treat and praise her. hope this helps!!! good luck with the baby!!!

Answer 4

I would have to know how you discipline her when she does go in the house & then I would ask what kind of food is she being fed.  My shih-tzu died at 15 yrs. old a few years ago & my husband got a American Eskimo from a rescue group, she was a dream dog & potty trained in 24 hours.  Then in January we adopted another one who has been a nightmare to totally train.  She is fed on a schedule of twice a day & we switched to Solid Gold Food because its an all natural very well balanced food full of vitamins & stuff they need plus it is absorbed well & therefore there is less body waste.  She is totally trained now but she will have an accident if its storming outside.  When she does have an accident in the house, I ask her if she did it, & then tell her that was being a bad girl.  I make sure she sees it & then I put her outside.  Never rub their nose in it or spank because then she may do what she is doing out of spite for being spanked or having her nose rubbed in it.  We also had our dogs trained at our local PetSmart store, we took them to classes 1 time a week for 8 weeks & if they didn't learn they were able to take the class again for no extra charge.

Good Luck with your shih-tzu & the baby.

Answer 5

She is getting negative reinforcement from you for doing this.

This is what you need to do.  

1. super clean all the areas that have had poo on them.  I don't mean just conventional cleaning, I mean the special bio-cleaners that have bacteria in them to eat up the smells left behind that dogs can still smell. As long as she can still smell it, she will still go there.

As a last resort, pull up any carpet that can't be cleaned and replace it. (Many people do this, but could you afford this?)

2. She needs positive attention from you.  More play time, walk time, cuddle time, training time.  

3. She needs more than 10 minutes outside to do her business, and she needs you to be with her when she does it.  That is why I suggested the walk time in #2.  

4. Check with your vet to make sure she has no health issues.  See if you are using his recommended dog food.  Make sure she is being fed the right amount.

If you do these things, I think you will see a huge improvement in her behavior(s).

Answer 6

Honestly I can't think of anything else other than following her around, catching her in the pooping act, picking her right up (yes while she's pooping), and putting her outside to finish.  Praise upon outside p**p.  Perhaps she needs more praise for going outside?  Is she hiding from you to p**p?  Maybe she doesn't like the texture of the grass, does she p**p inside on any specific surface?  

I've heard one person say to actually scold the p**p, not the dog, so the dog learns that the p**p is undesirable.  No idea if this works or not.

Answer 7

When she goes poo outside, reward her with a treat. If you see her going to go poo in the house pick her up and put her outside so she can go, so bassically follow her around and catch her in the act, and once she does reward her. Try staying outside a little longer, just to make sure she is completly ready to go back inside. Good luck and I hope you solve your problem! :)