HELP!!! Pooping problem

ok, we rescued Nickie from the pound and we love him to pieces. he's a great addition to our family. we've given him time to adjust, etc., etc. butt.......

here's the problem, he's walked 3-4 times a day and twice when i get home from work and still at night, he poops in the house. we've had him for 3 months now.....i know he can hold it....how do i get him to stop?

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Message edited 3/4/2008 9:24:54 AM.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

I'd recommend that you firmly and sternly tell the dog "Bad girl!" once or twice, take the dog outside when they do this so they know to associate that business needs to be done outside.

If the dog goes outside, praise the dog wildly with hugs, rubs, pats on the head saying "good dog" over and over again, give them a treat, etc.

They'll start to associate that if they go outside, they'll get praised.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

thanks for the input. we've done the "reward" thing. praising, hugging, kissing and all that but he just doesn't get it. i really don't want to crate him at night because he cries and he's so pitiful I just can't bear it.

maybe changing his "eating" time? i wonder if that might help matters. right now he eats during the day, i'm wondering if i feed them when i get home and then walk him an hour or so later if that might help. any ideas?

my cocker spaniel goes outside and she's an angel. why can't he follow her example? males i guess they can be stubborn.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

Message edited 3/4/2008 4:26:56 PM.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

i thought about the food problem and instead of giving IAMS all i gave him yesterday was a can alone without any of the dry. he ate it up like he was in heaven.....walked him......he peed and pooped and that was it, until this morning when we both woke up and i took him for a walk and boy oh boy when i woke up to NOTHING in the house this morning and he did his business outside...........i gave him so many kisses, poor thing must have thought i was losing my mind.

i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

I would consider changin the eating time too...what time do you feed him dinner?
My dogs get dinner at 5, then a healthy treat at 7...I always try to make sure that they have pooped before bedtime too.
you can also consider crating him at night.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

Have you spoken to your vet? I would talk to your vet to make sure there is not an underlying medical problem like a parasite or something.

Re: HELP!!! Pooping problem

Nicky was just at the vet. He's perfectly healthy!!!

Its been 2 days and no accidents! I'm so happy and besides myself!!!!! I think it must have been the food. At least I hope it was, cause we're 2 days poop free!