Two weeks ago we got a male Standard Poodle at 4 months of age. In his former home he was one of four dogs, and there was a fenced yard and doggy door. He was "mostly housebroken" and totally crate trained, but the breeder noted that he was on the timid side.
Since we got him, he has been very attached to me. I assume because I'm the one who is with him the most. I am home with him all day. I have no doggy door and don't have a fenced yard, so I've been taking him outside to go potty. He usually goes after he's outside awhile and is learning to go on command. However, the first day we had him home he pooped in two rooms that we don't use much, on carpets. I have blocked those rooms, but he still tries to sneak in there when he has to go. If I catch him in time, he will poop outside.
We were advised to let him "graze" rather than feed him meals because of Poodle tendencies to develop bloat if they eat too much, so he poops 3-4 times a day. In his previous home the floors were all tile or hardwood, so we figured he had maybe never been on carpeting and thought it was a place to potty. He has also peed a few times inside, and he has also peed small amounts in his crate overnight, as well as in the car. In fact, every time he goes in the car he pees a little, or I guess I should say, he leaks, even if we have just watched him pee right before getting into the car. I assumed the peeing/leaking is stress/anxiety related, and that was kind of affirmed for me when I took him in the car and fed him treats the whole time. As long as I give him treats, he seems to not leak.
Do these pottying issues seem like things that he will grow out of? He will be getting neutered in a couple weeks and I'm wondering if that may help? Basically, I think he's an easily frightened pup. Other than these issues, he's very smart (I'm working on training him to ring bells to go outside) and a very calm dog. It seems odd that he has these anxiety issues. Anyone have similar experiences or thoughts on how to stop the unwanted peeing and pooping?
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
First: No four month old is "totally crate trained." Puppies that young have to be started with a hour or so and work up to it slowly, and that's after they're weaned, so that's total nonsense. You can't just throw a puppy in a crate and leave him there overnight and call it crate training. That would be abuse.
Second, you have a Standard Poodle and you don't have a fenced yard? These dogs are athletic and need a great deal of daily exercise. They can't just live indoors. I hope you are planning to put in a fence very soon- like tomorrow.
As far as the rest of it-
Never ever give your puppy treats when he's stressed. It may seem to help in the short term, but you're rewarding the stressed feeling. Only reward calmness and happiness in your dog, as well as compliant behavior. This may seem strange, but dogs are not humans and have an entirely different psychology.
I assume you are giving him a treat when he goes where he's supposed to. Don't give constant treats, though. It's basically junk food. They can get a lot of extra calories from that but you're not getting the nutrition.
If you're concerned about pee in the car, put down an old blanket and wash it weekly. The puppy will likely learn that car rides are nice if you take him for a short ride to a local park to play ball and have fun a couple of times a week. The destination becomes the reward.
Your dog should not yet be able to "hold it" overnight. He is too young.
Be sure to treat the "accident" sites in your house with enzymatic cleaner that removes the smell. Use a blacklight to find the spots. You can get these at a pet store.
Bottom line: Your dog isn't completely potty trained yet, so just keep training him. But this is not at all surprising, since he is still a baby.
Edit to below: I meant to type "since you can't really start that until around two months..."
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
