After being adopted by an emaciated stray dog three months ago, that we are happy to keep and who has turned out to be a real sweetie, we have a big problem.
Every morning we get up to find poo all over the kitchen floor. Literally all over the floor as she walks around while she goes! It's not pleasant as you can imagine.
She is taken out for a last walk at around midnight and always 'goes' then. We get up at around 7.30 am and she has always been again.
We have had many dogs and know that only very rarely will they soil their own beds. So, as a last resort, we want to try putting her in a crate overnight.
Does anyone have a medium sized dog crate that we can either borrow or buy, or does anyone know if we can buy them on the island?
After 3 months of this, our patience is a now just a bit on the thin side!
Trisa.
Message posted by angela chapman on 12 February 2009 at 12:20pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
angela chapman
Having been a dog owner for years and years, maybe if it is in it has to come out, so is it the type of food you are feeding her,this definately does affect my dogs.
Are her stools very loose, sorry not a pleasant subject.
Sorry to go off from your main question.
If I don't want either of my dogs to go where I don't want them to I put a flimsy clothes drier across, it falls down easily and frightens them but does no harm to them, they won't go near it now, just a thought.
Message posted by Bill on 12 February 2009 at 12:39pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I don't think the food is the problem. What she does looks perfectly normal.
She actually has her main meal of the day in the morning so I would have thought that it would have worked it's way through by night-time so to speak!
I think I need to keep her in a very small space and have nowhere I can put a clothes horse across. We have used that idea in the past where we were able to put one across a doorway, but here, it wouldn't make the area small enough. We also have a very large dog who would just barge through it!
Trisa.
Message posted by trisa on 12 February 2009 at 12:47pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
We changed dog food on the recommendation of our vet (although everything did look normal) and she now goes a lot less than before. We were advised to use food such as James Wellbeloved or Burns. I am not sure food like that is available over there.
Have you tried feeding her in the evening instead?
Julia
Message posted by trisa on 12 February 2009 at 12:59pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
We have fed her in the evenings but changed the timing to see if it would make any sort of a difference.It didn't make any difference at all.
I think a lot of the problem is that she was obviously, previously an outdoor dog. By the way, she never messes indoors at any other time during the day, so we also wondered if she was having some kind of separation anxiety, in which case a crate would possibly make her feel more secure as she'd have her own space.
We can but try.
Trisa.
Message posted by trisa on 12 February 2009 at 1:05pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
She's seen the vet. She was spayed, microchipped and innoculated recently and the vet gave her a good going over. She can actually hold on for a long period during the day. It's just at night that it's a problem.
Trisa.
Message posted by MartynG on 12 February 2009 at 1:57pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Don't wish to teach my grandmother etc, but I suspect that it's going to be a question of specific training. You don't say how old the dog is, but it seems that it has developed a patteren of behaviour that you are going to have to break (and a crate may well help in this) but it's going to require effort on your part.
I would suggest that you keep the dog in the crate all of the time (probably for a couple of weeks) except when you take it out for walks or training. During you waking hours, you should take the dog out of the crate every hour, take it to a toilet area and using a comand, such as "busy, busy" or similar, encourage the dog to empty itself. You might find youself standing around for substantial periods. If you go for a walk,keep the dog on the lead and use the above command when he goes. Eventually, he will learn that he must do what is necessary on comand and when outside.
Hope this helps.
Martyn
Message posted by MartynG on 12 February 2009 at 2:25pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I should add that is is possible that your own behaviour eqach moring might be encouraging the problem. Do you react to overnight events? If so, and your dog is suffering from some form of anxiety, this might be seen as "attention" which the dog is craving. Thus, by fouling the floor, the dog gets your attention.
Martyn
Message posted by seaangler (Chat Room Administrator) on 12 February 2009 at 2:48pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
seaangler
Do you stay outside with him? - if not, I would, on a lead if necessary, to make sure he 'goes' before coming back in again, take a treat out there with you in your pocket so you can treat immediately he has been, then hopefully he will want to pee/poop outside everytime.Chris
Message posted by trisa on 12 February 2009 at 3:22pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Ok! She is taken out on a lead to a designated area and told to empty. We have done this since we've had her. She has got the hang of this quite well. Our other dog always empties to order.
In the early days we took her out every hour. Our garden is very big and has dry stone walls that she could easily vault. Therefore we can't just let her out to do her own thing. We have to physically put her on a lead and take her.
These days, she goes out for a good walk 4 times a day. She will probably poo once or twice during the day and always before she goes to bed.
We are always with her with a pocket full of treats. After she 'empties' she comes to us and sits for a treat.
When we get up to the mess in the kitchen, we don't react at all. There is no point as we never catch her in the act so she wouldn't know what she was being told off for.
She's not bored as she always has the company of our other dog and they play pretty much non-stop. She has more attention than most of our previous dogs have had as we are at home all the time. You wouldn't believe the amount of time we have given her, and still do. She was such a poorly thing when she arrived.
As I said previously, she is absolutely fine during the day, the problem is overnight.
Trisa.
Message posted by heathermac on 12 February 2009 at 3:32pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Thank you for that. That's really kind of you. Compared to our other dog, she is small but I suppose she is medium-sized. Perhaps you could give me the measurements of the crate. Is it metal?
Trisa.
Message posted by seaangler (Chat Room Administrator) on 12 February 2009 at 4:41pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
seaangler
The next time tell her off and mean it by pointing to what she has done and say NO....With a stern voice...And take her out side to do her DO'S...Again..And reward aftershe has done it...But DO not hit the dog whots so ever....Chris
Message posted by doug on 12 February 2009 at 4:59pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I had a similar problem with one of my stray dogs,and understand only too well be faced with poo and or wee when I got up in the morning.I used to take her out last thing at night with the other dogs but still had this problem for months.Thankfully she now waits until the morning to go out but now i have the problem if I leave her too long in the house while i go out she takes my books of the shelf and shreds them.We will get there eventually as long as my patience holds out.
Best of luck and patience.
Doug
Message posted by seaangler (Chat Room Administrator) on 12 February 2009 at 5:13pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
seaangler
A lot of people do say to there dog wee wees or Pooh poohs...I would just keep to Wee wees(sounds better than shouting Pooh poohs)(lol)..Both our dogs knows what each verbal command means...Some times our dogs do stay in for a long periods of time and accidents can happen...Both our dogs know that to go by the conservatory door on the tiles...It just takes time and a not of encoragement....Chris
Message posted by heathermac on 12 February 2009 at 5:25pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Hi, just measured the crate,
Its 30cm high, 30cm wide and 60cm long.
If thats any good let me know. It was too big for our Westie but it was the only one we could get at the time.
Message posted by trisa on 12 February 2009 at 5:25pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Oh Doug! Thank goodness for your post. Somebody else who knows exactly what we're going through. So there is light at the end of the tunnel after all!
Our dog is also shreds whatever she can get hold of if left, but that we can cope with. She's still obviously insecure. It's the first thing in the morning dirty floor that's the bugbear. We've not even woken up properly then!
Do you have any idea of how old your dog is? Ours is probably about a year old.
How long did it take for her to last the night?
You'd think they'd just be grateful for a good home wouldn't you?!!!!
Good luck!
Trisa.
Message posted by seaangler (Chat Room Administrator) on 12 February 2009 at 5:42pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
seaangler
Trisa..I do know what you are going through with the mess you are getting from your dog..It does take time i asure you..
Our cindy(golden retriver) was from a puppy farm and we would come home or come down to the biggest mess(all very sloppy phoo all over the floor...she is now on james welbelove dry low fat food) to keep her waight down and stop her from sloppy phoos...It is expencive but well worth the money...you could try a change in diet for her and se how she gets on...Chris
Message posted by heathermac on 12 February 2009 at 7:22pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Sorry, the crate I'd hoped to borrow for you has already been relocated! If the one Heathermac is offering isn't big enough I'm happy to check out the Roda pet shop for you if you're not close by.
Bill
Message posted by GeorgieG on 12 February 2009 at 9:15pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
My 2 only GO twice a day, so a change of food may help, mine are also on the James W, the food they were on before produced twice the waste, worth a try. My youngest was crate trained so be prepared to bath dog in the morning!! sorry it did happen-often but we got there in the end.
Message posted by trisa on 12 February 2009 at 9:18pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Never mind. Thank you for trying! We are only in Loutses so not too far to check out the pet shop. Will do that tomorrow. Thank you for the offer though.
Trisa.
Message posted by Yvonne and Bob on 12 February 2009 at 10:12pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Poor you, I won't offer any more 'advice' however know what it's like to be welcomed by poo in the mornings , our old lab couldn't manage a whole night towards the end of his life. We did swap his food to Burns though and it certainly reduced what comes out! Our current lab has always been on it and he goes twice a day at the most and in comparison to other dogs his size it's much leaa. Hope you get the problem sorted out.
Yvonne
Message posted by trisa on 13 February 2009 at 10:41am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
And guess what? After the embarrassment of me telling all of you about Bella's misdemeanours, we awoke to find a perfectly clean kitchen! Do you think she'd somehow seen what I'd written?!!!!!!
If only it would last!
Trisa.
Message posted by DCV on 13 February 2009 at 10:44am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I have laughed and laughed at this thread, (for various reasons as Trisa knows I know it is serious but it is also amusing.
Now I am laughing again! She couldn't have Italian origins could she, Trisa? I am imagining you looking in the kitchen in the morning and saying "oh, bella!"
In case anyone thinks I am being unsympathetic, I have experienced similar problems. When I lived there I fostered several litters of puppies. Being small they could squeeze through the dog gate and get through to my room. They would start tugging at my bedcovers in the middle of the night which meant I ended up having to get up in the dark. Many was the time I paddled through puddles and stood barefoot in something nasty treading it eveywhere myself!
So, I do sympathize and I am sure Bella will get there, fingers crossed this is the start! Do look out for these special dog foods though as dogs not only go less, the result is much firmer and less likely to get trodden everywhere to the same extent. Makes clearing up after your dog outside much easier too.
Julia
Message posted by trisa on 13 February 2009 at 3:36pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Can I just say I'm very proud to be a record-breaker(!)
You have a point...maybe Bella does have Italian origins and she thinks I'm praising her when I walk into the kitchen!
We went to our local pet shop this morning. Spiros unfortunately doesn't have any metal crates, so we're still on the lookout.
While in there though we asked him about changing Bella's food. He doesn't have the brands mentioned on this thread, but Spiros also has a setter and he suggested trying the food he uses which is a fish and rice kibble. He said to give her half the old food with half the new for two days so as not to upset her stomach, then go on to all new.
We will try anything, so we'll wait and see what happens next!
Trisa.
Message posted by alikee on 13 February 2009 at 6:03pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I have a crate you can borrow with pleasure, not sure of exact dimensions, will check it out tomorrow, but I travelled my 2 JRT's here in it with no problem, it is the metal sort with the solid tray base.
I will measure it tomorrow and pm you with my phone number and the dimensions.
PS I live near Kassiopi so depending on where you are, we can meet half way if it helps.
Alikee x
Message posted by trisa on 13 February 2009 at 6:35pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I know you've plenty of advice, and it's all good
but hope you don't mind if I add my own two pennorth?
If the dog is only poo-ing in the kitchen whilst she is alone, it is a classic example of separation anxiety. Re-homed dogs are famous for it! I had a dog who could last hours , but when I left her alone she she pood and weed and emptied the rubbish bin......
I read a lot on the subject, and with training, it can be cured. The crate is a good place to start!
I know it sounds ridiculous, but if you can get your hands on the book 'The Dog whisperer' you will recognise your dogs behaviour.
good luck!!!
Message posted by Viv D on 13 February 2009 at 8:00pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I have to say I thought of you this Morning. I was in a Garden Centre and I was looking at Animal things they do there.
And lo and behold what was right in front of me. But something like Doggie Nappies. Only you put them on the floor and there is some sort of smell in them that make the Dogs go on these throw away nappies. Oh I thought Trisa could do with these right at the moment
Viv
Message posted by trisa on 13 February 2009 at 9:58pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I do have The Dog Whisperer. It became my Bible when we acquired our first Greek dog. I still go back to that training with him when he starts to get a bit bolshie!
Yes, I'm sure we will eventually cure Bella of her anti-social behaviour....if we can get her a crate, it would be a good starting point as you say.
Trisa.
Message posted by trisa on 14 February 2009 at 10:39am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
All Rights Reserved. No part of the Corfu Travel Guide web site may be reproduced without permission.
Infringement will be pursued.
The Corfu Travel
Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund
Topic:
.JPG)
, our old lab couldn't manage a whole night towards the end of his life. We did swap his food to Burns though and it certainly reduced what comes out! Our current lab has always been on it and he goes twice a day at the most and in comparison to other dogs his size it's much leaa. Hope you get the problem sorted out.
I know it is serious but it is also amusing. 
