I have a problem.
 

His name is Sammy:

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/136/000029629wd.jpg

Not too daunting as problems go, but he has gotten pretty bad tonight. My wife and I got him last Saturday from our neighbors, who had kept him outside in an open-air shed with his littermates for his whole life (he's almost 4 months). For the last week, we have been amazed at how great his house-training has gone. Just a couple accidents in the first couple days, and he seemed home free after that. Two hours between potty breaks seemed sufficient for him.

Then tonight, I'm playing some video games and all of a sudden he starts taking a dump right in front of me. I say no, take him outside, and stay with him outside until he finishes his deuce and pees for good measure. Then I take him inside, and he immediately runs to the bathroom and takes another massive crap by the tub. I take him back outside again. After a little while, he comes back in, and everything seems cool. About 1.5 hours later, he runs into the bedroom and starts peeing on the floor. Luckily, my wife saw what he was up to and he only managed to leave a small puddle on the floor before he went outside again.

For those keeping score at home, that's 3 accidents in 2 hours after going almost a week without any at all. He goes to bed at the same time every night, has a very routine piss and crap schedule, eats the same food, and drinks about the same. He has no contact with other dogs and has minimal contact with the cats in the house. There seems to be no reason for the regression; in fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say he is trying to test us. Is this silly? Can we stop this behavior now before he makes a habit out of crapping where we can't see him? Does anyone want a dog? (I kid)

Re: I have a problem.
 

i know nothing about dogs, but nice avatar. it reminds me of the junk drawer at home. still laying right next to the rubix puzzle stick, i assume.

hope your dog stops poopin'.

Re: I have a problem.
 

I've never had a dog either, but Sammy looks quite cute. Awwww.

Re: I have a problem.
 

My first reaction is to worry that he's sick. Take him to the vet. That's not just a lot of accidents in a couple of hours, that's a lot of times for a dog to go to the bathroom. He might have eaten something bad or be carrying something from when he lived outside. Cute dog, hope it works out.

Re: I have a problem.
 

*insert 12 gauge pic here*

cute dog. too bad.

Re: I have a problem.
 

Here is the best free advice on the web and it works quite well.

Puppy Potty Training

Re: I have a problem.
 

Just take him to one of those dog training places. Or kill him and tell your wife he ran away.

Kidding. Cute dog.

Re: I have a problem.
 

Been taking him for walks? He sounds like he's pissed at you.

I do the same thing when I'm mad at people.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
My first reaction is to worry that he's sick. Take him to the vet. That's not just a lot of accidents in a couple of hours, that's a lot of times for a dog to go to the bathroom. He might have eaten something bad or be carrying something from when he lived outside. Cute dog, hope it works out.

[/ QUOTE ]
He just went to the vet a week ago, but if he keeps this up we will be getting in touch with her. I think he is due back for a second round of shots in not too long anyway.

Re: I have a problem.
 

An alternative is Puppy odor eliminator

In your extreme case I suggest the gallon size for $50.99 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: I have a problem.
 

I doubt it's anything that can't be fixed. I'd take him outside every 30 minutes if possible for awhile. Make sure you are rewarding the hell out of him (can be verbally, doesn't have to be food reward) every time he does the deed outside. I agree w/ the other poster that that's a lot for him to go in that time period, so maybe some kind of fluke.

Re: I have a problem.
 

you are fine, just keep doing what you are doing. It takes about a month to potty train a dog. The schedule will help out a lot, as will taking him outside as soon as he starts to drop bombs on your carpet. Another thing you can do is the make him sleep in areas where he is pooping and peeing, as dogs will not defecate where they sleep. Also, take him outside whenever you think he is due, and wait outside until he does the deed, then bring him back inside.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Make sure you are rewarding the hell out of him (can be verbally, doesn't have to be food reward)

[/ QUOTE ] yes, scratch his head and whatnot, food rewards are a horrible idea, as it will lead to many annoyances later.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
An alternative is Puppy odor eliminator

In your extreme case I suggest the gallon sixe for $50.99 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
Nice link. I think if I went to somebody's house and saw that their dog was litter trained, I would eat it just on general principle.
One more item of interest: his poo has been very light colored, almost beige. Is this normal for puppies?

Re: I have a problem.
 

http://images.popcornmonsters.com/contest/vapoorize.gif

Terrible movie, though.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
yes, scratch his head and whatnot,

[/ QUOTE ]
Haha, you want him to scratch his whatnot?

Re: I have a problem.
 

PhatTBoll is correct, we need more pictures of the offending poo for a proper diagnosis.

Re: I have a problem.
 

He gets outside plenty. You're not really supposed to walk dogs his age that much. Sometimes when we go out he runs back to the door and wants back in. I have no doubt that he is mad at me though, I just can't figure out why.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
He gets outside plenty. You're not really supposed to walk dogs his age that much. Sometimes when we go out he runs back to the door and wants back in. I have no doubt that he is mad at me though, I just can't figure out why.

[/ QUOTE ]

Did his food change or has someone been giving him table scraps?

(I know nothing about dogs, but I have a moody lizard) [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: I have a problem.
 

Just telling him "no" doesn't tell him anything. You have to rub his nose in it, give him a little spanking (just hard enough to let him know he did wrong) then put him outside.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My first reaction is to worry that he's sick. Take him to the vet. That's not just a lot of accidents in a couple of hours, that's a lot of times for a dog to go to the bathroom. He might have eaten something bad or be carrying something from when he lived outside. Cute dog, hope it works out.

[/ QUOTE ]
He just went to the vet a week ago, but if he keeps this up we will be getting in touch with her. I think he is due back for a second round of shots in not too long anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Did he get vaccinations when you took him to the vet last week? I know with cats they can sometimes have a bad reaction for a week or so from the main cat vacinations. I don't know if it is the same for dogs. But, I also know it doesn't happen to all cats.

craig

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Just telling him "no" doesn't tell him anything. You have to rub his nose in it, give him a little spanking (just hard enough to let him know he did wrong) then put him outside.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dogs just can't reason like this. If you don't actually stop him mid-deed, and instead rub his face in the mess, then he'll think its the mess you're pissed about, not the deed. That's when dogs start shitting under beds and in corners, thinking that if you don't see the mess, you won't be mad.

Re: I have a problem.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Dogs just can't reason like this. If you don't actually stop him mid-deed, and instead rub his face in the mess, then he'll think its the mess you're pissed about, not the deed. That's when dogs start shitting under beds and in corners, thinking that if you don't see the mess, you won't be mad.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've trained probably 10 dogs, every one of them like this with no problems. But yea, you have to catch them in the act, or immediately after. You can't do it like an hour later.