Elimination dance

[famous seamus]

Just thought I would ask if anyone out there has experienced this with their female shelties (maybe males also, although not in my experience.)

Harper Lee goes outside with one or the other of us all the time. However, when it comes to poo, she gets schizoid. Some of the time she is fine. But she can be out for half an hour or more and all she does is have Big Fun. Then once again inside, she will jump as if touched by something electric and we have learned that that is the signal for poo time.

When asked if she wants to go outside instead of jumping at the chance, she will sit down hard and flatten her head and ears but only when she has to poop. Urination is no problem, it's all good.

She has been with us for three years, she knows us well and vice versa except for this puzzling behavior.


Kate

 

[jomuir]

Our Forrest is the same way. He can go outside for half an hour and not go poo, then comes inside and in short order is barking hysterically to go back out. He spends the first time patrolling the yard, barking at the neighbor dog, chasing birds, whatever, except going number 2.

Meanwhile, Roxie has done both and is ready to come inside after maybe 10 minutes.

DH always says that's how male dogs are, just goes to show, it can be both sexes!

 

[Tagg]

Hi Kate: I wonder, assuming nothing is wrong with her, if you could teach her the command to go poo. In our house it is "Find a spot" whereas if I know they really only need a pee I will say "Go Pee". If you haven't tried this jewel of a command then to start you just need to wait until she is looking for the "spot" and say the phrase you are going to use followed by verbal praise. It has been a Godsend with the dogs when we travel. When Rhi was a baby we took her to a Belgian Specialty in Michigan and while exhibitors, including Rhi's breeder, stood freezing in the rain waiting for their dogs to go, we walked over and gave the command and our little 12 week old puppy would immediately get to work. I got to admit it was fun watching their faces! Tinsel is already getting good at it. Love it!

 

[corbinam]

My dog Bentley refuses to be petted when he has to poop. His signal is that he comes and stands in front of us and stares. He'll sometimes stomp his feet a bit. Of course, that also means "I want to sit there" and "I'm hungry" so we will reach out and try to pet him. If he doesn't allow himself to be petted, I know he has to go to the bathroom!

Hi Kate: I wonder, assuming nothing is wrong with her, if you could teach her the command to go poo. In our house it is "Find a spot" whereas if I know they really only need a pee I will say "Go Pee". If you haven't tried this jewel of a command then to start you just need to wait until she is looking for the "spot" and say the phrase you are going to use followed by verbal praise.

Unfortunately, I started using "go poop" as our dogs' command. Now I let the dogs out at night in our backyard and find myself shouting "go poop!"

 

[famous seamus]

Thank you all. You had me laughing as well as learning to handle the poop a doop situation.

Harper Lee had her check up last month and all is well so her situation is more of a behavioral one to contend with. If this is my one complaint, I consider myself lucky, lucky, lucky. It is more for her well being that I ask then mine, we lose our selves to the shelties, lock stock and barrel, don't we?

All of your wonderful advice will be my work in progress.


Kate

 

[BarbV]

I use the command "Be Quick".....same idea. It means, "go NOW! you dumb dogs because I'm not going to stand here forever while you sniff around!" It doesn't always work.

I have discovered over the years that the boys have their own schedules. It used to be pee and poop as soon as they woke up. Now they are more interested in food first, then we'll do our business, thank you!

If that's the case, I guarantee that within 5 to 10 minutes of feeding business outside will be done! No more agonizing waits at the door. Though you will find that suddenly the dogs start waking up earlier and earlier for breakfast! LOL!