Pooped indoors

[Chinchi]

Oh and the poop was in little chunks all over the floor, not smeared or scooted off. It looked like he had been eating and or playing with it

 

[JacqueZ]

We started locking the dog door at night as it's very noisy when they go through it. Normally it doesn't bother us, but my husband has been suffering insomnia and so every little noise has kept him awake. It's also noisy for any guests who stay over as their room is directly above the kitchen where the dog door is, so we always lock it at night when we have guests staying over.

I guess we could try padding it, but I would like to address the cause of the problem, which looks like his stress/frustration/anxiety first to try and help him. He is also a toy destroyer and will happily de-stuff anything he can get his paws on, but since Darla swallowed a toy last year and ended up in surgery I'm too scared to leave anything destructible with them. I offer him rawhide daily but he is always more interested in taking it off Darla and guarding them from her than eating it himself He does the same with kongs too or anything else she has.

Do you do any training classes or agility? The last paragraph makes me think having a job might help him...whether through burning off energy or building confidence, or occupying his mind...

 

[trini]

In your first post on this thread you mentioned that locking the dog door was a recent change. For some dogs change can upset their comfort routine and it takes a little time for them to set up a new "normal" routine.

And JacqueZ's suggestion of getting Hugo involved in some structured doggie training or activity is a good way to build confidence.

Trini

 

[Hanne]

Agree with the others think there is an event that triggered this, otherwise activity might help.

Eat the poo, maybe.
Play with the poo, absolutely no.

 

[Chinchi]

Thanks for all your replies. I think you are all right in that Hugo needs a job. He is very high energy and I think it sometimes comes out as nervous energy when he isn't occupied, and thus he gets himself into trouble. Darla is a lot more laid back and so better behaved indoors.

So, I think giving him a job would be a great idea. Any suggestions as to what I can get him to do?

Would love to get a sheep or two, but that isn't very practical for our living circumstances

 

[JacqueZ]

An easy one that's cute, you can train him to pick out your socks in the morning if you have a drawer low enough for him to reach in. You can also train him to pick up socks and put them in a basket, same as his toys.

Putting the socks in the basket took honey a couple of months to pick up, but she got grabbing them from the drawer pretty quick.

I use long boxes to train jumps, I've also just used my legs, jumping seems to wear her out quick!

If you have yoga balls you can work on training him to stand with his front legs up on it....I've also found practising catching Frisbees and tennis balls occupies Honey more than just chasing them does.

Most of these aren't "official" jobs, but they always help us in the winter when energy is hitti g critical mass (sadly like you, actual sheep won't fit at our house, and the husband says no to ducks!).

I've been trying to train honey to pick up sticks and bring them to the deck for me, but no luck with that one!

 

[Hanne]

JacqueZ - Very good "sock job", which I will certainly try, Minnie and I play "find the sock" every morning while I am dressing.

Chinchi - When he has done his job, then some really good long walks a great reward.