Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 3/2/2007

Question
My male schnoodle, Zorro, is almost 3 years old.  He has been 100% housebroken for ages, however, we used to keep him confined to only 1-2 rooms of the house (via an electric pad).  Recently we have let him go throughout the house and he has chosen an area upstairs to poop- this has happened in the same spot about 4-5 times over a period of several weeks.  I have sprayed and sprayed but he keeps returning there.  I don't know what else to do......He never did this before...and I'd hate to have to restrict  him again to just the kitchen and family room.

Answer
Dear Fay,
It's not uncommon for dogs with new found freedom to new rooms to have a lapse in house training. In all probability, Zorro wasn't really house trained. He just learned not to go in the two rooms he was exposed to. He didn't really learn to WANT to go outside. The key is to motivate him to want to go outside.

Start using treats when he goes outside. Play with him after he poops outside. Use a unique toy or special treats that he only gets when he poops outside.

If he is only pooping inside, then your task is much easier.

Does Zorro have access to food all day or do you feed him at specific times? If he eats at certain times and his exercise schedule is somewhat routine (the same each day), then it's likely that he will poop at the same times each day. Make sure he eats at the same times each day. Give him a bowl of food, allow 10 minutes for him to eat it. After 10 minutes remove the bowl and any left over food. Once he is on a schedule for eating, his pooping should be on schedule.

Supervise him at all times. Treat him as if he were not house trained.


Good luck.

Visit my web site and download the free house training guide. http://www.howsbentley.com