New rescue pup pooping in house

[phylny]

We got a new little guy, about 3 years old, from a rescue a bit over two weeks ago. He's doing well - knows nothing obedience-wise, but he's slowly learning. We've had two pee accidents and tonight was his fourth poop accident. I have had most of the house closed off to him and am opening it up slowly. Here's what I've been doing:

Wake up in the morning, quick potty outside, breakfast, and then an immediate walk where he'll generally pee and poop
Mid-day walk (me or dog walker)
Potty outside when I come home from work
Dinner at 6, immediate walk outside where he'll generally pee and poop (if I can't, I kennel him briefly, then walk)
Potty outside in the evening

I am praising him, "Good potty! Good business!" for #s 1 & 2, like I've always done.

This evening, I fed him dinner and he ate, bolted to the guest bedroom, and immediately pooped. I cleaned it up, didn't say anything (he's lightning fast) and put him in the crate. There he sits. I didn't reprimand him. I had JUST taken him out to pee at 5:30 when I got home, and he peed (reluctantly - I needed to encourage him and stay out with him), but didn't poop.

I'm at a loss. My next idea is to feed him in the crate, assuming if I can't get him outside immediately, he probably (!?!) won't poop in his crate.

Any other ideas are most welcome.

[Eko]

1. Take him outside right before feeding.

Maybe he will get the idea that doing his business outside at that time gets him dinner.

[targetpractice]

9. My dog wants the opposite...

Eating or drinking stimulates her digestion... She needs to pee or poop shortly after drinking or eating.

[vlyons]

2. When he poops or pees in the house

Push his nose right above it, and say in loud voice "N0 N0. Bad Dog." He will learn the difference between praise outside and repreimand inside. When outside, try to get him to go in the same place, where his scent is.

[targetpractice]

4. That seems kinda cruel...

But, what do I know? I learned that positive reinforcement training really works. And, that dogs have virtually no memory of what they did earlier. Reprimands only work when you catch them mid-accident.

I hardly ever say "no" to my dog, unless she is doing something that will hurt her or eating some strange thing outside. My dog's foster mom told me early on to take inside poops and put them outside in a similar place to leave the scent for the future.

Also, I've learned that dogs are all about context... They don't understand inside or outside, but do know the difference between tile, carpet, grass, or concrete... Praise them when they do their business on the right surface... My dog will only go on grass or dirt.

[Stonepounder]

12. I agree that you should only scold when you catch them in the act.

The trick is to praise them when the do something right. We are going through housebreaking a new puppy who absolutely hates wet grass. Makes life interesting. But small 'training treats' also work well to reinforce desired behavior.

[BigmanPigman]

10. Yep, that is the way to do it.

Also, I learned that if you clean up the pee/poop and leave the stinky paper towel outside the dog starts to get the point and you say "bad dog" repeatedly in a very distinct, low voice. I don't like to reward with treats but it does help as well as tons of praise right away so they do not forget or get confused.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. No! Absolutely the wrong technique!

The dog won't understand; they don't get reprimands relating to pooping or peeing because there's no concept that it's wrong. You only make the dog afraid of you by doing that. According to the Humane Society:

Never rub a dog’s nose in urine or feces, or punish a dog for an “accident.” This will teach your dog to fear you, and he may hide when he has to “go.”
It is not instinctive for dogs to relieve themselves outside; it is only natural for them to not go where they sleep. Everyplace else is fair game!
You must be patient. Regardless of whether you have a puppy or have recently adopted an adult, the dog will not automatically understand the routine in your house or know where the door is. It is up to you to train your dog.

https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/housetraining-puppies-dogs/

[targetpractice]

3. I knew nothing, but my first dog (an adult rescue) was easy...

I have the advantage that I work from home and am with my baby girl all day, but I noticed she was like clockwork (if I was consistent)...

Morning, upon waking up...Her breakfast... Then immediate walk, pee, and poop.

Early afternoon... Walk and pee.

Late afternoon... Her dinner.

Evening... Walk, pee and poop. Then a treat.

I am absolutely consistent when I feed her... The same exact times every day.

In the beginning I watched her like a hawk... When she left my side and didn't go for a drink of water, I knew she was up to something... As soon as she started to wander or circle... I would say "Ah, ah, ah!" ("No" is only for misbehaving). Then I would hurry her out the door with a leash... Whenever she peed or pooped outside I'd praise her effusively... If she had an accident inside... I'd just ignore it (and her) and clean it up. She lives for praise, and eventually learned to give me "the stare" when she wanted to go outside.

I was surprised how easy it was to train her (two weeks at most)... I've been told that it's because I was consistent and adapted my behavior to HER schedule.

She is my first dog, and I've had her nine years. She's perfect.

[Judi Lynn]

5. So true, they WANT to please, when they can understand and see the pattern. Thank you. n/t

[targetpractice]

6. Hi there, Judi Lynn... I really enjoy your science posts...

I think I read every single one. Thanks!

[Judi Lynn]

11. I love looking for them and finding them, when time allows. I learn, myself, and must pass them on.

Thank you, targetpractice! You are very kind.

[madaboutharry]

7. "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Geller

This book helped me train my dog. I recommend it.

[targetpractice]

8. Dogs have a short digestive tract...

Taking them out before a meal/water is not as useful (to us) as taking them out afterwards. My dog will pee like clockwork 20 minutes after drinking water.

[LakeArenal]

14. Can you feed the dog outside?

[Bluepinky]

15. We adopted a one year old dog from a group that places homeless dogs from Puerto Rico.

I hate to tell you this, but it took well over a year before she was fully house trained. We offered her a treat whenever she pooped or peed after we took her outside. It also took some time to realize she has GI issues and doesn’t tolerate a lot of the dog foods on the market. A lot of the foods gave her diarrhea, which made house training more difficult. We learned we have to feed her only grain-free food, which has cut down on her BMs.

Once your dog gets into a routine with his/her schedule, try to learn the bathroom habits; does he/she poop or pee first thing in the morning, or later? We took our dog outside frequently to poop or pee. When we couldn’t be home with her, she had to stay in her crate, or she was limited to one room. It really did take quite a while for her to become fully trained. I think it has to do with your dog bonding with you and wanting to please you as well.

Our dog is 4 now, she’s never in a crate, and she has free reign of the house at all times. She hasn’t had an accident in the house for at least the last 1 1/2 years. She is very happy and wants to please us, so I think she knows we don’t want her doing her business in the house.

If your dog is 3 and not house-trained, it may take more time to train him/her. Puppies can learn more quickly, adult dogs take longer.

[CountAllVotes]

16. I greatly dislike crates

Never heard of such a thing in my day, NEVER!

I know of people that lock their dog(s) up in crates before they go out and to work.

If you can't handle a dog without the use of a crate, well think about it.

How would you like living in a crate?

As for the accidents, try some puppy pads. After an accident, put the dog outside and clean the accident up. Rubbing the dogs nose into it makes for a cruel environment to say the very least.

I agree, it takes time, yes time and also effort!

[Bluepinky]

18. I meant to reply to your post but replied to my own by mistake!

[Bluepinky]

17. I don't really like crates either, and we limited her time in it.

We got the crate per recommendation of the rescue group, we limited her time in it and we haven’t used it at all in about 2 years. I too wouldn’t want to keep a dog in a crate for very long. But I think it was useful to use for limited periods of time her first few months at our house. We put a lot of effort and time into house training her, which we were happy to do. Like I said in my post, it took over a year to house train her, so sometimes these things take a long time. But they are well worth it.

By the way, I wasn’t the one who suggested rubbing the dog’s nose in her mistake, we never did that.

[CountAllVotes]

19. Didn't mean to point you out

It was just a general statement.

Please don't take any offensive!

I knew someone that did this with a dog and it was very sad for the dog. Said person did not deserve a dog!

I had my mother's dog after she passed away. He had been in a crate at times I think but after I got him, he was terrified of one so I let it go.

He was fortunately house broken. If he needed to go out, he'd start barking up a storm so difficult to not know.

Take care!!

[Bluepinky]

20. Thanks for responding, no offense taken.

It’s all good, don’t know what I would do without our dog and two cats. They enrich our lives more than I can say.