Pooping On The Patio

[Guest FireHorse]

Our boy Trey has just recently (within the last couple of months) started relieving himself on the patio. He pees on anything that catches his fancy; chair legs, side of the fridge, smoker, etc, and poops primarily in front of the gate, although he also likes anywhere near the fire pit.

 

This is new behavior. He's been with us since November of last year, but has only recently started this. Why? Anyone want to take a guess? The more important question is how can we get him to stop? Doing the traditional thing (going out with him and a handful of cookies; lots of praise for going where he's supposed to) doesn't seem to be getting through-if I check my progress by just letting him out, he goes on the patio previous training notwithstanding.

 

How do I convince him that even though it's outside, the patio is still off limits?

[Hollis]

Will be interesting to see the answers. My Honey is doing the same thing.

[tuff]

Jujube pees on the hot tub lid and Gracie poops on the deck

[Guest BrianRke]

All three of mine will like to poop on the flagstone patio, usually right beside the diving board. I am happy as long as it is outside so i've never tried to correct it. I just clean it up with my claw scooper after it happens.

[Guest carmasims]

we're trying to liven up our yard this year and have planted some roses and bushes in the yard... our boy chevelle feels the need to pee on everything that's not grass, so we just make sure we go out with him and shoo him away from peeing on things we don't want him peeing on by making 'AH AH' noises at him -- he seems to understand that means 'move along, mister!' although, he does need more reminders some days...

[Guest kydie]

I have a GSP that has always poooped on the driveway,, for me,, as long as it is outside,, I don't care,,, a bucket of hot water does the trick,, when the grey first came,, he peed off the deck,, as all three of the pack members watched in "horror",, all three came running in right ofter he did it,,, as if to say "look what HE did" "He" no longer does this,, and I had nothing to do with teaching him not to,, I look at it this way,, as long as it is not in the house,, a hose and hot water are easy,, no rug scrubber involved I'm happy

Edited June 30, 2011 by kydie

[kamsmom]

My lab does this to my patio furniture. I have to stand out side and tell him no and lead him off the patio. A loud NO! gets the point across and he runs to the yard and does his business. Then he gets treated and gets the tennis ball thrown a few times. It seems to have curbed him for the time being. But when it rains he seems to think it's a lot easier to just go on the patio

[NeylasMom]

I would put him on lead and walk him past the patio and other things you don't want him to potty on, then release him and say go potty, and reward when he does. Make the reward something really exciting, like playing fetch like Kamsmom said, or running a few laps around the yard together, or if food is really his thing, then use human food and instead of giving him just one bit, give him 10-15 pieces in a row, all while praising him.

 

After a while, I'd phase the leash out, but still "escort" him past the patio. Once he's doing that consistently, then maybe you can just watch from the door, but until then, don't give him the opportunity.

[Guest FireHorse]

I would put him on lead and walk him past the patio and other things you don't want him to potty on, then release him and say go potty, and reward when he does. Make the reward something really exciting, like playing fetch like Kamsmom said, or running a few laps around the yard together, or if food is really his thing, then use human food and instead of giving him just one bit, give him 10-15 pieces in a row, all while praising him.

 

After a while, I'd phase the leash out, but still "escort" him past the patio. Once he's doing that consistently, then maybe you can just watch from the door, but until then, don't give him the opportunity.

 

This is what I have been doing, it just doesn't seem to be sinking into the dense, pointy head. I just made some dried hotdog bits, so I'll use those and keep at it.

 

Thanks to all for the advice!

[Guest UpperHandAndy]

Good luck! My Andy pees on ALL my daughter's play stuff outside - pool, slide, trampoline.....drives me CRAZY! I've noticed if I tell him no, or shoo him, he thinks I'm telling him he can't pee. He walks around, looking around, and then trys to come back in the house. Idk....again, good luck lol.

[Guest Wasserbuffel]

I fenced an area of the yard for her to do her business in. We would walk her out to it and shut the gate until she was done. After months of that she began to go in there on her own to potty even when the gate was open. There have been a handfull of times where she's chosen to go elsewhere, but it's rare.

[NeylasMom]

I would put him on lead and walk him past the patio and other things you don't want him to potty on, then release him and say go potty, and reward when he does. Make the reward something really exciting, like playing fetch like Kamsmom said, or running a few laps around the yard together, or if food is really his thing, then use human food and instead of giving him just one bit, give him 10-15 pieces in a row, all while praising him.

 

After a while, I'd phase the leash out, but still "escort" him past the patio. Once he's doing that consistently, then maybe you can just watch from the door, but until then, don't give him the opportunity.

 

This is what I have been doing, it just doesn't seem to be sinking into the dense, pointy head. I just made some dried hotdog bits, so I'll use those and keep at it.

 

Thanks to all for the advice!

Not sinking in as in he goes back onto the patio to go after unleashed, or after a while you think it must have sunk in so you let him out unleashed and he goes?

 

Either way, I think it's a function of persisting with the leash training longer and gradually fading it out. So for a while, you might have him unleashed, but carry it with you and walk right beside him. If he looks like he's about to go, grab his collar or snap the leash on and escort him quickly onto the grass, then praise and reward when he finishes. I wouldn't scold him when you grab him, just matter of factly move him along. It shouldn't be that hard to do it - they give you fair warning in the way they position themselves.