Guest mitchelldm7 Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Hi there! I just adopted my second Greyhound about a week ago. We've been working through house breaking but it became clear early on that the traditional method of crate training wasn't going to work. She gets incredibly anxious and nervous in the crate. She cries - loudly - all night and stresses herself so much that she pees in the crate. I stopped using the crate - and her anxiety totally subsided. She's a happy go lucky dog and she's figured out the idea of peeing outside. She hasn't, however, connected pooing to that same trip. She'll occasionally do it outside, but come inside and do it again. It happens most often at night. I've been getting up at 3-4am to take her out and she poops outside. But between then and when I get up at 7am, she's found the need to do it again in the living room. I'm at a total loss. The crate seems to make the problem worse with her soiling it. I've tried really awesome treats just for going potty outside -- and she gets it - but still does it inside. Any ideas? Cheers, Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallgreydogmom Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Try her on some low residue dog food. Less poop Quote Then God sent the Greyhound to live among man and remember. And when the Day comes, God will call the Greyhound to give Testament, and God will pass judgment on man. (Persian Proverb) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 It would be worth a try to take her on a walk at night - and keep her out until she poops! Carry a handful of kibble with you and after she poos, give her the kibbles - she'll start connecting "late night poop" with "yummy food" and it shouldn't take as long for her to poop at night. It's worth a try for a couple weeks Quote Mom of bridge babies Regis and Dusty. Wrote a book about shelter dogs! I sell things on Etsy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwnedBySummer Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Are you allowing her free reign in the house at night?... as she's pooping in the living room, I'm guessing she's roaming? My theory would be that she doesn't know yet that all that space is her home. I would expand her run of the house more gradually, expanding her concept of home/den. Definitely I would start with having her sleep in my bedroom with me. Quote Lisa B. My beautiful Summer - to her forever home May 1, 2010 Summer Certified therapy dog team with St. John Ambulance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 (edited) Leash walk before bed until she poops. Problem solved. Leash-walking in general is your friend -- sounds like you're just letting her out in the yard and expecting her to empty herself. Lots of dogs need to really get moving and also be stimulated by new smells etc. to really do their business. I've had my dog 5.5 years and if she hasn't pooped her full quota during the day we walk late at night (like 10 p.m. -- I got to bed late) until she does, every single night. (Well we walk all the time anyway; I have a small yard but she doesn't poop in it at all.) Not always just what I feel like doing at that hour especially in the dead of winter, but I don't want her to need to go out in the wee hours. And yours hasn't yet learned to signal (or you haven't yet learned to read her subtle signals) that she needs to go out. Also agree she needs to stay where you can hear her if she starts to pace or whatever during the night -- restlessness is the typical signal for needing to go. Edited February 3, 2014 by PrairieProf Quote With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Typically if you have a firm schedule, dogs TEND to poop at the same time every day. For example, mine poops on our morning long walk (sometimes twice) and then he poops after dinner. He eats and is walked at the same time every day, so he knows when he's going out, and feeding at the same time every day makes it so his digestion produces a poop at approximately the same time too. I agree with leash walking until she really gets the housebreaking thing! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mitchelldm7 Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Thanks all. We go on 45-minute walks every night but so far she sees them as time to play and explore -- she never actually stops to go to the bathroom. Maybe one a bit later will help. Good idea. And confining her to a smaller room might be helpful too ... I live in a big old house - and it might be too much space for her right away. Cheers, Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadianarose Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Payton has learned that "go potty some more" means go poop, but it took him a little while to get it. He also poops on a schedule so I had to learn that. Definitely walk until she poops. Confining her in the room with you will help. Good luck and congratulations! Quote Payton, The Greyhound (Palm City Pelton) and Toby, The LabAnnabella and Julietta, The CatsAt the Bridge - Abby, The GSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greysonsmom Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Mine sleep on their own beds in our room. We.ve never had a problem, and in fact, they wake us up with a wet nose or vocally on some occasions with the need to go out. We don't give them treats for the middle of the night wake up calls because...well...they are smart. I do think that they like to be near us at night though. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mitchelldm7 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 This brings us to another fun adventure ... Teaching her to climb the stairs to the bedroom. I had been saving that lesson for after house training! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Houston1219 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Another greytalk member gave me the greatest suggestion on this same issue. Attach two six foot leashes together, clip one end to the dog and put the other end around your ankle while the good sleeps at the foot of your bed until they learn to wake you up if they Need to go out. Our back yard had no grass, its more of a fenced in patio (we live in a condo) so my guy had a hard time with concrete vs tile and used the kitchen as an extension of the back yard for a while lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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