Does Your Dog Keep Pooping In The House – Here’s What To Do
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Does Your Dog Keep Pooping In The House? If you have a dog, you’ve probably know there is not much worse then coming home to your dog having an accident while you were gone. Sometimes the solution is straightforward, other times not so much.
If your dog consistently poops in the house, you might start to suspect that they are doing it on purpose, even if it only happens on a single, infrequent occasion.
But the truth is, Dogs don’t go to the bathroom in their homes out of spite or annoyance. A behavioral or physical health issue is probably present if a dog who has been completely housebroken suddenly starts to poop indoors. You and your vet need to determine the real cause of that issue. Now don’t worry, because were going to break down some of the main reasons why your dog may be starting to poop in the house.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
Why Does My Dog Keep Pooping In The House?
As you know, dogs are unable to express their emotions to humans, like humans can. They employ other techniques, such as pooping inside the home, to alert you that something might not be right. Here are some common reasons:
Not Being Potty Trained
Your pet’s lack of complete potty training could be an easy explanation. Your dog may have mastered the idea of peeing outside but maybe not popping inside, hence why your dog keeps pooping in the house.
Give your dog plenty of attention and praise while outside if you suspect this is the case. Additionally, use a single command, such as “go,” to signal when it’s time to for them to go to the restroom. When they do, praise them even more and give them a treat. If you would like to learn more about training and the best tips, you can check out or training hub and if you want hands on trainings, you can click here.
When a dog poops in the proper location a few times in a row after being adopted as a new puppy, many pet owners believe they have successfully house trained their dog. However, it might take a little longer than you anticipate for this process to fully solidify in your dog’s brain.
Dogs also adapt schedules for meals and bathroom breaks fairly quickly, so try to establish and enforce one.
Not Enough Time & Being Distracted Easily
Rushing your dog while they are outside to go to the bathroom is another common reason why your dog may be going to the bathroom inside.
Give your dog plenty of time to go potty when you’re outside. Many dogs can get easily distracted by sounds and activities outside, which prevents them from going to the bathroom as they’re focused on other things going on. Don’t let them leave the house alone. Stay with them and keep reminding them with the one-word commands.
When they get back on track, they’ll remember that there is a command giving to them, and they will sniff to find a spot to go to the bathroom.
Anxiety
When under stress, dogs that struggle with anxiety, particularly those who suffer from separation anxiety, may poop inside the home. Even the best house-trained dog may have accidents inside when under duress because many dogs cannot control their urge to urinate or go.
Take into account the times that your dog poop indoors. Is this a recurring occurrence while you are away from home?
Separation anxiety may be the issue if it is also accompanied by inappropriate urination and destructive behavior. When faced with something frightening outside, dogs may also poop inside. Numerous factors, such as the weather (too hot or cold), passing cars, or the persistent barking of a neighbor’s dog, could contribute to the anxiety.
Medical Issues
The reason why your dog keeps pooping in the house could also be a medical issue. Your dog may poop inside due to a variety of conditions, including infections, food allergies, and food poisoning. Intestinal parasites and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two of the most widespread, though.
IBD is a an ongoing intestinal inflammation which ends up in your dogs stomach being upset and causing uncontrollable diarrhea. Additionally, intestinal worms such as hookworms and roundworms can cause your dog to go to the bathroom in the house. Dogs with intestinal parasites frequently experience diarrhea, which can occasionally be bloody. If your dog is experiencing this, take them to the veterinarian to be examined.
There are a numerous of other medical issues that could be causing your dog to be going to the bathroom in the house. From infections, too food allergies, too inflammatory bowel disease, to even cancer.
My Jack had Hemangiosarcoma, a cancer on his spleen and he sometimes would get very upset stomachs which would also cause him to poop in the house. This would be followed by 2-3 days of him not being himself, not really eating and just not feeling well.
Keep an eye out for changes in their appetite, frequency of pooping, and consistency or color of their feces and if you’re concerned about your dogs behavior (especially if it is after they’ve pooped in the house which is unusual for them, it might be smart to take your dog to the vet.) Sometimes more serious medical issues won’t be able to be see without an X-ray, but your vet will be able to feel and see your dogs stomach and can take the proper next steps.
Aging
Older dogs might simply lose their ability to contain themselves or they might forget where they need to go outside. Your older dog might not be able to hold waste for extended periods of time due to a physical condition like muscular atrophy. Additionally, older dogs may experience cognitive dysfunction, which can cause them to become disoriented and forget where it is proper to urinate, resulting in accidents anywhere in your house.
What To Do Now That Your Dog Popped In Your House?
The most crucial thing to do if your dog starts going to the bathroom in the house is to take a deep breath and relax. Don’t get angry (even though we know you’re probably not happy about this.) Stay patience. Your dog isn’t at fault for their behavior, so don’t want to chastise or punish them! Instead, you’ll need to guide them, make an effort to teach them where to poop appropriately, and keep an eye out for any signs of a medical issue.
You should have your dog checked out by your veterinarian if the behavior continues or if you notice that your dog is exhibiting symptoms of an illness. They will be able to determine whether your pet has an underlying condition that is causing their incontinence and help you take the appropriate action to change their behavior.
Sensitive Stomach
If your dog has some issues with going to the bathroom in the house, it may be time to also look into some sensitive stomach food blends. There are many options out there, but we recommend you check out our full sensitive stomach dog food review here.
Sensitive stomach dog food is easier on your dogs stomach as they focus on many good things. High-quality ingredients are used in sensitive stomach dog food, which is formulated to be highly digestible and gentle on your dog’s digestive system. They are much less likely to contain nasty chemicals that can irritate many dogs as well as processed and unnatural ingredients. These foods can be a little more pricey, but we believe that our dogs should only receive the best.
How To Stop a Dog from Pooping in the House
Getting to the source of the problem
Discard age-related or medical cause’s:
If your dog exhibits symptoms of a medical or aging-related condition, a trip to the vet will provide confirmation. If one of these is the cause, the veterinarian can offer advice on the best course of action and perhaps even prescribe medication.
Extend your bathroom breaks:
Taking your dogs out more frequently throughout the day will teach them to go outside rather than inside, whether you let them out in the yard or take them on long walks.
Remove the mess as soon as possible:
Use a powerful enzyme cleaner to remove and completely clean any messes in the house and remove the smell as much as possible. Lingering odor attracts your dog and gives off signs for them to them to poop there again. Remember, even if you can’t smell anything in the space you just cleaned, your dog probably can, as there smell is 1000X better than ours. An enzyme cleaner will help neutralize the odor and not simply mask it, so your pet won’t be tempted to return to this spot to go again.
Utilize training aids:
If all else fails, go back to the basics. By reteaching, and retraining your dog (it wont take long) where they should be going, will enhance where they believe they can go to the bathroom. Your dog will eventually realize that going outside is the best place to be if you continue to encourage and remind them to do so.
Use a set time:
Setting, set times for you and your dog to go out and to go to the bathroom is another great thing to incorporate. This will allow your dog to get into a routine, and they will learn quickly that this is the time to go to the bathroom.
Other Things To Do To Prevent Your Dog From Popping In The House
Dogs frequently urinate or defecate in the house when they are scared. Loud noises are frequent triggers, from the boom and crack of fireworks to the rumble of thunder. You can train your dog to be more calm when they hear loud noises, even though you can’t stop the sounds outside.
Make the environment of there home secure and joyful:
A safe place for dogs will typically be small, dark, and enclosed. It could be in your bedroom’s underside, a closet, or a crate. Encourage your dog to go there when loud noises occur, but don’t pressurize them. Give them treats or other incentives so they connect that space with positive experiences rather than ominous noises. You do not want them to think of this as a jail, but more a happy / safe place.
Create diversion:
Give your dog a fun activity as soon as your dog exhibits any signs of stress from loud noises. Play fetch with a tennis ball, present a fresh squeaky toy, or train commands while rewarding your dog with treats. Expecting to eliminate all of their concerns right away is unrealistic. The goal should be to put off acting out of fear for longer each time.
Dog Popping In The House FAQ
Do dogs poop for attention?
Dogs will occasionally poop in there house just to get their owner’s attention. When your dog poop in the house, if they act excited and jump around to get your attention, it’s likely that the little rascal is just doing it for fun.
How long after eating Do dogs poop?
The majority of dogs will poop shortly after eating (about 30 minutes) or right away after waking up. Both of these are excellent times to schedule walks or other dog exercise. Of course, every dog has a different schedule, so you’ll discover what suits your dog the best.
Do dogs poop in the house when they are stressed?
A dog may begin to poop in the house due to stress, separation anxiety, and other factors. A dog’s digestive system is sensitive to significant, abrupt changes, just like that of humans. Your dog may become stressed as a result of life event triggers.
Conclusion
If your dog is popping your house, stay calm and breathe. It is most likely due to one of the issues mentioned in this article, and with a trip to your vet (if needed), and some training and examining, you should be able to fix this.
Just remember, your dog is not doing this on purpose (most likely) so try to understand where they’re coming from.
We hope our guide has given you a straightforward path to making sure your dog stops pooping in the house. For more health info, check here.
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