Why is my dog suddenly scared to poop outside and having accidents?

Poor Joey! See the following links for more information on training: House training: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx? pid=19239&catId=102897&id=4952071&ind=395&objTypeID=1007 Submissive urination http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/submissive_urination.html If the house training issues continue or worsen, please have Joey seen by a veterinarian to help rule out a medical cause for this behaviour, as sometimes urinating/defecating in the house could be due to a urinary tract infection, crystals in the urine, stones in the urinary tract, constipation, infection, endocrine disease, digestive issues or trauma to the area. This can be a frustrating issue, and can take some time to fix, but if you keep at it hopefully things will improve soon. Positive reinforcement with lots of treats and praise when he urinates/ defecates outside and taking him out more frequently so you catch him before he goes in the house are a good start.

Since it sounds like this is a recent behavior change, the first step would be to have Stain examined by a vet to see if there may be a medical reason that he is pooping in strange places - there are many illnesses that can cause dogs to suddenly begin having house-training accidents, so your vet may recommend doing a fecal exam and possibly some blood work to check for any problems. If everything comes back normal, then this behavior may be a result of stress or anxiety, or some recent change in his routine. In that case, I would recommend going back to basics with house-training for the next few weeks to help get things back on track - take him out frequently, and go for long walks if needed so that he has plenty of opportunity to poop outside. When he does, reward with a treat. In the house, supervise closely to prevent accidents and use a crate if needed to confine him at night or when you aren't able to watch him. Once he has gone a few weeks without any accidents, you can gradually transition back to his normal routine.

Hello there! Thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Perhaps there is something that has recently frightened her out in the yard or garden. There is also the possibility she is having pain while urinating and/or defecating and therefore may be associating the area she goes wee and poo with the pain she may be experiencing. I think the best thing to do in this situation is encourage to go out (perhaps join or accompany her) or take her for a walkie to see if she goes then. If not and you are still concerned, especially if she hasn't passed urine or stool soon, then I would recommend you see your veterinarian for an exam. A urinary tract infection can cause pain during urination and constipation can cause pain during defecation. I would want to be sure there is nothing more serious going on if this behavior continues. Best of luck to you and Cindy!

It's possible there is a scent that he's picking up on, or he may be hearing a strange sound. Critters under the ground such as rodents that are more nocturnal may also be startling him, especially if this is during a nighttime potty break. Bringing him out on a leash so he doesn't chase or get hurt by anything, and bringing a high-value treat out with you may help get him more used to going out and being less afraid. Otherwise, checking for any signs of wildlife may be a good idea (and seeing if you can get the wildlife to move off elsewhere), or fencing an area for him to go in safely may help as well.

I am so sorry to hear about Nickel (what a cutie pie!). I wonder if your dog has inflammation or irritation in the distal color or rectal/anal area that causes her pain/irritation when it is time to have a bowel movement and this is why she becomes irritated/frantic. It is worthwhile to have her anal sacs examined by a vet if she hasn't already. You may also talk to them about putting her on a diet trial of a hypoallergenic diet in case she is having some mild inflammatory bowel symptoms causing the urgency or inflammation. There are diets that are made of hydrolyzed protein (where the protein has been broken down so it isn't recognized as an allergen) or novel protein diets, where the protein and carbohydrate sources are ones your dog hasn't eaten before (for example fish and potato or kangaroo and oats). The vet should also do a full neurological examination of your pup to be sure there aren't any abnormalities in the nerve pathways of the rectal area. An x-ray or ultrasound of the abdomen may also be helpful. If your vet hasn't been able to find a cause, you may request a referral to a specialist such as an internal medicine specialist. Another option you may try at home would be to add some fiber to his Nickel's diet to see if the bulking up of the feces helps Nickel identify a bowel movement is coming earlier. You can achieve this by adding a few teaspoons of canned pumpkin to Nickel's food.

There are a couple of reasons why Hunter is pooping in the house lately. It could be due to stress, he could have diarrhea from a medical illness causing him to have to go right where he is at the moment, or it could be due to canine cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia in humans. I would have Hunter seen by a vet tomorrow for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. These tests will help identify if there is a medical cause behind this behavior, and if there is, the vet can discuss treatment with you. If he does have canine cognitive dysfunction, there are medications to help with that as well as diet changes you can make. Again, the vet can discuss this with you.

If this is a new behavior I would recommend bringing Tuck along with a stool sample into your vet. This can help rule out some more common issues such as parasites that could be causing GI upset and accidents. Your vet can also examine Tuck for issues such as arthritis that may be making it harder or difficult for Tuck to go potty thus leading to the accidents, or any other health issues that may be affecting his ability to hold it.