Help! My dog won't poop outside after being scared by another dog.

Poor Ray, and poor you! House training can be very difficult. The links below may help you as you work wih Ray. House training: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102897&id=4952071&ind=395&objTypeID=1007 The links below contain more information on other causes of house soiling: Submissive urination http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/submissive_urination.html Separation anxiety http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=106&A=1502&S=1 This can be a frustrating issue, and can take some time to fix, but if you keep at it hopefully things will improve soon.

Poor little guy! This could be a scary event for him, but I can't think of anything you are going to be able to do to help him emotionally. If he has any loose stool or diarrhea that can cause him to have accidents in the house, and this needs to be addressed by your veterinarian. Otherwise just give him time and he should get over being afraid. Definitely don't punish him as that will just make him more anxious and afraid.

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!

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Soska. This is a common issue for dogs who have been punished for having housetraining accidents - they become afraid to pee or poop in front of the owner, which then makes it extremely difficult to teach them where to go. I would recommend going back to basics with Soska and starting over with her housetraining as if she were a puppy. This means taking her out frequently for potty breaks, and rewarding with praise and a treat as soon as she poops outside. Inside, she needs to be supervised at all times to prevent any opportunity for accidents. You may need to be very patient at first, since if she is afraid to "go" in front of you, it will take her a long time to trust you again. See our article on housetraining for more information on how to teach her where to potty: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining

Poor little Pixie. If she is truly scared to be outside one option may be to train her to a doggie litter box. If you go this route, be aware that it may become a permanent preference for her elimination habits. The other option is gradual work with herto overcome her fear. This may require adjusting your trip to stop at quieter locations and taking plenty of time outside the RV to play, feed and make it a good experience for her. If you are stressed and rushed she will sense it and that may add to her anxiety. There are some wood articles here about housebreaking and overcoming anxiety. Also, make sure there is not a medical cause for her to be obstipated (unable to poop). http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

You may need to spend more time with him outside. Wait him out, and when he does go poop outside, give him lots of praise and give him a treat. You may also want to consider crate training him. Get him a crate that is big enough for him to stand up and turn around in. Make it comfortable, in a nice quiet place, with his blankets and toys. If he's stubborn and won't go outside, put him in his crate and close it. If he cries, give him a few minutes to settle down, but if he persists, he may be letting you know he needs to go potty. By giving him just enough room, but not too much, your giving him a 'den' so to speak. Dogs are very reluctant to soil the place where they sleep, so by confining him, you're presenting him with a choice; ask to go out and get the job done, or possible make a mess and have to be stuck with it for a little while. When he has gone potty, put him in his crate but don't shut it. The presence of his blankets and a toy will reinforce to him that the crate is a nice place that is all his own.

Behavior changes can be difficult to pinpoint. However, if he remembers being really painful outdoors when he pooped either right before or after surgery then he may associate outside with pain and now prefers to go indoors. I would encourage you to treat him like a puppy and re- potty train him. Lots of positive reinforcement for going poop outside. Also limit his access indoors by possibly tethering his leash to your belt loop so you can catch him before he poops inside. This will likely take time and repetition. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.