Dog Pooping on Floor at Night

[Evadig]

That's too bad. Maybe it's an allergy, maybe not. It's really difficult to find out. Like I said earlier, I also have a dog with chronically soft stool (she also came from a not-so-good breeder who sold her to her first owner when she was less than 8 weeks old ). I tried many different foods but finally gave up on trying to firm up her poop and instead find a food that makes her feel better and more energetic.

But, back to your dog's potty training - I really do think you (and/or your parents) have been too soft with her since she doesn't even let you know when she needs to go. I know she's sensitive, but I think that means you won't have to do much to get the point across.

Ok, that brings up a question…if she was a puppy and had an accident in the house, you’d tell her no and take her outside.

But she has these accidents in the middle of the night. So how would I handle it when I find the mess in the morning?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I thought you said she potties in the crate, when you crate her at night? This tells me she has lost her denning instinct that makes puppies desire to keep their bed clean at night. As far as I know, once that's lost, you can't train it back in. You may just have to diaper her at night.

One last thing. What are you feeding her?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ok, that brings up a question…if she was a puppy and had an accident in the house, you’d tell her no and take her outside.

But she has these accidents in the middle of the night. So how would I handle it when I find the mess in the morning?

It doesn't matter whether she's a puppy or an adult, does it? You're still going to find the "accident" in the morning. So there's no point in telling her no hours later and taking her outside. She doesn't know what you're saying "no" about. This is why you crate-train. A healthy puppy will cry and fuss in the middle of the night when it needs out to keep from soiling its crate. This wakes you up and you take the puppy outside and praise it when it potties. In other words, you don't LET it have an "accident" in the house or in its crate. It learns to ASK.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If you find a mess in the morning that happened during the night, all you can do is clean it up.

 

[Evadig]

It doesn't matter whether she's a puppy or an adult, does it? You're still going to find the "accident" in the morning. So there's no point in telling her no hours later and taking her outside. She doesn't know what you're saying "no" about. This is why you crate-train. A healthy puppy will cry and fuss in the middle of the night when it needs out to keep from soiling its crate. This wakes you up and you take the puppy outside and praise it when it potties. In other words, you don't LET it have an "accident" in the house or in its crate. It learns to ASK.

We did crate train as a puppy (to the extent she stayed in a crate when we weren’t watching her - and like I said earlier, I tried to take her out on a schedule) but she never whined to go out. She’s just go in her crate.

This is all new to me because Eva did whine, and took herself to the door when she wanted to go out. So I did not know how to handle Annie. I did the best I could, but I guess it wasn’t good enough.

So now, I still am at a loss as to how to train her to ask. For example, I trained her to find her bowl, but she would never find it/bring it on her own. I always have to ask first. It’s same with going outside. She’d never dream of going outside without me asking if she wants to, first.

 

[StinkyAcres]

@BigBlueHen53 is right, you cannot correct a behavior long after it has happened.

I have to admit I've never had a dog that didn't learn to ask to go outside. But what I am thinking is keep her by your side all day. I would NOT ask her to go outside regularly and instead catch her trying to go potty in the house and immediately show her where she needs to go. Does she know a command to paw at something? Maybe you can have her paw at the door before you bring her outside?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

the best I could, but I guess it wasn’t good enough.

It's not your fault.

Maybe you can have her paw at the door before you bring her outside?

This will do no good. The dog does not know she needs to go. She just poops, as if she has no control over it. If she won't ask verbally, as is natural, you are not going to be able to teach her to ask by ringing a bell, turning handsprings, dialling 911 or any other unnatural method.

 

[Evadig]

instead catch her trying to go potty in the house

This only happens at night, when I am sound asleep. Never in the day, probably because she follows Eva when Eva wants to go out.

I guess I could set an alarm for 3 or 4 AM and take her out…

and immediately show her where she needs to go. Does she know a command to paw at something?

She can sniff at and dance around her bowl. That’s the closest we’ve come to anything.

Maybe you can have her paw at the door before you bring her outside?

I can try…

She’s not the brightest. It took her weeks to figure out how to use stairs and jump in the car. She barks at my parents and sister as though she doesn’t recognize them.

 

[Evadig]

It's not your fault.

This will do no good. The dog does not know she needs to go. She just poops, as if she has no control over it. If she won't ask verbally, as is natural, you are not going to be able to teach her to ask by ringing a bell, turning handsprings, dialling 911 or any other unnatural method.

This made me laugh, at least!

How do I teach her to know she needs to go, then?

Incidentally, she doesn’t ask for water either. She can and does beg for food, but it’s not a demand like Eva does.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How do I teach her to know she needs to go, then

IMO you probably can't. I'm sorry. I did suggest diapering her.