Is He testing me?

[Trixter]

Toby is 20 months old. We have had him for three months, he is a rescue.
From day one, he would sit in front of the door and whine to tell us he needs to go out. Take heart all you "furbaby mama" I guess it can be done!
Two weeks ago, he started getting up in the middle of the night, going downstairs and pooping by the side door, a door he has never used to go outside.
He has been having some stomach issues, I've been trouble shooting food, Also had been paw licking, may have gotten some of the ice melting stuff they put on the road? Anyway I've made excuses for the poor little guy I understand, I feel bad for him, the usual.
That's a whole 'nother issue though, isn't it?
I've started to sleep with the bedroom door closed so if he has to go out he hops off the bed and cries by the door. Some nights its been 12am 2am and 4am! In one night! As I've said he hasn't been well.
I let him out at 9:00 tonight, and he didn't go potty, so I told dh I would walk him. We walked for 15 minutes or so, with me telling him "do it , do it" and he still didn't go.
Well, we came back into the house, I was not even done taking my coat off and I saw him scoot into the living room. He did it again!!!!! Right in the same are he has chosen for his indoor spot! What could this be? Why is he doing this? Is he testing me?
Sorry to be so long, but I need Help!

[LucyNTuckersMom]

This is just a thought. If he's having problems (constipated, diarrhea,pains, etc) pooping outside maybe his logic is to poop inside so it doesn't hurt/feel uncomfortable. I know with my cat that gets urinary tract infections every few years, the first sign is she pees outside the litter box, in the hopes that it won't burn if she goes somewhere else. That's our cue to get in a urine sample, and then she usually goes on antibiotics. Not sure if that's your case, but did you have him checked out at the vet when you said he started having issues?

Teresa

[Trixter]

I took in a sample and had it tested they said it was clear which is why I thought it might be food issues.

[Nancy1999]

Hi, I'm not sure he's testing you in this area, I think they test you with such things as how much barking can I get away with or can I beg for treats, but not so much with things like pooping and peeing. They really want to go in the places they are supposed to go, and if they are not, there is usually a compelling reason. Trying to figure out that reason can be difficult.

Since he was a rescue, you don't know how he was originally trained, and this can make a huge difference on how he's acting now. Some dogs were so traumatized by their original training they're a little nervous every time they have to go. When you say, "I saw him scoot into the living room," do you mean he pooped or peed? If he's returning to the same spot, you need to use an enzyme cleaner on that spot. Most cleaners won't touch the protein that is found in poop or urine, so you need a special enzyme cleaner to get rid of the protein, covering up the smell only works for humans, they can still smell the spot. Is he marking? This is different than peeing, and has nothing to do with him needing to empty his bladder; he needs to "mark" his territory. You can usually tell the difference by the amount, marking is only a tablespoon or even less on a small dog. If he was neutered at a later date, marking may never be eliminated, especially with the presence of other dogs, and many people use bellybands for this.

If he is getting up in the night and pooping in a corner, I would be tempted to put a pee pad there. This little guy has been through a lot, being rehomed is always traumatic, and you have no idea how the previous owners treated him and trained him, so the rules are probably very confusing for him. Joey's breeder told me to just ignore the mistakes, and praise the success; I think this is the best way for eliminating long-term side effects caused by improper training.

Ice on the road can cause the paw licking. What are you feeding? It sounds like he may be having problems with it.

[Trixter]

Thank you.
He eats Blue buffalo small breed 1/2 cup, mixed with one ounce of boiled chicken chopped small and 2 tablespoons of organic chicken broth, morning and night.
His treats are an assortment of Charlie bear training treats and some dried chicken chips, same as always.
I've added a teaspoon of plain yogurt (Stonyfield) and/or brown rice to help with the loose stool on the vets suggestion and it has firmed things up.
In the last two weeks I had added some crumbled hard boiled egg and a little bit of grapefruit but that's done since I thought that's what might have caused the upset.
He has also been caught eating deer poop so We are watching like a hawk in the yard.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Trixter

Thank you.
He eats Blue buffalo small breed 1/2 cup, mixed with one ounce of boiled chicken chopped small and 2 tablespoons of organic chicken broth, morning and night.
His treats are an assortment of Charlie bear training treats and some dried chicken chips, same as always.
I've added a teaspoon of plain yogurt (Stonyfield) and/or brown rice to help with the loose stool on the vets suggestion and it has firmed things up.
In the last two weeks I had added some crumbled hard boiled egg and a little bit of grapefruit but that's done since I thought that's what might have caused the upset.
He has also been caught eating deer poop so We are watching like a hawk in the yard.

I've heard some really great things about Blue Buffalo, why are you adding the chicken to it? Does it help him eat it? Remember changes in diet can cause a loose stool, and making more changes can then confuse the results. Some dogs are really regular, and poop 5 minutes after eating, and are much easier to train. Others like yours, seem to have their own schedule, but I think once he settles down a little bit, you'll know his habits better.


Deer poop, that sounds yummy!

[Trixter]

The Buffalo, chicken and broth have been constant since day one, and that was what he was eating for the 6 weeks at his foster. Foster mom said he was a picky eater, so I hand fed him at first, but three days in he felt safe, and he's been eating that mix from his bowl ever since.
Has also been extremely regular, twice a day since day one as well! That's the part I can't figure out?
I took the chicken out of the mix cause I thought I might have gotten a bad batch. But I ate it as well and the last weeks is fresh prepped the same as always.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Trixter

The Buffalo, chicken and broth have been constant since day one, and that was what he was eating for the 6 weeks at his foster. Foster mom said he was a picky eater, so I hand fed him at first, but three days in he felt safe, and he's been eating that mix from his bowl ever since.
Has also been extremely regular, twice a day since day one as well! That's the part I can't figure out?
I took the chicken out of the mix cause I thought I might have gotten a bad batch. But I ate it as well and the last weeks is fresh prepped the same as always.

If he's extremely regular, does that mean you "know" when he needs to go? If so, I would take him on a walk at this time, maybe just one in the backyard so that there isn't as much excitement, and it can be more of an elimination walk than an exercise walk.

I think sometimes they eat stuff that we don't know about, and maybe that caused the upset.

[Trixter]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

If he's extremely regular, does that mean you "know" when he needs to go? If so, I would take him on a walk at this time, maybe just one in the backyard so that there isn't as much excitement, and it can be more of an elimination walk than an exercise walk.

I think sometimes they eat stuff that we don't know about, and maybe that caused the upset.

Here's our day: He lays in bed with me til I get up @7:30ish. We go downstairs, I Let him out in the yard. He pees 20 feet from the deck. Then he continues to run the perimeter of the fenced in area, and I stand on the deck and watch him.If he needs to poop, He finds his spot, does the circle dance, and as I holler to him what a good boy he is, he finishes up and flies back to the deck where we have a party and he gets a treat, which is for coming, not for potty. Then we have breakfast. I let him out again if he hasn't gone, and he does.
9:30 or 10 we go for a walk on leash, sometimes further to a park where we walk around a track (now snowy and ice covered) where I let him off leash as long as no one else is there, we practice come, sit, wait and its a great time. Twice around and we come home, on leash. That's our exercise walk.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Trixter

Here's our day: He lays in bed with me til I get up @7:30ish. We go downstairs, I Let him out in the yard. He pees 20 feet from the deck. Then he continues to run the perimeter of the fenced in area, and I stand on the deck and watch him.If he needs to poop, He finds his spot, does the circle dance, and as I holler to him what a good boy he is, he finishes up and flies back to the deck where we have a party and he gets a treat, which is for coming, not for potty. Then we have breakfast. I let him out again if he hasn't gone, and he does.
9:30 or 10 we go for a walk on leash, sometimes further to a park where we walk around a track (now snowy and ice covered) where I let him off leash as long as no one else is there, we practice come, sit, wait and its a great time. Twice around and we come home, on leash. That's our exercise walk.

Ok, it really sounds like you are doing everything right. Some dogs do get confused if you talk to them when pooping, your saying "oh good boy" could be heard to him as "don't go there." So it may be best if your sure he's done before you comment. The accident he had may have just been his need to go in a hurry, and he was heading toward a door. My point is I don't believe the dog will "test" you on matters such as this. I really think you are doing great, but this does take time before they are 100 percent.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Ok, it really sounds like you are doing everything right. Some dogs do get confused if you talk to them when pooping, your saying "oh good boy" could be heard to him as "don't go there." So it may be best if your sure he's done before you comment. The accident he had may have just been his need to go in a hurry, and he was heading toward a door. My point is I don't believe the dog will "test" you on matters such as this. I really think you are doing great, but this does take time before they are 100 percent.

I think you gave great advice.

[Yorkiekids]

I don't think he's testing you. Atleast he's going in an area where he knows he needs to get out of to go potty.

[Potter]

Would leaving a pee pad at home be an option for him? At least if he needs to go at night, he has an option and do not need to wake you up.

[Trixter]

Originally Posted by Potter

Would leaving a pee pad at home be an option for him? At least if he needs to go at night, he has an option and do not need to wake you up.

Actually, we're leaving for vacation Friday, and although we have not done it here, I will do this while we travel. I had not thought about what I would do when we are staying in a motel. I'm sure not getting up at 4 AM to take him out. Maybe if I leave the pad by the door he will feel better.
Would just like to add at this point that today we are two for two outside We all seem to be feeling really good about ourselves. Things are tightening up if you know what I mean. Keep the positive thoughts coming, and thank you for your great suggestions!
Nancy, I hadn't thought that he may think I was yelling at him, I'll give that some thought.

[Trixter]

Okay, there is definately something wrong here. Toby had to go out twice last night. Good boy!! He ate half his breatfast this morning. Buffalo, rice, broth. Then I added a little chicken to entice him to finish. He ate @ a teaspoon went to his bed, then told me he had to go out. He is very smart, He has a vocabulary, I just don't know all of it! He ran out to poop, And it is loose and I swear to G, I See things in it. I am taking it to the vet again.
Last week they tested for Giardia and did a "Float", and it was all good. Do I have a Dog problem or a Yorkie problem ? We're talking country Dr. here. He has been our vet for 23 yearsand we do trust him,but What should he be looking for?