Getting Gidget to poop in her apartment

[lilgidget]

She's doing really well telling me when she needs to pee and I take her to her puppy apartment bathroom and she pees. BUT she's not letting me know when she needs to poop. She just poops wherever she happens to be. I've got until the end of October to get this under control or I'll have to find another place to live. Can anyone help me with this?

[yavenay]

Originally Posted by lilgidget

She's doing really well telling me when she needs to pee and I take her to her puppy apartment bathroom and she pees. BUT she's not letting me know when she needs to poop. She just poops wherever she happens to be. I've got until the end of October to get this under control or I'll have to find another place to live. Can anyone help me with this?

Keep her tether to you at all times or confine when unable to be tethered, when she has to poop, take her to where you want her to poop. Tell her "go potty" (or something equalivent) so she can associate the word with the action. When she poops, reward her with treats and hugs and praises. Repeat until she is trained. The key is persistence and consistence. Do the exact same thing until she gets it. Don't give up, eventually they do catch on.

This method has worked for me with all of my puppies.

[lilgidget]

Originally Posted by yavenay

Keep her tether to you at all times or confine when unable to be tethered, when she has to poop, take her to where you want her to poop. Tell her "go potty" (or something equalivent) so she can associate the word with the action. When she poops, reward her with treats and hugs and praises. Repeat until she is trained. The key is persistence and consistence. Do the exact same thing until she gets it. Don't give up, eventually they do catch on.

This method has worked for me with all of my puppies.

I keep her with me on a leash when not in the puppy apt. Yesterday, she stood right by my side, on the leash, and pooped at my foot. This morning, I put her in the apt when she woke up and she peed and pooped before I let her out. Then, I put her in her stroller and took her with me to the kitchen to fix my breakfast, looked around and she had pooped in the stroller. Also, she will pee several times before I change the pee pad but she will NOT poop if there is an old poop on the pad. WHAT DO I DO NOW

[aweitzm1]

Originally Posted by lilgidget

I keep her with me on a leash when not in the puppy apt. Yesterday, she stood right by my side, on the leash, and pooped at my foot. This morning, I put her in the apt when she woke up and she peed and pooped before I let her out. Then, I put her in her stroller and took her with me to the kitchen to fix my breakfast, looked around and she had pooped in the stroller. Also, she will pee several times before I change the pee pad but she will NOT poop if there is an old poop on the pad. WHAT DO I DO NOW

Does she sniff the floor and walk in circles before pooping? My two dogs will always start sniffing and walking in circles before they actually squat to poop. This allows me to notice that they either need to go out or go to their pee pad.


Some dogs are very picky and will not poop or pee on a used pee pad. I know my dogs don't like pooping next to their pee. If I am not home sometimes I find poop right next to the pee pad and not on it.


I know it can be frustrating but consistency takes time.

[lilgidget]

Originally Posted by aweitzm1

Does she sniff the floor and walk in circles before pooping? My two dogs will always start sniffing and walking in circles before they actually squat to poop. This allows me to notice that they either need to go out or go to their pee pad.


Some dogs are very picky and will not poop or pee on a used pee pad. I know my dogs don't like pooping next to their pee. If I am not home sometimes I find poop right next to the pee pad and not on it.


I know it can be frustrating but consistency takes time.

I'm going to have to be more observant when she's not in her apt. She will not use a pee pad that has poop on it. This morning, after she did her little poop in the stroller, I picked it up and put the poop on her pad in the apt. Thinking that would tell her where the poop should be. She would not pee anywhere near the poop. When I went back a few minutes later she had peed on her bed. Oh, well, just need to adjust to her little quirks.

[yavenay]

Originally Posted by lilgidget

I'm going to have to be more observant when she's not in her apt. She will not use a pee pad that has poop on it. This morning, after she did her little poop in the stroller, I picked it up and put the poop on her pad in the apt. Thinking that would tell her where the poop should be. She would not pee anywhere near the poop. When I went back a few minutes later she had peed on her bed. Oh, well, just need to adjust to her little quirks.

That's what I did too. I placed her poop where I wanted her to go. I would say stay the course. In my house, I have several potty pads down where she can go different places. Duchess will poop on one potty pad and pee on another. For some strange reason, this setup does not confuse her. Is that something you can do?

[lilgidget]

Originally Posted by yavenay

That's what I did too. I placed her poop where I wanted her to go. I would say stay the course. In my house, I have several potty pads down where she can go different places. Duchess will poop on one potty pad and pee on another. For some strange reason, this setup does not confuse her. Is that something you can do?

I don't think this will work right now. Until she's fully potty trained I can't leave her to just roam the house. So she needs to stay locked in her puppy apartment when I'm gone. I'm in the process of getting an apartment available to move but right now I'm living with daughter/son-in-law. Need for her to use the puppy apartment so she'll be trained to it completely when we move. So for now, it's just being vigilant and watchful with her. She's finally feeling comfortable staying in the puppy apartment and sleeping in the bed so that's definitely progress. At first, she barked and whined wanting to get out but now she's feeling very comfortable in it. Just need to get the pooping issue solved.

[Maximo]

Max does not like going near a pad that has poopies on it. Both of my boys want it picked up right away.

Try disposing of it right away and giving Gidget a fresh pad. See if that makes a difference. Are you usually home with her during the day, or are you gone for work? If she is alone, I see where that would make things more complicated.

How many times a day does she poop? Is it about the same time each day? My boys are pretty much on a schedule, twice a day. Teddy does his first one right after breakfast. Max may take a little longer.

They both usually save their evening poop for our evening walk.

Walks usually stimulate the need to do poopies and can help regulate timing if done consistently, about the same time each day.

When she gets it right, pee or poop, be sure to praise profusely and give her a little treat reward. My boys are 7 years old and they still love their praise and rewards. They know how to milk the system, maximize their potty rewards.

[lilgidget]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Max does not like going near a pad that has poopies on it. Both of my boys want it picked up right away.

Try disposing of it right away and giving Gidget a fresh pad. See if that makes a difference. Are you usually home with her during the day, or are you gone for work? If she is alone, I see where that would make things more complicated.

How many times a day does she poop? Is it about the same time each day? My boys are pretty much on a schedule, twice a day. Teddy does his first one right after breakfast. Max may take a little longer.

They both usually save their evening poop for our evening walk.

Walks usually stimulate the need to do poopies and can help regulate timing if done consistently, about the same time each day.

When she gets it right, pee or poop, be sure to praise profusely and give her a little treat reward. My boys are 7 years old and they still love their praise and rewards. They know how to milk the system, maximize their potty rewards.

I'm home all day. I'm in a situation right now that is stressful and not easy to adjust for Gidget. I'm temporarily living with my daughter and son-in-law and waiting for a senior apartment to become available (I'm 76). My problem is that my son-in-law works 3 or 4 nights every other week. He worked last night so is sleeping right now. Gidget does a poop when she gets up in the morning and then again around 9:30 or 10:00. I knew she needed to do that this morning but when I put her in her puppy apartment she began to bark. Normally I would have walked away. This morning, I just took her outside and let her poop and pee. My life is upside down right now but hopefully I'll be able to move by Christmas. In the meantime, I do her poopy training when he's working and when he's at home and not sleeping. Oh, well........

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by lilgidget

I'm home all day. I'm in a situation right now that is stressful and not easy to adjust for Gidget. I'm temporarily living with my daughter and son-in-law and waiting for a senior apartment to become available (I'm 76). My problem is that my son-in-law works 3 or 4 nights every other week. He worked last night so is sleeping right now. Gidget does a poop when she gets up in the morning and then again around 9:30 or 10:00. I knew she needed to do that this morning but when I put her in her puppy apartment she began to bark. Normally I would have walked away. This morning, I just took her outside and let her poop and pee. My life is upside down right now but hopefully I'll be able to move by Christmas. In the meantime, I do her poopy training when he's working and when he's at home and not sleeping. Oh, well........

You are in a difficult position! Hang in there. I believe that once you and Gidget are settled in your new senior apartment that things will fall into place with the potty issues.

[lilgidget]

Originally Posted by Maximo

You are in a difficult position! Hang in there. I believe that once you and Gidget are settled in your new senior apartment that things will fall into place with the potty issues.

Thanks, Maximo. I think you're exactly right. I'll do the best I can until then and not get stressed out over the whole situation.