The Official "Dogs of the DMF" Thread

[SacDuc]

Okay, I have a serious puppy pooping problem. My great dane has decided that he wants to poop on the floor. This is new. In the past if he had to poop at night he would nudge me with his nose or flap his ears to the point that it sounded like a helicopter as landing next to me. But now he just stands up and poops. To make matters worse he never stays in one spot when he poops. He always walks or runs while pooping. I have no idea why. So he ends up dropping bombs all over the bed room and stepping in them and such. This has been happening once or twice a week for a couple of months now. we yell "NO!", sat him on the nose and drag him outside whenever it happens.

The weird thing is that he never poops on the floor when we are gone during the day. He just lets him self out the sliding door in the back if we are not there to let him out.

I always let him out at night before we go to bed. I even run around the yard ith him for a bit since he seems to like to take a few high speed laps around the yard before he slows to a walk to drop a duece.

I am at a loss. why is he pooping on the floor and how do I get him to stop. Looks like I may have to start crating him at night again.

sac

[AJ]

Sac, this is what happens when you let him hang out with Ryan.
Just sayin.







p.s. that sucks big time. wish I had a solution for you.

[RAT900]

Okay, I have a serious puppy pooping problem. My great dane has decided that he wants to poop on the floor. This is new. In the past if he had to poop at night he would nudge me with his nose or flap his ears to the point that it sounded like a helicopter as landing next to me. But now he just stands up and poops. To make matters worse he never stays in one spot when he poops. He always walks or runs while pooping. I have no idea why. So he ends up dropping bombs all over the bed room and stepping in them and such. This has been happening once or twice a week for a couple of months now. we yell "NO!", sat him on the nose and drag him outside whenever it happens.

The weird thing is that he never poops on the floor when we are gone during the day. He just lets him self out the sliding door in the back if we are not there to let him out.

I always let him out at night before we go to bed. I even run around the yard ith him for a bit since he seems to like to take a few high speed laps around the yard before he slows to a walk to drop a duece.

I am at a loss. why is he pooping on the floor and how do I get him to stop. Looks like I may have to start crating him at night again.

sac

Have you ever planted your foot in one in the dark?

and had to hop one-legged to the toilet

to stick your foot in the bowl and start flushing? 

With a skull-splitting hangover that is so bad

that even your hair is hurting???


Have you changed the feeding time for the dog?

[Triple J]

I am at a loss. why is he pooping on the floor and how do I get him to stop. Looks like I may have to start crating him at night again.

Are the poops "normal"...meaning do you think he has to go, or is he choosing to? Figuring that out would be my first step if you haven't already.

Can he not let himself out at night? My Dane is really sensitive about things being different than normal. She used to sleep in our room, but I've started getting up to pee in the middle of the night (the joys of getting older I guess). My getting up really bothers her, to the point that she no longer sleeps in our room. It's weird...although I don't mind because she snored like crazy. 

Anyway, maybe he doesn't want to wake you up, and can't let himself out? Were you grumpy with him at all when he woke you up before?

In the past if he had to poop at night he would nudge me with his nose or flap his ears to the point that it sounded like a helicopter as landing next to me.

The ear thing is the same with our Dane! 

[SacDuc]

Have you ever planted your foot in one in the dark?

and had to hop one-legged to the toilet

to stick your foot in the bowl and start flushing? 

With a skull-splitting hangover that is so bad

that even your hair is hurting???

Yes. Yes I have. Thanks for the memories.   

sac

[SacDuc]

Are the poops "normal"...meaning do you think he has to go, or is he choosing to? Figuring that out would be my first step if you haven't already.

Can he not let himself out at night? My Dane is really sensitive about things being different than normal. She used to sleep in our room, but I've started getting up to pee in the middle of the night (the joys of getting older I guess). My getting up really bothers her, to the point that she no longer sleeps in our room. It's weird...although I don't mind because she snored like crazy.  

Anyway, maybe he doesn't want to wake you up, and can't let himself out? Were you grumpy with him at all when he woke you up before?

The ear thing is the same with our Dane!  

The feeding times are pretty consistent. The poops are normal. we don't think he is sick in any way. I think he is choosing to go. And choosing not to let us know that he is going to go.

The dogs sleep in our room and the door in generally closed. I don't think he would let himself out at night even if he could. He's a big baby and will only go up the hill in the back in the dark if I go with him.

I should mention that there has been a couple of times recently that he has pooped in the house during the day. Once my wife let all the dogs out and they all did their business. Then the Dane waltzes right into the kitchen and poops. wtf?

sac

[Travman]

Definetly crate her. There aren't any drawbacks to crating her at night.

[triangleforge]

How old is he? The pooping on the run is odd enough behavior that I'd guess he knows it's wrong & he's going to get in trouble. I wouldn't rule out something physical that's making him feel like he can't wait. Good luck & wish I had something more useful to offer.

[akmnstr]

I think Triangleforge may have something if your Great Dane is getting older.  A form of senility or the beginning of the lack of control.  One of my huskies started doing it when he was old.  An annoying habit, but fortunately he was an outside dog.  Never had to flush my foot in the toilet, did have to hose off my shoes many a time. 

[SacDuc]

I think Triangleforge may have something if your Great Dane is getting older.  A form of senility or the beginning of the lack of control.  One of my huskies started doing it when he was old.  An annoying habit, but fortunately he was an outside dog.  Never had to flush my foot in the toilet, did have to hose off my shoes many a time. 

My Dane is still a pup - just 3 years old. I don't mind crating. we crate our other two. But having three huge crates in our room kind of sucks. Jasper (the Dane) went a good year without pooping in the house. Then he just started up one day. I'll crate him if I have to, but I'd like to try something else first.

sac

[SacDuc]

How old is he? The pooping on the run is odd enough behavior that I'd guess he knows it's wrong & he's going to get in trouble. I wouldn't rule out something physical that's making him feel like he can't wait. Good luck & wish I had something more useful to offer.

The thing is he poops on the run even when he is outside. I have no idea why. we always know when he is going to poop because his tail goes up and he starts tearing around the yard like a dog possessed. Then he slows don to a walk to leave his poop trail. which my leonberger promptly tries to eat.     


sac

[Triple J]

^^ That's odd. 

Danes are odd dogs though. Mine won't pee or poop on a leash at all, and she won't poop if anyone is watching. Last time we took her camping I had to walk her over to the lake and let her off the leash so she could walk out in the water and do her business. It was hilarious, but a PIA at the same time.

I wish I could help, but I got nothing. Kind of sounds like he's challenging your authority again, but 3 years old is kinda old for that. Maybe it's a dominance thing over the other dogs??

[SacDuc]

^^ That's odd. 

Danes are odd dogs though. Mine won't pee or poop on a leash at all, and she won't poop if anyone is watching. Last time we took her camping I had to walk her over to the lake and let her off the leash so she could walk out in the water and do her business. It was hilarious, but a PIA at the same time.

I wish I could help, but I got nothing. Kind of sounds like he's challenging your authority again, but 3 years old is kinda old for that. Maybe it's a dominance thing over the other dogs??

well, Jasper has been gaining confidence lately. which is to say that he isn't the completely scared and timid dog he as hen we rescued him. But he is in no way even close to being anything other than at  the bottom of the pack.

As for challenging my authority, I'm pretty confident in the fact that all of my dogs know goddamn well I'm the alpha dog. while the leonberger is protective of my wife, none of them really has the temperament of an alpha dog and we set enough boundaries that none of them feels they have to take on that roll.

I think its a nervous thing. Jasper is very sensitive. To the point that he gets scared when we clean too much for too long or move any furniture around. we've had a lot of house guests lately, but this started before that. The wife and I have been very very stressed over a bunch of things going on in our lives. Maybe he is picking up on that? But our relationship is as good as ever and its not like we yell or fight or anything. I hate speculating about crap like this because I'm not a big believer in using "doggy psychology" when training dogs. I like to keep it simple: rewards for good behavior, punishment for bad behavior.

sac

[AJ]

The thing is he poops on the run even when he is outside. I have no idea why.... Then he slows don to a walk to leave his poop trail...

I sometimes take care of my neighbor's yellow lab that always poops while awkwardly walking in a half squat - it seems like he's trying to make the longest poop trail he can.  PITA.  But that's the way he rolls, even when his master is home.  This is one bullheaded lab too, not timid or nervous in any way, and has no competition for his master's attention.


(Not that this knowledge is helpful to you in any way.)

[SacDuc]

I sometimes take care of my neighbor's yellow lab that always poops while awkwardly walking in a half squat - it seems like he's trying to make the longest poop trail he can.  PITA.  But that's the way he rolls, even when his master is home.  This is one bullheaded lab too, not timid or nervous in any way, and has no competition for his master's attention.


(Not that this knowledge is helpful to you in any way.)

At least it lets me know that my dog isn't a complete freak.   


sac