"Reverse" housebreaking?

[Annie's granny]

Yep, I know what you must be thinking. But my husband and I are beginning to wonder if this is what is going on with Annie. She is 3 months old, and we felt really surprised and relieved when she seemed to pick up right away on "tinkling" outside. She NEVER does this in the house. As soon as we take her out, she goes almost immediately. However, pooping is another matter altogether. She almost seems to hold it until we bring her back in. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/grrr.gif Last weekend, I was determined that we were going to stop this behavior and decided that she was NOT coming back in until she did her thing. I dressed warm and prepared for the long haul. After almost an hour, I was freezing, she was freezing and crying. At this point, I picked her up to warm her, went and got my husband so that he could take a turn. I felt sure that she would HAVE to go before much longer. (She'd just eaten 1/2 hour before!) He stayed out with her the better part of another hour, walking all around the yard, telling her to "go potty" the same words we all use. (We even had a treat tucked in our pocket to give her the second she did her thing.) She STILL wouldn't. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/disgust.gif So, since at this point, she was almost a popsicle, he brings her in, and the second he put her down, while he was taking off his coat, yep, you guessed it...she started to POOP! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angry.gif I'm sure you've all figured out by now that we are completely "dog-challenged" and feel quite dependent on the advice you've all so kindly sent our way. But what gives here? What are we doing, or rather not doing? I know it's us, because she is a super smart little pup about everything else. Why would she always pee outside, but won't poop? Isn't this weird? And to think that I was so sure I'd seen it all by raising twin boys!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm42.gif" border=0> Thanks in advance for any inklings any of you can come up with. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/think.gif


Oh, one more thing maybe I should mention...she stays in a crate while we are gone during the day and does not have "accidents" in it. (She's in there for 4 to 5 hours, max.) My husband gets off work at noon and lets her out as soon as he gets home. Also, there's not one spot in the house she's prefers more than another, just wherever she's out of sight. And she is VERY talented at knowing when we are distracted for a millisecond. If I didn't know better, I'd think my twin 4-year olds were giving her tips on this!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm42.gif" border=0>

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Michell

[Mark]

Hi Michell,

All dogs are different, but Annie sounds a lot like Masse. We also discovered Masse will go out to pee and 5 minutes later she poops. It's like it was in her mind "pee, come inside, poop", so we were very careful to take her out to pee, bring her in and wait 2-3 minutes (your times may vary) and take her out again. After several days, she "got it". Nowadays she asks to go out and pees, comes in for a few minutes and asks to go out again to poop. Other than that we've had no experiences with our others like you describe . . . I hope it helps.

Keep us posted,
Mark

[Mandy]

Henry used to do this, but with him it was always a privacy issue. He didn't like anyone to see him defecate, so he would have to hide when he went poo. If we were on a long walk, he would crawl inside of a bush. And other times he woudl save it until he came inside and run underneath our bed for lots of cover. Well, a few times of having to cral under the bed to clean up after that caused us to block the entire underneath of the bed. Henry is getting better about his fecal privacy issue, but we still can't even think about speaking to him when he does it and neither do we dare peek at him.

However, since Annie did it right in front of you, that doesn't sound like the same problem. It seems like Mark has a great suggestion! Just keep her on the leash for the few minutes you come back inside so that if she does start to go, you can rush her outside. She sounds very intelligent so maybe she will get it really quickly. (Although Henry is super smart and we think that has been part of his problems.)

[Roxane]

In addition to Marks sound advice about "timing" I will add one little thing (bad pun). Instead of disposing of her "mistakes", when she is not watching, collect and put them outside in her potty area. Sneaky, I know!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/cunning.gif
If none of those things work, we can always find you an older rescue dachsie to help teach her. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif
Roxane and crew

[Annie's granny]

Oooooohhhhh, Roxane - you are ever so funny!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm42.gif" border=0> Trust me when I say that it is no small feat to handle the day to day fun of twin 4-year-old BOYS http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif, a nearly 15-year-old daughter http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/circle.gif, a husband (oh yeah, that's a HELP, not a hindrance http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif), and an ever so small (though never in attitude) mini dachshund pup. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how it was that I got talked into this "dog thing." http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/dizzy.gif

All kidding aside, since joining this board I've decided that if we are ever in a position to add another pet to our family it will definitely be a rescue dachsie. Though I have to wonder after reading all the posts here if a "fur sibling" wouldn't be a really good thing for Annie. Hmmmm....how to convince the man of the house??? (Who, by the way is securely wrapped around the little paw of a certain someone!)<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm42.gif" border=0>

Saving her "mistakes" and putting them outside? Well, ya'll are the experts...I'll try this and let ya know. If someone had told me a couple of months ago what in the world I'd be up to...http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/eek.gif

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Michell

[Mark]

Hi Michell,

Please let us know how it goes. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Good luck,

Mark

[Mark]

Oops . . . I meant to add something else. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

If you do add another furkid . . . if at all possible, make sure they meet on neutral ground a few times and the last time just take the two of them home. It will make Annie's acceptance of another dog MUCH smoother.

Mark