housebreaking

[Ali]

My husband and I are at the ends of our ropes with our two dachsie's. Spike and Bunny are 8 month old litter mates. The housebreaking was going normal until about a month ago. For some reason, they have reverted back to their patterns of when they were only a month old! They poop in their crate during the day and at night. They are only in their crate for about 5-6 hours a day and at night for another 6 while we sleep, but they used to be able to hold it for 8-9 hours when I was on a different work schedule. We take them outside regularly, but they might go outside and then decide to go inside again only 30 minutes later! We know that if we don't catch them in the act, then there's nothing we can do, but how can we catch them if we are not at home when they go? We've tried putting them in a smaller crate, but that doesn't make a difference either, even without blankets. They don't mind lying in it! We feed them only a cup of food each/day only at night. We even bought the Eukaneuba food that the Vet recommended since it might cause them to poop less. They go about 5-6 times a day! And we have to clean it up everytime. My husband's threatening to give them away because he can't take it anymore. Any suggestions?

[oranerob2]

Hello, sorry to hear about the housebreaking problem. It's pretty rare that a dog will poop in their kennel. Our last mini did it in spurts, where he'd do it for a few days. He was very well trained and I attributed it to 1) laziness and 2) poor weather. He hated rain. However, it was rare he would go inside once he was trained.

I wonder, though, about the feeding 1 cup once a day. We have always given ours a 1/2 cup in morning and another at night. This actually causes them to poop less (and spread out). They are very stubborn and can go days without pooping. But, if I over feed my dogs, I notice them pooping a lot more. I can always tell by the amount I have to pick. I then regulate their food and it's back to normal. That may be something to think about.

Of course, it's likely they are just stubborn, like all dachs. With that, I would love to get advice on how to fix it. Good luck to you on breaking them in again.

Rob

[Ali]

I have recently cut my dachsies' food intake to 1/2 cup per day, per dog. Instead of pooping 5 times a day, they only go three, however, it doesn't seem to have solved the pooping in the crate issue. I get it 90% more from the male than the female. I have them in separate crates so I know who's the culprit. He's also been waking us up 2 to three times a night and crying until he gets attention, good or bad attention. He also became viscious with me one evening when I took his rawhide bone away from him. He seems to be challenging me for control. He wants to be the Alpha dog. I grabbed him and got real close to his face and growled and said, "No!". He hasn't been agressive since, but whenever he wants to poop in his crate he goes right on ahead. I'm not there, so he knows he can get away from it. I don't think there's anything I can do but be patient until he grows out of this stage. I think he knows that I'm in control now, so that helps.

Some good news is that he is nine months old and for the first time yesterday he barked when he wanted to go outside and do his business! He actually told me twice! Maybe it's starting to kick in!

[oranerob2]

Yeah, he's challenging you for control. You must be firm and not give in to his every whim. They do get out of control. I have to remind my wife of that. But, i'm not sure that's part of the pooping thing. But, I agree, it could be a stage to grow out of. Our last dach would do that sometimes, even though he was very well trained. Sometimes we could trace it to weather (they despise rain), long grass (rubbing the belly), or he just didn't want to go outside. Our new puppy had been great, but regressed yesterday. It may have been the rain.

I will say this: when it comes to pooping, dachshunds are very stubborn. They will do it on their terms. Our puppy will sniff around for 20 minutes sometimes. Plus, he won't go when he's supposed to (after eating). However, he never goes in his crate. Good thing for us I suppose.