My dog won't poop outside anymore; how do I get the ***** to behave?

I'm sorry you have to deal with this and for what it's worth, I do actually understand. I've worked with animals for many years and spend a large portion of my days cleaning up after them. Trust me, you are lucky that it's not a giraffe or a primate (worst smell ever) that's leaving you presents around your house.

Try to enjoy the good moments with your dog and try to hate her a little less. If you're always angry with her your dog will know it and it will make it more difficult to work with her. I had a new kitten who screamed (very, very loudly) nonstop for over a week. Even though I'm a complete and total animal lover I really hated that cat and said I wanted her to die. Most people will disapprove of such statements, but you really have to experience the totally hopeless frustration and exasperation to understand. However, with time and patience everyone has come to adore that cat (most of all our large dog) and she has become a well behaved member of our family (she even uses the toilet). I know where you're coming from, but if you stick with it things will improve, I promise.

I know it's hard to make time for walks but more walks is really the key. Leaving her outside longer on fewer walks will not help. It's like dealing with little children. When they don't have to go they just aren't going to, even if they desperately need to go ten minutes later. The best thing you can do is offer many walks (I know it's a lot, but about 8 spaced throughout the day is best), providing many opportunities for your dog to toilet outside. Potty training is training and when training you want to set your dog up for success, giving them ample opportunity to do the right thing so that you can reward them for it. Whenever your dog does toilet outside have a little celebration. Offer praise, pets and treats. By rewarding a behavior you like, it will naturally happen more often. This comes with a flip side, which is ignoring behaviors that you don't like so that they'll naturally occur less often. Punishing your dog for toileting inside (since it is usually long after they've done it) will not help stop the behavior. The best thing you can do is clean it up and move on. If, however, you do manage to catch her in the act, you can interrupt her with a sharp noise ("eh eh eh!" works well) to "mark" the behavior as bad. You can only successfully mark behaviors (good or bad) WHILE they are occurring. After they happen your response will just confuse the dog.

Another thing that will help you is getting your dogs on a strict feeding schedule (you have to do the same for all dogs in your household or one will simply eat the other's food). Feed in the morning and night at the same times each day. Only offer food for 5 or 10 minutes. After that, remove any uneaten food (you can store it and reuse it for the next feeding so it isn't wasted). Your dog may be a little hungry if they miss out on a couple of opportunities but they will be completely fine and will soon figure out that they need to eat when they get the chance. This will help you immensely because if they're eating regularly they will toilet regularly. No more guessing and hoping. With many walks you will be able to establish at what times in the day your dogs need to toilet and you can make sure they get the chance. Then when you take them out at that time you are essentially guaranteed that they will relieve themselves outdoors and not on your clean floors or laundry.

Here's a video that may possibly be helpful:

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/victorias-indoo...

If nothing else you can at least commiserate with the lady who's dog is toileting all over her house ;)

Best of luck with your dogs. With a little time and patience I'm sure you and your problem dog can mend your troubled relationship.

..."I wish my husband's dog would get cancer and die. It's an evil crap..machine." You state in another post.

Can you not take the two dogs out together so she can learn from your other one when is appropriate to poop?

If you have tried everything then the best you can do is to:

1) Contact a behaviourist, they should be able to point you in the right direction and help, this is what I would do, or

2) Give your dog up for adoption. She is obviously stressing you out way more than you can handle and it's just making her feel worse.

Your husband needs to be as consistent as you say you are with this dog, if you are telling the dog one thing and your husband is sending out different signals your dog will be confused.

Some animals just take more patience than others, I understand what you are saying but find some comments a little harsh..no matter how 'naughty' a dog is, it's imperative you don't show your emotions as this will only make her feel more insecure.

But I would contact a dog behaviourist.

Hope this helps.

Counseling may help, but I think really you both need to try to sit down first and work out a plan and a schedule. It's hard on couples when both are working, then they come home - and there is more work to be done. Try sitting down and making a plan - what are yours and his expectations - schedule time to clean... and realize that things may not always get done. Maybe if you both chip in from your checks 20 dollars a week or so - you can hire a weekly maid to do the big things, so it will be less of a hassle for you both as well and you can have more time together.

Which is worse: a dog is having elimination confusion or your husband is not supporting you? I think you're furious with hubby and this dog is a representation of him. The dog was trained to eliminate in certain place while not on lead. That place is no longer available. The dog park is somewhat like the little yard. Many dogs will not eliminate while on lead. You need to retrain the dog to eliminate while on lead or build a dog run for her. I'll paste on a housetraining method that works well.

Schedule-Confine-Supervise

Schedule- the feeding and potty times. An adult is fed twice a day. A puppy is fed four times a day up to 10 or 12 weeks, then three times a day through adolescence. They need to potty first thing in the morning, last thing at night, within a few minutes of every meal, and every few hours in between. The “in between” hours are calculated by their age in months: 1 month = 1 hour, up to 6 months/hours. So, a three month old puppy should be taken to potty every three hours in between the other scheduled times. When the dog/puppy is taken to potty, wait with him as he ‘does his business’ and then praise like crazy. The neighbors should be able to hear you.

Confine- the puppy or dog whenever it is not being watched. Confinement can be in a crate (especially at night), an exercise pen, or behind a baby gate in a very small and puppy-proofed room.

Supervise- the puppy or dog whenever it is loose in the home. This means having eyes on it, not on the TV. Play with the puppy, do a five minute training session, groom it, or just let it lie at your feet with a safe chew, but have it within sight at all times. If it squats then give a loud “NO” or “ACK” as you scoop and run to the appropriate potty spot.

Do not let the dog return to the accident spot until it has been thoroughly cleaned and wiped with vinegar or a commercial enzyme product to remove all urine odor.

I'm doing basic obedience right now. My trainer hasn't once handled my dog. He has shown me how to handle my dog by using his own dog but that's about it. The reasoning is that I need to learn how to do these basic corrections and what not myself. Learn more https://tr.im/ZN0Vs

I have never considered sending my dog away for training. I guess I haven't found that much of a problem with him to even think about it.

Again, it may also have to do with the level of training you are looking for etc. No idea lol. I'm not a trainer. I think a first time dog owner needs to learn simple commands and how to handle their dog themselves as well.

Try keeping her outside until she DOES do her business - even if it is several hour thing. Play with her too - if she likes running around, run her around until she's tired. And make it very clear when she does have an "accident" in the house that it is wrong and you disapprove, and express it in your face as well as pointing to the mess and expressing your displeasure through the tone of your voice. Dogs can read emotions as well as any human.