Please can anyone help? I have a twelve month old Staff who has been very good letting me know when he wants to poo in the garden. The problem now is my wife doesn't want him to go on the lawn anymore, so we have fenced it off. Now he won't go at all and sometimes he now won't go on walks. I think we have confused the poor fellow. All he wants to do is please us by not pooing in the wrong place.
By anthony from Manchester
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
The garden is the area where you allowed the dog to empty its system and it's hard to change or teach an old dog new tricks. Could the dog not have one small corner of the garden to do its business and you can pick it up afterwards with a plastic baggie?
A twelve month old dog isn't that old, but it has been using the same location since you've had it.
He does have a spot in the garden, but he just won't go. Tried putting some of his poo from walks in the spot we want him to go and bought a strip of turf. He will pee but that's it.
The solution to your problem is simple decide what you value most the dog or your lawn there is no doubt in my mind what my answer would be. Your dog is a life-time commitment who "knows" he is now confused.
No offense meant toward your wife, but if the dog can't poop in the yard, what is he suppose to do? While it's more than reasonable to expect a healthy dog to learn outdoor potty habits, I think it is unreasonable to expect a dog to know what corner of the garden he is allowed to poop in. I'm certain your fur kid is as confused as they come and, as you said, hoping to please you, but just doesn't understand the restrictions.
Why not strike a compromise with your wife? Let the dog poop where ever he poops outside and you offer to clean up the droppings on a routine basis. As FARSTAR stated, the dog is more important than the lawn . . . he is an animal, not a robot that can be programed to pee or poop on command at a designated outdoor strip of turf.
I'm very sorry you are in such a difficult position, but if your wife cannot tolerate the innate nature of dog doo-doo on the lawn, I'm afraid your dog may forever be insecure. As well, as he tries to please you by not pooping outside of a designated area, health issues will also arise as he tries to "hold it in".
Please have a heart to heart talk with your wife. If she is unwilling to change her expectations, maybe the best thing you can do for your dog is to find a pet friendly family that will love the fact that he is housebroken and eager to relieve himself outdoors. I wish you all well.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
