If your dog keeps pooping in a certain spot in the house, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog poop in the same spot in the house? Likely reasons why your dog poops in the same spot in the house are that your dog has an illness, your dog is not getting enough chances to poop outside, a lack of training, or inadvertently encouraging the behavior.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog poops in the same spot in the house. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about them.
Why does my dog poop in the same spot in the house?
Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog poops in the same spot in the house.
A lack of training
Did you ever house-train your dog? Were they house-trained as a puppy or an adult dog? By you or by someone else? It could be the case that they need to be trained some more so that they can remember how they are supposed to behave.
First, if they’ve never been house-trained, it’s certainly time to do this. Pick up a book or watch a series of videos on YouTube on how to house-train a dog. There are also classes that can help.
If your dog has already been house-trained but they seem to be regressing, you can do a bit of an update training as well. There are articles and videos about this online too. You are basically reminding your dog of the house-training rules you set at the beginning of your relationship.
Fear
Believe it or not, pooping in the house may be more frightening of an experience for your dog than it is for you! Many dog experts have linked pooping in bizarre areas around the house to emotional issues, such as fear. It could be the case that something has been causing your dog to be fearful which has been causing them to poop in the house such as loud noises or people that the dog does not like.
Anxiety
Just like humans, some dogs have nervous personalities which make them prone to exceptional behaviors. A dog who suffers from separation anxiety may be prone to getting so worked up that she poops and pees uncontrollably.
Boredom
Bored dogs who have pent-up energy may end up pooping in strange places, like on their bed. Certain breeds need to expend more physical energy throughout the day. For example, border collies and golden retrievers need to be taken on long walks every day. Ideally, they will have a place to run around and play freely throughout the day.
If you have one of these breeds or another breed that needs an especially high amount of physical energy expenditure every day, you need to find a way to get your dog more exercise. This might mean going for more walks, having a penned-in area where your dog can run freely, or taking your dog to a local dog park. Some people even get babysitters for their dogs if they’ll be home all day at work or school.
Illness
It might also be the case that your dog has gotten an illness that has been causing it to need to poop more frequently. This would be more likely if your dog has started doing it suddenly or they have been showing other signs of illness such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Not getting a chance to poop
In some situations, the problem is your dog hasn’t been able to go outside frequently enough, and therefore, they’ve had to go to the bathroom for a long time and simply chose to do it in the house.
Why on in the same spot? Probably because it’s comfortable, and they know that it is a safe spot to poop. If you think this issue may be the core problem of your dog pooping on in a certain spot in the house, it’s up to you to fix it. You’ll need to find ways to let your dog out more often.
Encouraging the behavior
It might also be the case that you have inadvertently encouraged the behavior by rewarding it. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats or extra attention, shortly after pooping in the house, they will likely do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, it would help to reward your dog whenever they poop outside and to try to avoid giving them rewards when they poop inside.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always pooped in the same spot
If your dog did not always poop in the same spot in the house, it would help to consider what else happened when the behavior first started. If your dog started doing it suddenly, it would be more likely to be due to things such as illness, getting let outside less often or having to be in a certain room for long time periods.
The timing of when your dog poops there
It would also help to consider the timing of when your dog poops in the same spot. If your dog tends to do it at a certain time, it could be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if your dog does it when you are away, the cause could be separation anxiety or having to wait too long before being able to poo outside.
How to stop my dog from pooping in the same spot in the house?
Below are options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Positive reinforcement training
It would help to encourage your dog to poop and pee outside by rewarding your dog whenever it do so. It would also help to try to avoid giving your dog rewards when it does poop in its bed.
Get help from a vet
If it seems likely that illness is the cause, it would help to take your dog for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to deal with illness if it is a cause.
Limit reasons why your dog might be anxious
If you think fear, anxiety, and general nervousness could be linked to your dog’s incontinence, you have several options as well.
First, if you think it’s an ongoing problem that you can’t handle with changes to your and your dog’s behaviors and environment, talk to your veterinarian. There may be a medication that they recommend your dog take to loosen their nerves and relax more.
Additionally, on your own, think of ways you can comfort your dog and alleviate some of their anxiety. This might simply be creating a nice little area in your living room or kitchen where they can lie down and be warm and comfortable. Give them a few special toys. You can also give them treats more frequently (if their diet allows) or a better grade of dog food.
All of these small changes can help your dog alleviate some of their anxious feelings and hopefully reduce or stop pooping in the house.
Give your dog more chances to poop outside
We all want our dogs to immediately tell us when they need to go to the bathroom so that we can let them outside right away or take them for a walk. But this just isn’t how a lot of dogs operate.
They aren’t always able to tell us when they have to go to the bathroom. And even if you’re used to taking your dog for frequent walks, again, their elimination habits may have changed over time. When this happens, you need to adapt with them and help them out.
For example, you might start by seeing if you can take them for more walks. If you’re not there during the day, get someone to come over and take them on a walk or at least let them outside a few more times. If you have an outdoor area where they can go, set up a small fenced-in area where they can run freely.
Get help from a dog behaviorist
If you cannot get the behavior to stop, another option would be to get help from a dog behaviorist in your area. By doing so, you should be able to see what has been causing the behavior and what you can do about it.