If your dog won’t poop in your yard, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why won’t my dog poop in my yard? Likely reasons why your dog won’t poop in your yard are that they have not learned that they are meant to poop in the yard, your dog does not like your yard for some reason or that something has been causing your dog to be unable to wait to go outside.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog won’t poop in the yard and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why won’t my dog poop in my yard?
Below are likely reasons why your dog won’t poop in the yard and what would make each of them more likely.
Your dog has not learned that they should poop outside
If your dog is a puppy it would be likely that they are not yet able to control themselves or that they have not yet learned that they are supposed to go outside when they poop. In this case, it would help to take them outside quickly whenever you notice them start doing it and to train them to go outside using the tips mentioned below.
If you have been trying to train your dog to poop outside, it might also be the case that there is a problem with your training method. In this case, it would help to try to change your approach.
Marking territory
Your dog could be attempting to mark his territory when he goes to the bathroom inside instead of out. He may urinate inside if this is the case, and will likely spray often. It’s crucial to get ahead of the behavior before it takes root.
Anxiousness
While this is common among rescue pups, it’s not unthinkable that your dog may have had a scary experience in your yard (a loud noise, neighbors were arguing, a wild animal encounter) that affects their willingness to poop outside.
Illness
Illness could be causing your dog to have started pooping in the house. This would be more likely if it has started doing it suddenly and it has been showing other signs of illness such as fatigue, diarrhea or vomiting. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Stress
Stress could also be causing it to poop inside. This would be more likely if your dog has suddenly started doing it after a stressful event such as someone mistreating it or someone leaving home.
It would help to consider what happened at around the time that your dog started pooping inside. If it does seem like something might be causing it to become stressed then it would likely help to get the advice of a dog behaviorist or a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog did poop in the yard before
It would help to consider when your dog first started doing it. If your dog has not always done it, an event might have occurred at around the same time it started that caused it to start.
If your dog started doing it suddenly, it would be more likely to be due to things such as illness, stress or becoming anxious.
Whereas, if your dog has always pooped inside, it would be more likely to be due to things such as not being trained to go outside or being a puppy still.
If your dog does poop in the yard sometimes
If your dog does poop in the yard sometimes, it would also help to consider what is different when your dog poops outside. In this case, it could be the case that your dog poops inside when they have had to hold their poop for too long and they are not able to do it for any longer.
How to get my dog to poop in the yard?
Below are options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Training
To train your dog to poop outside it will be necessary to take it outside on an hourly basis and to wait for it to pee or poop. When it does you’ll then reward it with a treat and with attention.
When you’re outside, be boring so that you don’t prevent it from peeing or pooping naturally. This method works by teaching your dog that peeing and pooping outside gets it what it wants and it encourages it to do it outside.
You can watch the video below to see how it’s done.
Keep your dog in a certain area
It would also help to keep it in a certain area of the house if possible. By doing so you will be able to monitor your dog more easily and to clean up any mess more easily as well.
Crate training
Another option you have is to crate train your dog. When done properly, crate training gives your dog an area where it can go and feel secure. The advantages of crate training are that it will make it much easier for you to clean the mess since crates have removable trays and dogs don’t like to poop where they live so it will be much more likely to wait to poop outside.
Take your dog out frequently
A very important thing for you to do is to let it go outside to pee or poop regularly. If you currently make it wait for long time periods before it can go outside then it will be much more likely to feel the need to pee or poop inside.
Get help
If your dog has started pooping inside suddenly, it has been showing signs of illness or you cannot figure out why it has been doing it, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so you will be able to get an expert opinion tailored towards your particular dog.