housebreaking - again!

Question
QUESTION: My family has a 15 month old female cocker spaniel "Lucy".  Lucy is a great
dog but has recently begun pooping in the house.  She has a dog door so is
able to go outside whenever she wants.  She didn't have any accidents in the
past four or five months but has pooped in the house three or four times in
the past few weeks.  I am getting very frustrated.  Her food is available to her
at all times.  She doesn't urinate in the house - just poops.  What should I do?     
She is a great family dog and we want to keep her but just can't keep a dog
that makes messes in the house.  Also, I am home with her all day and we
have three boys who play with her all the time.  Any advice will be most
appreciated.

Thank you,

Lisa Eyre

ANSWER: Hi Lisa,
First I want to know how you handled her housebreaking initially?
And what do you do when she does this?

Also how often & for how long she's walked every day.

And her food should not be available at all times.  I'd also like to know what you're feeding her.

Basically the way to handle a lapse in housebreaking (which is quite common) is to back up and get right on top of it.  Think back - what time of day is she doing this?  The trick is to "interrupt" the behavior and teach with praise & reward when she goes outside.

This involves you "taking" her out - not just putting her out.
Usually this type of lapse can be corrected within a week if it's made a priority.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We crated her - took her to the same place every time.  She is eating "Iams"
dog  good.  I know you reccomend quality canned food but I am scared of the
runny stools - especially with her accidents!  I don't actually catch her in the
act but I do show it to her and say no and take her outside.  She is not walked
every day but does get excercise thru playing with the kids.  Also, she does
pee on demand - she even fakes a squat so she can come back in.  Should I
only feed her once or twice a day?  I don't like the though of crating her again  
- she has been roaming for eight months now.  I really appreciate your help!

Lisa Eyre

Answer
So you "taught" and she learned but now has had a relapse.  Not unusual at all.  Just when you think you've got it aced they often do this.

I wouldn't crate her for any length of time...perhaps just when you really can't keep an eye on her.  BUT..free feeding and no regular walks isn't helping this situation at all.  With puppies, routine is your friend :)

I'd immediately start feeding twice a day and after a meal, get that leash on and get her out for a walk.  When she poops, a lot of praise & reward.  I don't know how old your boys are - but get the whole family involved if they're old enough.

The trick is to put her in a situation where she CANNOT make a mistake.  So she's supervised - or in her crate - walked until she's pooped - or better still, attach her short leash to your belt loop (or wherever) in the house (or have the kids have her on leash) during the time of day when this has been happening.

It doesn't take long to break a habit IF you make it impossible for the undesired behavior to happen.
AND reward & praise the desired behavior.

As to Iams - very bad food.  Try slowly switching her to Innova EVO kibble (add a bit more to her Iams every day) and then when this little problem has been solved, start adding just a bit of the Innova EVO canned.

If you go to Naturapet.com you can find out where they sell it in your city.  Any dealer who carries Innova will carry other premium foods too.  But get her off the supermarket crap - it's WAY too high in carbs and some really awful preservatives that cockers, in particular, don't do well on.  Good nutrition is the key to keeping her healthy.

And, as a general comment - sometimes a young dog will suddenly do this housebreaking lapse...and just as suddenly stop doing it.
Just think back to when you were potty training your kids :)

Delores