[CIK7]

I have an 8lb black male Shorkie runt (Baby, got him 6/28/17) and a 45lb cryptic BM female Aussie (Rose, got her 12/7/18). Several months ago, baby started refusing to poop. I would leave him outside and watch him, waiting till he poops. If he doesn't, I bring him in. He will typically pee and then run back to the house. If Rose finishes before him, he will turn and run back to the door without finishing. I say refuse because he keeps his tail down against his butt and even sit for a few hours on end instead of pooping. On occasions he will go poop after I tell him to get off the back porch so he can try some more. And each time it turns out he had to poop really bad. This is a really big challenge especially at night (7-11ish). His stomach is typically tight and I've had him to the vet because he didn't go for 3 days and he had done that many times. When this is going on, he acts like he's gonna puke, sounds like he's trying to choke down the puke and having one of those breathing episodes (short muzzle, small dogs) all at the same time. I had done everything food wise (pumpkin, sweet taters, fish oil) and checking anal glands in case it hurt. I took him to the vet and she told me his bowels feel fine, anal glands are properly taken care of, and everything seemed to be perfectly fine. She gave me Laxatone to give to him. She informed me his poop would be overly soft and might have an accident in the house. His poop has been normal hardness. His behavior is what leads me to believe he is refusing to poop. I need help because tonight was no different. Please help me. So sorry for such a long post, it's the same story on the Volvo site.
Edit: I've realized that he acts scared of me when I go to him to herd him or to pick him up to go back to the house. I've spanked him before for not going back out to the yard to potty when I told him to, but instead insisting on going inside. And certainly when he pees in the house. Seriously he pees on any CORNER he sees: wall, box, couch, case of water, etc.

 

[LeoRose]

If the vet doesn't think it's anything physical, I would consider other things.

Do the two of them always go out together? Is it possible that the Aussie has bothered him, or otherwise scared him while he was pooping, and he's now afraid to poop when she's around? It can only take one incident for a serious fear of something to become set.

I would probably treat it as house training 101. Take him out on his own, and if he doesn't potty within say ten minutes, bring him back inside and put him in his crate or otherwise confine him. Take him back out in about fifteen to twenty minutes, and wait for him to potty. It will probably take several repetitions, so give it at least a week to see if it helps.

 

[RonE]

I've had dogs (I have one now, in fact) that seem to want privacy when they poop. They would rarely poop while on a leash and, in our very large yard, will seek out the farthest corner behind some bushes. They've had no such reservations about peeing two feet from the door - especially when it's cold.

 

[CIK7]

If the vet doesn't think it's anything physical, I would consider other things.

Do the two of them always go out together? Is it possible that the Aussie has bothered him, or otherwise scared him while he was pooping, and he's now afraid to poop when she's around? It can only take one incident for a serious fear of something to become set.

Yes ever since I got Rose (12/7/18) I've had them going out together. This thing started roughly 5 or 6 months ago I think.

I would probably treat it as house training 101. Take him out on his own, and if he doesn't potty within say ten minutes, bring him back inside and put him in his crate or otherwise confine him. Take him back out in about fifteen to twenty minutes, and wait for him to potty. It will probably take several repetitions, so give it at least a week to see if it helps.

Ok thank you I will try that.

 

[CIK7]

I've had dogs (I have one now, in fact) that seem to want privacy when they poop. They would rarely poop while on a leash and, in our very large yard, will seek out the farthest corner behind some bushes. They've had no such reservations about peeing two feet from the door - especially when it's cold.

Ok thank you.

 

[CIK7]

I've had dogs (I have one now, in fact) that seem to want privacy when they poop. They would rarely poop while on a leash and, in our very large yard, will seek out the farthest corner behind some bushes. They've had no such reservations about peeing two feet from the door - especially when it's cold.

Right now Rose and I are in the house. I've been waiting for 20 min for him to stand up, walk around, sniff around, and poop. He does this hours at a time. Anytime he sits there with his tail tucked over his butt, he's looking at the corner from which I would always come around from the back door. He just won't move until I tell him he can come in. This has been happening for several months, not just in the cold, but also into this last summer. It makes me mad and also worries me a good bit that he refuses to poop.

 

[Knute]

Ok....I'm not an expert by any stretch.....

But IMHO, I believe he is scared of you. YOU say you get mad at him when you bring him inside, dogs can sense your emotions. YOU say you have spanked him for not going to the yard. I would suspect his relieving behavior in the house is his effort to HIDE from you while he is doing his business.

I know I'd be scared of you if treated this way. I'd find a place to go where you wouldn't see me.