I will try to make a long story short...
About a month ago we adopted a 3 yo heartworm positive hound mix. For the first month, he would not go to the bathroom in our yard (at all), which at the time was fine since we were walking him twice a day and he always went then.
Last week he got his immiticide shots, and the vet told us no walking at all -- crate then outside to go, then back in. So -- we have to train him to go in the yard. It took him 4 days, but FINALLY he pooped in the yard, and after one accident in the house, he even peed in the yard.
Now strange things are happening. Yesterday he got diarrhea and peed and pooped in the crate while we were at work. I called the vet and they said it was probably stress related (I agree since he's definitely fine otherwise) since he's used to walking and now is basically crated always. I fed him boiled chicken and rice and now he's okay with the diarrhea. But -- he peed in the crate again today. I brought him outside 3 TIMES before I went to work today, but he waited until he got into the crate to go.
This is getting VERY frustrating -- we are trying to do the right thing, and not walking him, but he is a very stubborn dog, and holds it as long as he can. What are we supposed to do to get him to go outside consistently?! Is it just going to be a lot of patience and a battle of wits, or is there something else we can do?
About a month ago we adopted a 3 yo heartworm positive hound mix. For the first month, he would not go to the bathroom in our yard (at all), which at the time was fine since we were walking him twice a day and he always went then.
Last week he got his immiticide shots, and the vet told us no walking at all -- crate then outside to go, then back in. So -- we have to train him to go in the yard. It took him 4 days, but FINALLY he pooped in the yard, and after one accident in the house, he even peed in the yard.
Now strange things are happening. Yesterday he got diarrhea and peed and pooped in the crate while we were at work. I called the vet and they said it was probably stress related (I agree since he's definitely fine otherwise) since he's used to walking and now is basically crated always. I fed him boiled chicken and rice and now he's okay with the diarrhea. But -- he peed in the crate again today. I brought him outside 3 TIMES before I went to work today, but he waited until he got into the crate to go.
This is getting VERY frustrating -- we are trying to do the right thing, and not walking him, but he is a very stubborn dog, and holds it as long as he can. What are we supposed to do to get him to go outside consistently?! Is it just going to be a lot of patience and a battle of wits, or is there something else we can do?