Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have had an IG for nearly four years. She has been our baby in every sense of the word, spoiled, cuddled, loved. We just had a (human)baby two months ago and my poor dog is lost. We try to give her as much attention as she was used to, but it is not easy. She hears us talking to the baby in the voice we have used for her all her life and so she comes runnning. We do not ignore her, but the attention is clearly not all hers anymore. We try not to yell at her when she is near the baby. We even let her give a little lick now and then. When the baby's had enough we gently say "no more" and move her head away from him if she doesn't do it on her own. The baby coupled with winter weather are also cutting into her playtime. We have a basement so I try to kick the ball around with her down there for a time each day, but I will admit that sleep deprivation has left me crankier than usual. I am sure she senses that. So the major problem is that she has taken to pooping in the house! She would have an occasional accident even before the baby was born, but it was very rare. Now everyday, twice a day, she poops in the house. If the door to the baby's room is open, she'll go in there for sure, but we try to keep it closed, in which case she'll go in the guest room next to it. She does not "ask" to go out to poop anymore (she used to and still does to pee). I NEVER catch her doing it in the house, so I don't reprimand her. I try to put her out for potty often, but she usually just pees. If she does poop outside I make sure to treat her and make a big show of how delighted I am. I see no end in sight to this new behavior. Can anyone tell me what to do? Thanks!

Treat the poop spot with a bacterial enzyme odor eliminator product such as Nature's Miracle, now that it has been there, dried, etc. Then if she does it again, treat the spot with undiluted clear vinegar. Don't comment to the dog. Let the scent do the talking.

Take her out more often. And have her checked medically. She could have picked up some kind of parasites, or some other problem. You might also give her multidophilus capsules--from the refrigerator at the human health food store--to make sure she has enough friendly bacteria in her intestines.

And use some form of confinement that keeps her from being able to wander into the rooms out of your sight and do this. It is not safe to leave a child under school age alone with a dog anyway, so you will need to figure out some form of confinement very soon.

No punishment. It doesn't work, and it creates new problems. Your praising her for going outside is right on target.

You might want to read the articles (titles are alphabeticsal) under housetraining and under children and dogs at the link with my signature below.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47