Hey Roman,
I need some advice my Great Pyrenees just turned one and is going backward he goes outside and comes in the house and poop’s on the floor I don’t know if it has to do with all the Christmas stuff being put up please help do they get terrible when everything isn’t about them he’s a year old shouldn’t he be calming down not going backward?
– Doreen Krushinski
Hey Doreen,
Pooping in the house can have many reasons
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Attention seeking
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Convenience
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Medical issue,
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Stress/ fear related
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Not house trained
However, it looks like the environmental factors have changed.
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When did this behavior start?
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Did you relocate his bed?
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Has he had any food changes?
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How’s his potty routine?
Doreen:
Roman, he has been so bad ever since we put our Christmas tree up and Christmas stuff around is he jealous today when I got up. I saw the roll of paper towels on the table and when I said ”what are they doing here?” I got that look like ”I didn’t do it” 🤷🏻♀️. Then my husband told me he went to the bathroom in the house. I know he’s a brat but being so bad over a tree?
Answer:
Doreen, I hear you. This can be quickly addressed. We need to introduce your dog to the tree.
He does not understand how this huge thing ended up in his safe territory. As guardian breeds are sensitive to changes and become frustrated when the safety and territory are compromised.
Imagine an oil-rig pop suddenly up in the kitchen! How would you feel about that?
Exercise:
We can not condition emotions but we can help your dog change what he thinks the tree can do to him. Start with creating a trail of treats towards the tree. at the end of that trail, you wait for your dog at the end of that trail. You simply by giving your dog some yummy treats. every time he looks at the tree you’ll give your dog another treat. after that, toss a treat away from the tree, and wait for your dog to return to you, look at the tree and expect another round of rewards. let the dog explore the tree further, and reward if he gets a little closer to the tree. Just gently toss some treats over with each step he takes.
If this doesn’t work, you can try leaving treats on the ground that lead to the tree. Allow your dog to get the treats in his own time, and again, try to ignore him as he investigates the area around the tree. You can leave a few treats around the tree every day, but not under the tree. soon your dog will trust to approach the tree and see the value and those good things happening whenever he goes near the tree he once feared.
Update two days later:
Roman Gottfried I took your advice and even got a picture of Harley in front of the tree took a lot of treats, and we are doing better thank you 😊
– Doreen Krushinski
