Seriously, why....

[JuneBugg]

Why does he poop on her bed!?
He's been potty trained since he was about six weeks old.
I kid you not.
He's been sleeping in my bed since he was about three weeks.
So, I know it isn't that.
He's only had about four accidents his entire life.
The most recent one, was because I had to switch his food suddenly, and this upset his stomach and I did not wake up in time to let him out. Not for his lack of trying to wake me up. Poor guy. :/

At first, I thought he was telling her where she ranked in our "pack".
But! I would like some other suggestions, because he is not a very dominant dog.
My other concern was that our relationship is very strained at times.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

My dog mijita started pooping on my (at the time GF's) wife's side of the bed and specifically in her shoes when we first moved in together. Totally uncharacteristic. Biting yes, pooping no. My wife wound up running her over when I was out of town. Maybe she was trying to tell me something lol.

The first thing you should check is medical issues when something extremely uncharacteristic is going on with your dog.

 

[JuneBugg]

He recently had a vet visit, and; even though they couldn't check his face because he was too afraid of them, they said he was otherwise healthy. So I'm not too sure he has a health problem.

But oh my gosh! Glad she's an ex!!!!

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Hiraeth]

Pack theory is debunked. Even the scientist who originally studied wolf packs and came up with pack/dominance theory has worked very hard to get the word out that his theory is incorrect. Pack theory gained popularity when a certain tv personality who poses as a dog trainer started advocating for it all over international television.

So your dog isn't "dominant", or the "alpha", or trying to show anyone where they rank in a pack.

So... Whose bed is your dog defecating on? How often does he defecate on the bed? Under what circumstances? When no one is home? Why, if he continuously defecates there, don't you cut off his access to the bed? More details would go a long way in anyone on an online forum being able to give you some advice

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

She's not an ex! I married her maybe a year or so after she ran over my dog... BUT that's one reason we wound up having EM's. I wanted a dog that would damage the car she drives instead of the car damaging the dog!! :lolbangtable:

 

[Victoria93]

I don't know if it applies but when our Corso has an accident which is very rare he will actually drag anything newspaper, towels, even his own bed into it and on top of it to almost hide it from us, yours could be trying to cover it up like mine.

 

[7121548]

Maybe her bed smells like shit--either your dog's from the last time it happened, or possibly hers?

 

[JuneBugg]

I thought that was that case. I haven't really looked into that yet though, but I'm glad you let me know it's legitimate!

He poops on the same spot on my roommate/stepmother-type-figure's bed.
She's shut the door recently, so it hasn't happened until today, when I've come home from work.
He's only done this about four times; counting this one, and I've lived with her for almost two years.
This has only happened about six months ago, I'd say. I have a feeling that it has to do with how we're feeling towards eachother, because since he has been left inside, he has only done this; aside from the second time, when we have been been feeling a lot of animosity towards eachother.
She also insists on our dogs being separated because od her unruly Labrador who has a touch of anxiety; and zero obedience training, has gotten into a couple small arguments with my dogs, which have since been corrected, with no injuries. I'm not sure if that has anything to so with it, but it's still upsetting to me that she won't train her dogs haha.

I'm hoping It's just a training issue, and something I personally need to work on, because that is much simpler for me to correct.


She has also washed her sheets immediately after it has happened, so it could possibly be the smell.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[tmricciuto]

It sounds like your dog is maybe stressed out because of the animosity and is taking it out on the person he believes is the issue. JMO though.

 

[DennasMom]

Answers around the internets suggest it could be a form of separation anxiety. Not sure I agree... but maybe you could setup some webcams to video her activities in the house when you're gone and see if she does act anxious? It could be the anxiety is controllable unless there is extra stress/arguments in the house.
Another suggestion I thought might be a helpful and inexpensive quick fix:
"You might try buying a couple of vinyl covered table cloths and lay them on top of the beds With the felt side up. Some dogs don't like the smell of the vinyl."

 

[marke]

Pack theory is debunked. Even the scientist who originally studied wolf packs and came up with pack/dominance theory has worked very hard to get the word out that his theory is incorrect. Pack theory gained popularity when a certain tv personality who poses as a dog trainer started advocating for it all over international television. So your dog isn't "dominant", or the "alpha", or trying to show anyone where they rank in a pack. So... Whose bed is your dog defecating on? How often does he defecate on the bed? Under what circumstances? When no one is home? Why, if he continuously defecates there, don't you cut off his access to the bed? More details would go a long way in anyone on an online forum being able to give you some advice

while i'd agree dominance has nothing to do do with this behavior ....... dogs are creatures of habit , when i clean the yard i know where whose crap will be where ...... keep the dog from having the opportunity to poop on the bed , eventually they usually forget about it and don't do it anymore , i would guess it was an accident that became a habit .............. dogs are pack animals , that is an irrefutable fact , even domestic dogs group together when allowed to go feral .......... pack animals have hierarchies within their packs , that's how it works , another fact ............i'm not sure what is supposed to be debunked ?????? i think it was supposed to be the "alpha" status , which is an observable fact in pack animal groups .......

 

[Hiraeth]

Why pack theory isn't applicable to dogs the way we apply it, with the wolf pack model: Pack Theory Debunked | Victoria Stilwell Positively

Myth of alpha male dominance: Dog Training: Animal Experts Debunk the Alpha-Dog Myth - TIME

More alpha dog myths: De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article

It's actually *really* common knowledge in the current canine veterinary and scientific communities that the pack theory introduced by Mech and his idea of "alpha-ness" or a hierarchy isn't applicable to domestic dogs. Caesar Milan is a TV personality, not a trainer, and is pretty commonly attributed with prolonging the idea of pack training and philosophy when nearly every positive trainer on the planet does not use these theories or methodologies.

 

[Boxergirl]

Yes, even Mech himself has discussed this issue. I posted part of a video of an interview with him on another post. Marke, maybe you should start your own thread to discuss your views.

OP, there could be many reasons the dog is doing this. The easiest solution to me would seem to be making sure that the door is closed at all times. If the dog can't be trusted to behave appropriately in that room, then access should not be allowed.

 

[season]

Why pack theory isn't applicable to dogs the way we apply it, with the wolf pack model: Pack Theory Debunked | Victoria Stilwell Positively

Myth of alpha male dominance: Dog Training: Animal Experts Debunk the Alpha-Dog Myth - TIME

More alpha dog myths: De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article

It's actually *really* common knowledge in the current canine veterinary and scientific communities that the pack theory introduced by Mech and his idea of "alpha-ness" or a hierarchy isn't applicable to domestic dogs. Caesar Milan is a TV personality, not a trainer, and is pretty commonly attributed with prolonging the idea of pack training and philosophy when nearly every positive trainer on the planet does not use these theories or methodologies.

It still works for me. I just poop in Solo's crate to remind him who the Alpha is. I don't need fancy words and scientific studies to figure that out. I did my own scientific study. Results came in and told me I was the Alpha male in my house


"Today is victory over yourself of yesterday."
- Miyamoto Musashi

 

[Boxergirl]

Hahaha, Season. You know I actually had a dog come to me when I did rescue whose owner did something like that. Dog had serious separation anxiety and would drop poo throughout the house when the person left. They thought it would teach the dog a lesson to leave their poop on his dog bed. I had no words. None. Best thing they ever did was relinquish their dog.

 

[season]

Ha!!!


"Today is victory over yourself of yesterday."
- Miyamoto Musashi

 

[Hector]

Hahaha, Season. You know I actually had a dog come to me when I did rescue whose owner did something like that. Dog had serious separation anxiety and would drop poo throughout the house when the person left. They thought it would teach the dog a lesson to leave their poop on his dog bed. I had no words. None. Best thing they ever did was relinquish their dog.

lmao

 

[Sinnister]

Why pack theory isn't applicable to dogs the way we apply it, with the wolf pack model: Pack Theory Debunked | Victoria Stilwell Positively Myth of alpha male dominance: Dog Training: Animal Experts Debunk the Alpha-Dog Myth - TIME More alpha dog myths: De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article It's actually *really* common knowledge in the current canine veterinary and scientific communities that the pack theory introduced by Mech and his idea of "alpha-ness" or a hierarchy isn't applicable to domestic dogs. Caesar Milan is a TV personality, not a trainer, and is pretty commonly attributed with prolonging the idea of pack training and philosophy when nearly every positive trainer on the planet does not use these theories or methodologies.

Thanks for providing these links. Very informative and the more information I can get on training methods the better. I do have one issue though. "I" personally do not like Victoria Stillwell. Something about her doesn't sit right with me. I read her version of the debunked pack theory and it didn't seem authentic (likely because it was regurgitated high level points taken from other resources). But that's my problem with her on the whole. Just doesn't seem sincere to me. I know its a completely subjective view but just something about her. And the comments on that page are very informative as well. ---------------- But back to the poop. OP - I can't imagine that you're roommate would not feel tension if your dog keeps pooping on her bed?

 

[Hiraeth]

Thanks for providing these links. Very informative and the more information I can get on training methods the better. I do have one issue though. "I" personally do not like Victoria Stillwell. Something about her doesn't sit right with me. I read her version of the debunked pack theory and it didn't seem authentic (likely because it was regurgitated high level points taken from other resources). But that's my problem with her on the whole. Just doesn't seem sincere to me. I know its a completely subjective view but just something about her. And the comments on that page are very informative as well. ---------------- But back to the poop. OP - I can't imagine that you're roommate would not feel tension if your dog keeps pooping on her bed?

I'm not a huge fan of Stillwell, either. I usually just use her links because she's another tv-type personality who directly counters Milan's "be dominant, you're the pack leader" attitude.

If we're talking about trainers we actually like, Denise Fenzi and Susan Garrett are pretty close to the top of my list. While they're both trainers who focus on team building specifically with agility and other canine sport teams, I think they have some really important lessons to teach that would benefit anyone looking to build upon their relationship with their dog. When you think about it, the fundamentals of agility and other sport training are the same as the fundamentals for someone training in their home - patience, understanding what does and doesn't work for your particular dog, building handler focus and trust and keeping at it when things don't go perfectly the first couple (or hundred) times.

OP, I'm a big fan of setting my dogs up for success. I don't leave my socks laying around the house because I know the puppy would chew on them if he has a chance. Not because he wants to hurt my feelings, but because dogs are opportunists and don't understand repercussions of their actions. So I think the best way to combat the bed pooping issue is to make sure the door is closed and the dog doesn't have access to this particular spot. The best offense is a good defense type attitude, if you will

 

[season]

OP, I'm a big fan of setting my dogs up for success. I don't leave my socks laying around the house because I know the puppy would chew on them if he has a chance. Not because he wants to hurt my feelings, but because dogs are opportunists and don't understand repercussions of their actions. So I think the best way to combat the bed pooping issue is to make sure the door is closed and the dog doesn't have access to this particular spot. The best offense is a good defense type attitude, if you will

Well said.



Carpe Diem