Potty Training if other dog has bowel issues

[cassadee7]

I am looking at getting a GSD pup (probably) next year sometime. A concern I have is that my current dog (a male 8-pound poodle pom cross) is becoming incontinent as he ages. Well, part of it may be laziness... not sure. He started peeing in the house this year even though I was taking him out every hour, so we ended up putting Belly Bands on him. So now there is no pee in the house, he does usually wait until we remove the band and take him out to pee. However he seems to be bowel incontinent to a degree. He started just pooping in the middle of other activity.

If we take him walking he will not sniff and crouch to poop. He just keeps walking along all happy and oblivious as the poops drop out of his behind, making a trail I have to clean up. It's like he is completely unaware he is pooping and he just keeps walking. He does this occasionally in the house now. I think this must be age related (he is 11).

My question is, will this make housebreaking a puppy harder? What can I do about it? I do disinfect and clean very well immediately so there is no smell, but I worry about a pup picking up this behavior and thinking it is ok. I wonder if I would be better off waiting until my older dog goes to the bridge which could be several years... but I hate the thought of that...

[middleofnowhere]

Given a similiar situation, I chose to wait.

[Alto]

Has he had a vet work up?

You might contact K9 Carts & see if they will make a Protect-A-Pet "catch bag" for you (generally they are only used with paralyzed pets so it would need to be cutomized)
http://www.k9-carts.com/K9-Carts-Pro...tect-a-pet.php

I think potty training might be more difficult but not impossible; I'd take my chances & add the pup.

[gsdlove212]

I would have to agree, I would take my chances. That being said though I would take precautions. Make sure to have a good enzymatic cleaner and be hyper-vigilant with new pup to not let him have an "uh-oh" at all.

[Fodder]

My first thought is that 11 is rather young for both pee & poop incontinence - as someone else mentioned - get a full work up on him. I believe there are meds which can help him (there are for spay incontinence in females)

My question is, will this make housebreaking a puppy harder? yes it will. but more so from smelling the pee/poop then from watching the other dog and adopting the habit.

What can I do about it? a few things that come to mind is to adopt a dog that is already housebroken, buy a pup from a breeder who starts in housebreaking and possibly keeps the pups til they're a little older (10-14wks), keep the senior contained only to certain areas of the house and clean clean clean clean clean. all these things will help, but not guarantee!

I do disinfect and clean very well immediately so there is no smell. keep in mind that most cleaners don't get up 100% of the odor detectable by a dogs nose. even pet specific enzyme cleaners.

I wonder if I would be better off waiting until my older dog goes to the bridge which could be several years... i wouldn't. you'll already have to keep an insanely close eye on a puppy that is not housebroken anyway... so just multiply that by 10

i do however have a friend who's dobie was never fully housebroken despite their efforts because she was raised with a bunch of small dogs that went in the house. even now, 8yrs later... its not the scent anymore, its just habit... if you're timing isnt perfect, she has no problem going inside.

[doggiedad]

i brought my puppy home at 9 weeks old.
my Grey Hound was having potty issues.
within 11 days my puppy was house broken.

[cassadee7]

Thank you for all the insights and advice.

My dog did have a pretty thorough vet workup but not for this issue... it was for his heart murmur/early stage failure. He was not having the poop issues at the time (6 months ago) and the vet said the house-peeing was because he was angry that we had left him with a housesitter when we travelled this summer, and was peeing because of that.

He does seem able to hold his pee during the day with the Belly Bands on, so maybe he is not actually pee incontinent... He cannot however hold his pee from 11pm to 6am anymore.

The catch bag is a great idea, I had no idea they made those! I will check into that. Thanks!

[Fodder]

...just get all your carpets steam cleaned and keep everything spic and span til the pup comes, then watch him like a hawk and cross your fingers. you'll be fine!

[cassadee7]

p.s... searching around online I found this... Poo Trap... which is kind of ridiculous and made me laugh but might just work, or help others.

http://pootrapusa.com/

[Alto]

now I'd like to see the video footage from all the owners who bought that for their dogs, only to watch in consternation as dog rips annoying plastic what'sit from butt

When using enzyme cleaners, wipe away the majority of the stuff, then use cleaner to get the rest, then allow more enzyme cleaner to 'sit' on the area for several minutes to overnight (depends on how 'adhesive' the surface is) - if the cleaner is decent (& not all are created equally), the next dog/cat should not notice the x-soiled area.
Carpets are a pain as often the owner treats well enough to clean the carpet but not the underlay.
If you steam clean, use a pet specific solution on the first round or 2, then just water to remove any detergents, then a final round with an stronger enzyme cleaner (natuers miracle is not one I recommend).

Sometimes you just have to remove the carpets & underlay & strip the floors - eg, should you move into a home where a dog was kept in a carpeted bedroom & seldom taken out to potty