Odd dog bathroom behavior

Ridgebackmommy — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:03:20 GMT

I have an 8 yr old Rhodesian Ridgeback, who is neurotic/OCD/doesn't handle change well, with IBS. Since about July he has taken to waking me up at 4am every morning to go to the bathroom even though he had been taken out by my teenage son at 1:30am. We feed him dinner at 7pm with his meds and take him out twice before going to bed. He can also hold it if we leave the house for extended hours (8-9). Why is he waking me up 3 hours after going? He used to be able to hold it until 6:30am. I called the vet and they said its behavioral. Can anyone shed any light on this because Im exhausted!

RE: Odd dog bathroom behavior

Good Dog! — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:13:46 GMT

Dogs are creatures of habit...good and bad. Your dog has trained you to let it out at 4 am. He has become the Alpha member of his pack. He is letting you know he is ready for his day to start. Now ithas become a habit, which is turning into a behavior issue.

Odds are, he really doesn't need to relieve himself because he has gone out 3 times since dinner. Most likely he's just checking things out in his back yard. All kinds of neat stuff crawl and prowl around backyards at night.

Problem is, it looks like you're not having as much fun investigating as he is!

If you don't want to get up to let him out at that hour, crate him at night. It won't take long for him to realize his "demand" for going out at 4 is ignored by the Alpha members of his pack, (that's you!) and he will eventually settle down and wait until you get up. The good thing is, the majority of dogs that are crated, won't soil in their crate, if it's the right size for them.

If you want your dog to develop habits...make them good ones!

Being a dog is fun! Being a GOOD DOG! is even better!

RE: Odd dog bathroom behavior

kcollins — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:28:41 GMT

While I agree that this could be a bad habit that you have helped the dog develop, first you need to find out if the dog is really going. If he is moving his bowels at 4 am you need to know and you need to know if it is loose or firm. A firm bowel movement may be an indication that you need to feed him earlier, a loose one may mean his diet is not conducive to his condition. If he is not actually moving his bowels at 4 am then it is a bad habit you need to break. I prefer just telling them know until they figure out that the glory days are over and stop asking as opposed to a crate. I don't personally believe crate training is actually training as much as it is jailing.

RE: Odd dog bathroom behavior

BING — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:44:15 GMT

DEAR I'M EXAUSTED: I WOULD SUGGEST YOU RESCHEDULE YOUR PETS DINING HABITS, MORNING BREAKFAST, LATE AFTERNOON DINNER. NO FOOD, NOR WATER BEFORE BEDTIME, NOR NEARING BEDTIME. THAT SHOULD KEEP YOUR PETS EXAUST SYSTEM FROM GIVING YOU NIGHTMARES UNTIL REVEILLI SOUNDS IN THE MORNING. IT COULD GIVE YOUR NEIGHBORS AN EXAUST'REST TOO, WITH NOT SO MUCH ACTIVITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT MIDNIGHT. YOUR DOG WILL BE HAPPY, YOU WILL BE HAPPY, EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY. I'VE HAD MANY HOUSE PETS IN MY TIME. SO I FIGURE I'M A PRO AT KEEPING EVERYBODY HAPPY, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND THE LAW!...