Night time toileting

Elwood is good during the day when left and never makes a mess when left. At night it`s a whole different ball game though. He refuses to go outside before bed time to toilet. I have even taken him out down the lane to get him to go but he flat out refuses to do anything. In the morning when we get up there is always poop and puddles on the floor. He really does not like the dark and is very nervous cant wait to get in the house.On the other hand when in the house he`s fine in the dark. My floors are taking a real battering, so any ideas?

you have to walk them 2/3 times a day for 45 mins plus each time.

Very puzzling.. do you have an outside light you can put on? Do you go in the garden with him in the eves when its dark? Can you try taking him for walks when its dark to get him used to it? Have you any friend with dogs you could walk with to give him the confidence?

kate32 wrote:Very puzzling.. do you have an outside light you can put on? Do you go in the garden with him in the eves when its dark? Can you try taking him for walks when its dark to get him used to it? Have you any friend with dogs you could walk with to give him the confidence?

Yep done all that! He goes out at night with his friend Monty the Lab at 10.30pm but he refuses to do his business. At my wits end with it! I go in the garden with him and we do have a bright outside light.

Steve wrote:you have to walk them 2/3 times a day for 45 mins plus each time.

Yep Steve I do when I`m home and when I`m not the OH does. He gets 3 hrs walk and running across the fields every day. Hh has no probs in the day early evening its just at night when it`s dark.

What time does he have his meals?

My old staff used to be like this and I think it was the fireworks that started the behaviour when he was a pup.I used to have to stand in the garden with him in the dark and keep telling him "go on then"some times it took absolutely ages and several times in and out the house.he always got there in the end but it was really hard work sometimes.it was just perseverance but he used to get to a stage when he knew he had to go before bedtime so he eventually went the toilet.hope this helps!!!good luck!!!

sil vanus wrote:My old staff used to be like this and I think it was the fireworks that started the behaviour when he was a pup.I used to have to stand in the garden with him in the dark and keep telling him "go on then"some times it took absolutely ages and several times in and out the house.he always got there in the end but it was really hard work sometimes.it was just perseverance but he used to get to a stage when he knew he had to go before bedtime so he eventually went the toilet.hope this helps!!!good luck!!!

That's what we had to do with Billy it took ages sometimes but he did go, we stayed out in the garden till he did it, even now it can take up to 15 mins

kathytake2 wrote:What time does he have his meals?

He free feeds throughout the day and by 6pm it`s all gone.

good walks should stop this

its better to have a few walks spaced out rather than one big long walk. Also you might want to consider feeding just once and taking the food up when it isnt eaten that way you can guesstimate what time he will need to "go"

I'd try to give him set meal times, that could equal set toilet times.