Hi, my puppy dog is confused about where to poop. She sleeps in her bed in the balcony, and she pees normally in her pee pads in the balcony. But when it comes to poop, she thinks she needs to enter the house and poop in the carpet, as if the house would be the "exterior" and the right place. We recognize with treats when she pees in the balcony, but we're looking for a way to change her habit of wanting to poop inside the house. Thanks so much in advance!

Updated On August 22nd, 2020

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 3 months and 24 days old | 25 lbs

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Answered By Debi Matlack

Veterinary Technician

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You can reasonably expect a puppy to hold its bladder and bowels for as many hours as they are months old. Keep your puppy on a consistent daily feeding schedule and remove food between meals. Keep the puppy on a consistent schedule. Puppies should be taken to the pad every hour, as well as shortly after meals, play and naps. All puppies should be encouraged to eliminate first thing in the morning, last thing at night and before being confined or left alone. Know where your puppy is inside at all times. Watch for early signs that he needs to eliminate so you can prevent accidents. These signs include pacing, whining, circling, sniffing or leaving the room. If you see any of these, take your puppy to the pad as quickly as possible. If you can’t watch your puppy, she must be confined to a crate or a small room, door closed or with a baby gate. Gradually give more freedom, starting with a small area, and gradually increase it. If she eliminates on the pad, give her some free time in the house (about 15 to 20 minutes to start), and then put her back in her crate or small room. If all goes well, gradually increase the amount of time she can spend out of confinement. Accompany your puppy to the pad and reward her whenever he eliminates there with praise, treats, or play. Take your puppy to the same place each time so she learns to associate that area with the act of elimination. If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating inside not on the pad, clap sharply twice, just enough to startle but not scare her. Immediately run with her to the pad, encouraging her to come with you the whole way. Allow your pup to finish eliminating on the pad, and then reward him with happy praise and a treat. If she has nothing to eliminate when he gets to the pad, don’t worry. Just be more watchful of him inside. If your puppy has an accident but you don’t catch her in the act and only find the accident afterward, do not punish her. She cannot connect the punishment with something she did minutes, let alone hours ago.

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