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how do I get an italian greyhound to poop outside when the weather is cold or wet?

my boyfriend's dog is primarily an inside dog and he is housebroken, most of the time. He'll go out to pee and poop if the weather is nice, but he'll only stay out long enough to pee if the weather is cold or rainy. Even if he is kept out long enough to complete all of his business and he has on a sweater, he'll hold it and wait until he comes into the house to finish up. He will usually keep it to one specific room, but if we close that door to discourage this, he just moves on to another place. He always knows that this is going to get him into trouble, but he continues to do it. He did this even before I came into his life, so I don't think it's a matter of jealousy. The dog is five and in good health. Any suggestions?

Public Comments

1. When house breaking my grandparents dauchand we would put his nose very close to the poop and then pop him and make him gho outside for a while and he doesn't ever poop inside unless he's sick and can't help it.
2. I completely disagree with Dubya. You should never hit a dog or make him smell his poop. They do not understand this. It confuses them and they have no idea why their master is hurting them. One idea is to find an area that is shaded from the rain, like under a tree with thick foliage, or under a tent roof. Then stay out there with him until he goes. Another idea is to try wee wee pads in an area that is "semi" okay for him to go, like in a cement basement or in the bathroom. We had an older dog staying with us and she could not hold it all night but she went on these pads. They are specifically scented for dogs to somehow know to go on them.
3. If the dog is uncomfortable, perhaps you should try a little sweater or raincoat. I would also recommend training the dog to use a litterbox with wee-wee pads near the back door. You could begin teaching him in the warmer months by placing the box outside where he usually goes and reward him for it. The dog will soon learn that it is ok to use both places. When it gets cold and he sees that litter box in the warm house, I'm guessing he will use it. Remember, NEVER PUNISH A DOG, it makes the animal stressed and they lose confidence in you as a leader. If you are no longer considered the alpha, the dog will begin to make his own decisions, which can be disasterous.
4. Complex issue. Yes, an insulated raincoat may help. Here are 2 links that have some troubleshooting for potty training: The Potty Wars - Part I http://www.petfinder.com/journalindex.cgi?path=/public/animalbehavior/dogs/1.2.8.txt The Potty Wars - Part II, Troubleshooting http://www.petfinder.com/journalindex.cgi?path=/public/animalbehavior/dogs/1.2.4.txt
5. Please visit http://www.iggyplanet.com/ A lot of great advice there