This is why the dog isn't allowed into the Hallway of Forbidden Treasure..

[Fiona]

I don't let my dog in part of the house, for various reasons, chief among them the shedding problem. But there's also the pooping problem.

She doesn't understand that my bedroom is part of "inside". She knows she has to poop "outside", but to her, "outside" just means "not in the living room, dining room or kitchen". So I don't let her into the bedroom or den, which are blocked off by a door.

When I'm beyond the door of forbidden treasure, she just sits by the door and waits for me to return. But on the rare occasions when I forget to close the door, she friggin shits in my bedroom! Consistently.

And she LOVES waiting by the door. It's her favorite activity. The door is the passage to great pleasures.

How do I teach her to treat the "forbidden" area as part of the house?

[leftofthedial]

1. rub your nose in it

and spank yourself with a rolled up newspaper

no, wait. that probably won't work.

but do it anyway.

[Fiona]

2. hrmm...

OK, I tried that.

Now things smell bad and I'm turned on. Now what?

[leftofthedial]

3. sorry. I couldn't resist.

It's just a continuation of housebreaking. How'd you teach your dog not to poop in the kitchen and living room?

[marzipanni]

4. I've found that dogs like to poop right after they eat.

Do you think your dog holds on to it just so she can mess up your sleeping cave because you aren't sharing it with her? Where does she sleep?

[Fiona]

5. she sleeps wherever she wants...

except beyond the Hallway of Forbidden Treasure.

I need to let her into the bedroom and den and watch her and teach her not to poop there, just like I did with the other rooms.

[marzipanni]

7. Does she poop more than once or twice a day?

If you feed her at about the same time(s) it shouln't be too hard to let her/take her out right afterward. My dog pokes and "clacks" a dangling wooden bear toy near the door to ask to go out right after breakfast and dinner..If we don't listen to her request she resorts to scratching the door.

[friesianrider]

6. Do NOT hit her or rub her nose in it.

Please don't punish her for the housetraining mistakes. She needs training, not blaming. Punishing her will only erode your relationship with her and raise her stress level. Dogs who are stressed have housetraining accidents. If she defecates in the house, again DON'T hit her - put the leash on her and immediately take him to the proper place outside. When she even sniffs a spot like she is going to go, tell her she is a good dog. If she poops, praise her, and leave her outside until you have cleaned up his mistake inside. Unless you actually witness her pooping and can grab her in time and say NO in a firm voice and take her IMMEDIATELY, you shouldn't "say" anything to the dog about the mess. Do not under any circumstances hit her or do anything else that is violent - it will only stress her out and cause her to resent you.

She probably was not housetrained well when she was a puppy, but by blocking her access to certain rooms, she naturally doesn't necessarily consider them "inside" - she doesn't think these rooms are part of the house. Put her food and water dishes over the spots in which he has been defecating (but you'd have to let her in those rooms to do this). Whenever you take her out and she poops out there, praise her immensely, and maybe even give her a treat.

If it continues, definitely talk to yuor vet. They can give you good advice. Either way, good for you that you're willing to work on it. I work at a shelter and see far too many dogs come into the shelter (and most are put to sleep) because they poop or pee on the floor and the owner tries one thing and if that doesn't work dumped at the shelter they go. Chances are, there is a solution to this problem, and I wish you luck finding it soon :) You seem to have an otherwise great dog who seems to love you very, very much!

Good Luck :)