Anyone here ever 'matched' your doodle to make it Poo?

[Adina P]

In a recent discussion, our token Poodle lady, Carol, recommended someone 'match' their dog who wasn't pooping.  I finally had a chance to Google it and discovered it means this:

You moisten the sulfur end of 1-2 matches and then stick those sulfur ends into the dog's rectum, allowing only a bit of the ends to hang out.  Apparently this acts as a poo stimulant and helps dogs hurry up and go when necessary.  Apparently show people do this and it is not harmful!  Perhaps another useful trick in the difficult to housebreak adult dog...anyone here ever done it?' 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ha ha, Nancie.  I will tell Skip that he can dance around with Ned in public trying to grab his tail end while Ned tries to avoid it.

[BG and Gavin]

I'm speechless...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have never needed my guys to poop this bad!  I can't quite picture myself doing it....I have trouble enough taking their temp.

[Carol Brand]

I have "matched" a number of dogs and puppies to help stimulate them to poop.  It is not something that has to be done on a regular basis.  It is usually more of a damage control procedure or to get a dog used to a certain routine.

As noted, sometimes dogs on trips get shy or off their routine.  If you are on a road trip, you don't necessarily have the time to walk a dog for an hour to get it to eliminate.  Same goes for puppies new to a home.   How many times have we heard on this board that new puppy owners have woken to find poopie crates or had to get up at 3a.m. because their puppy did not eliminate at 10p.m. the night before?   I was at an Obedience show in September and a competitor's dog pooped in the ring!  Besides being yucky, she was automatically disqualified.  As she came out she was saying that she knew her dog had to go, but that it just wouldn't potty before hand.  She just wasted (oh good pun) a whole day plus her entry fees.

Remember too that the sulfur in the matches is NOT what makes a difference.  It is the act of inserting an foreign object into the rectum that stimulates a dog to eliminate.   I think matches were historically used because they were readily available and the correct shape.  I always use a Q-tip and usually include a little KY Jelly for lubrication.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Not knocking it for show routines - plus you certainly would be able to do it 'correctly' but I would prefer to walk Ned fffooooorrrrrreeeevvvveeeeerrrrr before trying this on him.  I can see people at the campground staring as Ned butt danced away from me - too funny.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I think I will stick with "Webber, do poopie!".  He always produces something just for the praise.  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Starlit has had potty fear issues.  I can get her to go on command if she has to go.   " Go Out, Starlit" is all I have to say and she  knows exactly what to do.  Many times I must be right there with leash in hand especially is there are loud noises or she gets spooked ... but she goes.

Like other things we train our dogs to do, " Go Out" is a great command to teach!  What if you don't have any matches?

[Carol Brand]

Oh you are preaching to the choir about teaching a dog to eliminate on command.   That is the gift that keeps on giving!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

LOL.  Poo Happens

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Did you know that General Lee trained his horse, Traveler, to go on command?  Or rather, not to go when the General was reviewing his troops.  You and the late General have something in common.  Now there; I have taken up some of your brain space (that you will never get back) with useless information. :D

[BG and Gavin]

All of our race horses were trained to go on command.  A certain notes were whistled while they "went" from birth on.  Once the pattern was there, you whistle the notes and they "go."  You wanted to your horse to lighten the load prior to the race and post race urine tests went much faster if your horse would go on command :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Whistle trained horse. Very Interesting, BG.  I certainly be very careful the next time I'm with a horse not to whistle though.