The Snow -He wont't go!

[Anna and Achilles]

Achilles loves the snow, he loves to play in it walk in it, lay in it. However he won't go(Poop SORRY!) He acted like he had to go so took him out like 5 times Nothing (besides frustration)! Brought him back in, distracted by something and he is down the basement relieving himself. He has been trained for months now. What do I do and why do you think he is doing this?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Our girls have been a little confused by the snow as well. Particularly in the am when it is crusty on top and they sort of break through it and there is a noise when it happens. I shoveled a few paths and a large round area where they could go if they wanted. They did a few times, and now they use the path to get out into the middle of the yard and then go off the bath to do their business. Might be worth a try!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, I'm sure it's because the snow is a foreign surface. Clearing alittle area for him should help. Plus he's still little and the snow may feel funny or cold when he squats.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Does he have a favorite potty spot? If he does you might try shoveling out that area just so he has a place to squat without actually having his butt in the snow. That's what we did with Guinness, and it's worked. We are lucky because he does have one particular spot in the back of the yard where he likes to go.

[shelly]

When it snows here, I shovel as far down to the ground as I can so the sow isn't up against her when she squats and I actually leave a "poop sample" in an area where I want her to poop, so she can smell that it is HER area.

[Sandra Griffith]

Achilles is probably thinking that this is a new situation. Dogs don't generalize situations at first, which is why they may be perfectly house-trained at home but not so good at someone else's house. Do take the suggestions listed here. If this doesn't work, go "back to Kindergarten" and back track your housetraining just until he gets it.

[Max & Ellie]

Try and shovel down so that they can smell the grass. Max held it for the whole day until we could get him a patch where he could sniff the grass... After he did it the first time he got the hang of it and we don't have to shovel all the way down to grass. Not a great season to have a puppy :)

[Kelly Gallagher]

I totally agree with the other suggestions. We had a HORRIBLE time during our first snow storm with Maddy back in December..she was 10 months old at the time...LOVED to play in the snow..but could not/would not go. She had 2 or 3 accidents in the house which is TOTALLY unlike her..she's been totally trained for months and months. As it turned out she couldn't find "her scent". We had to dig out a pretty good size area where she likes to go in order to get her to go. It was a nightmare at first until we realized she needed to smell "her spot".she was waking up in the middle of the night and everything. This past week we had a lot more snow..we shoveled out her spot and everything was fine. These puppies...they will make us crazy!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Today, I called my mom and told her if I had one wish it wouldn't be for something important like world peace or to win the lottery or to be thin (maybe). My wish would be for the snow to melt so Fudge would go poop. I walk up and down our field, up and down our field, and she digs or grabs corn stalks, leaps around, and all the while I am saying "go potty" "get busy" until I am sure my neighbors two miles up the road can hear me. It used to be so simple. So far, she has not gone in the house, but what was once a 5 minute process is now an ordeal that requires large boots, snow wear, and a flask of liquor (not yet, but soon). I feel your pain. Good luck.

[Anna and Achilles]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions! Duh! All it took was common sense, (obviously I was lacking). Thanks for having it for me. We have success!!!!!! YIPEE!!!!!