Is YOUR Doodle a Picky Pooper Too?

[shelly]

Sometimes, I just can't believe what I talk about on this site.  Maybe it's the doldrum of winter, but... I mean, I don't even personally KNOW you guys, but yet we talk about such things as "POOP"!  ???  Tori lately has become such a picky pooper!  LOL  

  It has been taking her so long to find a 'spot'... she walks, and sniffs, and turns round and round.  YES - finally!  NOPE.  Not there... she sniffs again, walks, turns round and round - NOPE again.... this goes on quite a few times.  I thought it was because there was no 'clean enough' spot for her to find because of all of the other poop-sicles that were frozen in the snow/ice - they couldn't be removed.  We had a bit of warmer weather (for about 5 hours one day-lol), so I chiseled them out and removed them.  But she continued 'her search' for the perfect spot.  Then I thought - "hmm maybe she can't smell her scent through all of the snow".. so I actually took one of the "poop-sicles" out of the can and left it there to help her. I carefully and strategically placed in in a location I thought would be "helpful" for her.   So as I stood there just waiting in the FREEZING cold, I started thinking that Tori actually does take quite a while (normally) to find a good, comfortable spot before she goes.  I don't know if it's because she knows she has a 'sucker' on the other end of her leash who will just wait as long as it takes, or what... you know - a 'lady' has to feel comfortable! All of the other dogs we had either were in a fenced yard, or were just let out to go do what had to be done... without an audience waiting in the wings for the finale!  (If this weather doesn't break soon, I may start keeping a log on how long it takes and compare it to the time it takes in the Spring!)

[Sally]

I don't have a yard so i walk Duncan on the walking paths in the condo development where i live. Right now there is snow and ice piled everywhere. Nothing has been shoveled. But the main walking paths are flatter because of all the daily foot traffic. But Duncan's ritual is to sniff to find the "almost" right spot. Once he gets the scent he looks up and charges about 6 feet away from that spot before starting to poop. Problem is he usually ends up in the "deep snow" banks. And has a hard time maneuvering. It's like he prefers to have to struggle. And sometimes he is above the snow because it's crusted with a layer of ice but he'll balance on one leg and all the weight makes him "break thru" and fall into the snow. Poor guy. He'll get the cold icy sensation on his rear and dart sometimes with a piece still not completely out. Sigh! I can't wait for the grass to reappear... (well i'm not looking forward to the big melt and sopping wet grass....)

[Carol and Banjo]

Banjo has convinced me that there is some magical, mystical, primordial ritual that must be performed before the "perfect poop" can take place.  And of course now that we have 3 feet of snow the whole process is magnified TEN fold!   I've also noticed he seems to prefer a little canopy of hemlock branch over his head.   Weird, weird dog!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I'll have to share your experience with "poop detail" with my husband.  He complains about having to pick up poop here in sunny California.  He's never had to chisel "poop-sicles" nor "prime the spot" with thawed poop!  He'll never complain again!!!!

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

We live in the NW and our yard is a muddy mess.  Our oldest Dood, Tura, would not go in the mud.  We ended up putting gravel in half of the yard.  So now the poop sticks to the gravel.....  One trainer told us that Poodles have very sensitive feet and maybe thats why she wouldn't "go"in the mud.  The youngest, Dolly, just runs and finds a place and goes.  Probably personal preference......

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge takes forever. She will go round and round and round and then decide that is not the right spot. It probably doesn't help that I am usually yelling, "go potty...please go potty...for god sakes, go potty" to add to the pressure, but it is cold here too.  Vern has to be reminded on walks. He gets so preoccupied that he never thinks to do his business, but he gives no warning either. He will just stop, go and it is almost like he is thinking, "oh yeah, that is why I am out here." Silly doods!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Guinness is totally predictable.  He pretty much goes in the same spot every time.  Murph....not so much.  He has to really investigate before he commits to a poop spot.  I'm not exactly sure what he's looking for, but he seems to have the idea that there MUST be a better poop place....somewhere.  So, yes he looks and looks, and smells and smells.  Once in a while, he'll shock us.  It's usually when we're on a walk, and he'll just squat and poop right in the road....with no smelling at all.  Who can figure these guys out....they march to their own drummer.