The Potty Crisis!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin has always been good about going potty quickly. He even does it on command most of the time. But he does not like this snow one bit. I honestly don't remember having this big of a problem last winter. When we take him out it will be 20 minutes of standing there (It's always been less than 5 minutes in the past) and he won't even go! He doesn't seem nervous, just continuously sniffs around and circles but never goes.

We can't go to his regular spot because it's under 3 feet of snow, so we've had to wander to find less deep places. the only times we have been able to get him to go fairly quickly is if we take him to an off-leash area. Honestly, I don't want him to get in the habit of only wanting to go off-leash so I am trying to be firm about having him go when I take him out.

I have been wondering if part of it is food related though. We recently switched him to a grain free food. He usually goes 3 times a day but now it's 2. Once in the morning, once at night. But that is after a whole lot of standing around. Maybe it's the snow discomfort, or maybe he just doesn't poop as much with this new food. All I DO know is that I hate standing in 12 degree weather for 20 minutes. Yikes. Here are some photos of him at his OLD poop spot. Not going to work anymore!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We had the same problem last year when we got dumped with 25 plus inches of snow twice in one week. It took Fudge forever to go to the bathroom. We had to walk in the cornfield next to our house for a long time before she would go. Finally, she would go, but it was always a long way from our house. I think she just couldn't find her spot and then couldn't wait any longer. My feeling is it is just a lot of snow and Darwin can't smell his usual spots. Good luck.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri used to always go 3x/day. Now she only goes twice - once in the morning, once at night. Maybe an age thing too?? Of course she went 8x/day when she was a little squirt :)

[Frannie & Callie]

I'm sure the snow covers up all the "good" smells that encourage him to go. The grain free food can be very low residue. Most days, Callie just poops once a day on it.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh poor Darwin! We also go through the same thing when there's a lot of snow. We have to shovel their "potty spot"....DH just LOVES that! I think the new food may be part of it too. Murph is on grain free, and he usually does go just twice a day. No snow for us yet, but these pictures are reminding me of what's ahead.

[Phoebe's Mom]

I suffer with this issue with Phoebe each winter. During the warmer months, she goes first thing in the morning inside of 5 minutes but as soon as the first snow falls, it is torture!!! My son takes her out first thing but he often comes in saying she will not go and I end up taking her out again after I take my children to school. I get so frustrated. It happened last year but I thought it was becaus she was a puppy--wrong! I tried shoveling an area for her, taking her on longer walks in the morning that we would normally, taking her leashed in our backyard for a 'walk'...nothing seem to help. Some days she is spot on but others we walk round and round and nothing. While I was clearly of no help to you, please find comfort in knowing it is not just little guy!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I don't think shoveling the spot would help. It's right by the road that winds around our apartment complex, so the plows dump the snow there. That is why it's so deep at that spot. It gets re-piled up all of the time. He doesn't do potty bells, just goes to stand by the door when he needs to go out. He hasn't been doing that as often, but we keep taking him out because he seems antsy, walking from one end of the apartment to the other. I am worried that he is holding it because he doesn't want to go out in the snow.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Maybe he is going... how can you even tell??? j/k. Can you shovel his favorite spot? Does he do potty bells? Rosey is 16 months and she can go pee only twice per day and poop once a lot of days. Maybe he is just changing his schedule.