Where's a doodle to poo?

[BG and Gavin]

First a little background…Gavin is somewhat regimented. He gets his whole serving of kibble in the morning and eats more or less half of it around noon. When I say half, I mean he starts at the near edge of the bowl and neatly eats halfway across; so half the bowl is shinny clean, while the other half is still piled high. He drinks his water from the far edge of the bowl, so his tongue can dash in and out while his snout is beyond the bowl with no chance of getting wet. When it comes to doing his business, he is also very structured. He never pees or poos on walks or otherwise while on a lead. He goes out our back door, walk past the patio, takes a sharp left, heads to the fence line, pees, walks a few feet more and poos right near the fence. Every time! When we kenneled him overnight, he did not poo at all. Our first trip to the cottage, no poo for 36 hours. The next trip, 24 hours till he pooed. The third trip was this weekend. He was a pooing machine, regular as can be. All good right?

Maybe not…while at the cottage he leaves the back door, walks beyond the patio, takes a sharp left, well you can see where this is going. He covers exactly the same distance as he does at home to take care of business. The problem is, he walks past our property line, past the neighbour’s driveway and into his yard to get it done. Now the neighbour has not been around during these early visits, however he will be soon. Frankly we were so thrilled Gavin was feeling “relaxed” enough to be regular, that we did not care where he went! Even though we pick it up right away, I don’t want to annoy our great neighbour. So now, I need suggestions on how to get him to “relocate.” Gradually moving the poo closer to our side won’t work due to the two driveways and walking area being in the way. Help!

[BG and Gavin]

Yes, its funny isn't it, how they behave. He has the toileting habits of an 80 year old man. Thanks for the tip about the pheromone stick Lundells. I will see how we make out next weekend and gauge my neighbours (dis)comfort level with doodle doo-doo on his property :)

[Debbie and Thomas]

Sounds to me like Gavin is pretty set in his ways about his pooping habits..even the ones he just developed at the cottage. I would let him be....most of us "cottage people" are pretty laid back when it comes to this sort of thing. What happens at the cottage...stays at the cottage is my motto. I am sure if you clean up the area every morning that your neighbours won't even notice the odd "deposit". Glad he is adapting so well to your cottage.

[Diane and Alma]

Maybe you could put a pheromone stick near where he goes at your home and buy a second one for the cottage. If he associates the smell with his potty spot it might work. Here's a link so you can see what they are: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11109

[Kathie and the gang]

I though Winston was funny when he wouldn't pee or poop while on a walk, but Gavin has him beat by a long shot. If he will not go while on leash, I think you are going to have to follow him with a baggie. Sorry, not much help.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Wow, these dogs are so interesting. I have one of each...Guinness will only poop in one spot which is in the dead leaves way at the end of the back yard. He circles forever to find just the right spot...very structured. Murph will poop ANYWHERE. He will often stop and go right in the road during our walks. No smelling or anything, just stops and goes. I think Karen's idea about a small fence at the cottage may be your answer. At least he's going....36 hours is a long time! How flexible is your neighbor...maybe they won't care since you pick it right up.

[Adina P]

Wow indeed. I'm impressed...when at home he sounds like the IDEAL dog to be that structured and predictable about his poo. No suggestions, but it's pretty amazing that he does the exact same thing at the cottage...LOL. It's almost as if his brain twisted and turned and got all confused the first few days without his landmarks, but then decided "Welllp...not sure what's going on with everything out of place, but what else can I do but go out, turn left and pee then poo?"

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wow! I don't have any answers, but as one who has struggled a little with OCD over the years, I'm kind of impressed by Gavin's fastidious ways! Jack will only poop on walks, and then it has to be in a corner where a driveway meets the parkway. Or he'll back up to a shrub, lol.
Could you maybe put up something that looks like like a small section of fence in the area where you'd like him to go? Maybe that would help.