You’ve spent the last few months potty training your Pug. Just when you think everything is good, you realize that Fido has started pooping in the same spot in your house. You ask yourself why is my Pug pooping in the house? I take her outside several times throughout the day…keep reading to find out several reasons that cause this behavior and what to do to stop it.
Why Is My Pug Pooping In the House?
A dog can start pooping in the house for several reasons such as; improper training, not being taken out often enough, illness, fear, anxiety, and several other reasons we’ll discuss below.
No pet owner wants their dog to poop in the house, that’s why we’ve put together some of the best Pug training resources to help you properly train your dog.
If for some reason your puppy or adult dog has started pooping in the house, you can’t help your dog until you uncover the reason that’s causing it.
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If your Pug has started pooping in the house, here are 10 potential reasons that can to consider why:
10 Reasons Your Pug Is Pooping In The House
#1 Improper Potty Training
Many new Pet owners think their Pug puppy is properly trained after they’ve gone in the same spot a few days in a row. However, every dog is different and it can take several weeks to a few months to properly train a Pug. We’ve put together a potty training timeline to help you understand what to expect.
If your young puppy is having accidents in the house, it’s likely they’re going to need more a little more training.
Solution
Create a potty training schedule so your puppy will learn what you expect of them. Dog’s thrive on routine and will help them learn quickly.
#2 New Schedule
Maybe you’ve had to change your dog’s schedule because something changed in your life, such as a new job, gym routine, kids going to a new school, and etc. The new daily routine means that your dog’s feeding schedule, morning walks, and time outside has changed. Your dog’s digestive system has not learned its new schedule yet.
If your Pug has been pooping in the house since you’ve made the schedule change, you’ll need to give your dog’s digestive system a chance to learn the new routine.
Solution
Like us, dogs thrive on routine and function best when they are fed, exercised, and given potty breaks on a regular schedule. Be patient with your four-legged friend and give them a chance to learn their new schedule.
Once they learn it, they will likely stop pooping in the house.
#3 Infrequent Potty Breaks
If you notice that your Pug is pooping in the house at night, you should avoid feeding your dog anything before you go to bed. Make sure you take your pooch out to use the bathroom before you go to bed.
When your dog falls asleep before you do, wake them up and take them outside to use the toilet.
Solution
If your Pug is still pooping in the house even when you take them outside before they go to bed, you may want to set your alarm during the night to take them outside.
#4 You’re Not Cleaning Up The Messes Properly?
If your dog has started pooping in the same spot, it’s likely because you haven’t cleaned up the mess properly. Carpeted floors can be hard to clean, especially if you don’t use an enzyme cleaner.
Solution
An enzyme cleaner will help break up the scent association, which will cause your dog to go in the same place. The longer it takes you to properly clean the accident spot, the stronger they will associate the spot with their potty spot.
#5 Upset Tummy
If you noticed that your potty trained pup is eating grass and pooping in the house. It’s likely they are dealing with indigestion problems. Gastric distress can be the cause of too much food, eating too fast, or the wrong food.
Like us, dogs can get an upset tummy that manifests symptoms that are similar to acid reflux, nausea, and heartburn. Stomach issues can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Solution
If your pup has an upset tummy, unfortunately, you’ll just have to wait it out and let nature do its work. Avoid feeding your pet for 12-24 hours, so you’re not making the problem worse. You may want to try a natural home remedy to help treat their indigestion such as; feeding your Pug canned pumpkin.
If your pup isn’t feeling better after 24 hours, you’ll want to consult with your veterinarian.
#6 Change In Diet
If your pooch has recent dietary changes, the pooping inside can be the result of it. Many pet owners make the mistake of changing to the new food too quickly, which doesn’t give their dog’s gut enough time to become acclimated.
This sudden change in your dog’s diet can give your dog diarrhea or loose stool which can make it hard for them to hold it until you’re able to take them outside.
Solution
When changing your Pug’s food, make sure you do it gradually. You’ll want to mix some of the old food with the new food over the course of a few weeks. This will help your dog’s digestive system become acclimated to the new food.
You’ll also be less likely to experience accidents in your home and your dog’s tummy won’t be upset.
#7 Separation Anxiety?
Is your Pug only pooping in the house when left alone? If so, then your pooch is likely dealing with a case of separation anxiety. When a dog is stressed, it can make it very hard for them to control their urge to defecate, which can cause the best well-behaved and trained dog to poop in the house.
It’s important to avoid punishing your dog when they defecate in the house. Your dog’s behavior is a part of a panic response and punishing your dog will only make the situation worse.
Solution
Don’t make a big deal out of arrivals and departures. When you get home or leave for the day, ignore your dog, and don’t act any differently. If they sense that you’re leaving, they can become stressed, which can cause all kinds of problems.
Once you realize what’s causing your dog’s anxiety, you’ll be able to fix it. You may have to consult a specialist to help treat your dog’s behavioral changes in a positive way, we recommend reading about do Pugs get separation anxiety?
#8 Fear?
Fear is a very common reason that dogs will poop inside. If you take your pup outside and they become fearful of a loud car backfire, smells other dogs that have frightened them in the past, or thunder, they’ll hold it until they get back in the comfort of the house.
While this is very uncommon, it can happen if your dog is not properly socialized.
Solution
Ensure you’re exposing your puppy to different life experiences to help them become comfortable with loud noises. If you’ve adopted a nervous dog, you may need to use pee pads, until she becomes comfortable peeing and pooping outside.
Give your Pug time to overcome her fears. If you don’t notice any changes, you may need to hire an expert trainer to help your dog get over her fears.
#9 Age
Unfortunately, as a dog ages, they have trouble controlling their bowels. This could be due to weakening muscles, or a mental condition known as canine cognitive dysfunction, which is a medical condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
Solution
If your well-trained senior Pug has started having accidents in the house, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They will be able to run diagnostic tests to determine if your pup is dealing with deeper medical issues.
Your veterinarian will be able to administer the appropriate treatment to help minimize symptoms and help your older dog live a happier life. Make sure you read this article to help you care for your senior Pug.
#10 Medical Problems
Many pet net pet owners think that their potty trained Pug pooping and urinating in the house is due to a behavioral issue. However, if your pup has suddenly started pooping in the house, it could actually be due to an underlying medical issue.
Solution
If your Pug continues to go potty in the house, right after you’ve let them outside, you should schedule a vet visit to help get to the bottom of it. The veterinarian will give your dog a thorough exam to help uncover whether your dog’s problem is a medical condition.
According to Fetch by Web MD, some of the underlying medical issues that can cause this problem is bowel cancer, parasites, food intolerances, muscular atrophy, viral infections, canine cognitive dysfunction, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Depending on the underlying cause, your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the right treatment that will help alleviate the problem.
What To Do If Your Pug Is Pooping In The House?
I know that it can be frustrating to find your potty trained dog pooping in the house. Before you try to correct or punish your dog, you need to figure out what’s causing it. You should also be aware of some of the common potty training problems you can face.
You can’t take action to stop a Pug from pooping in the house until you figure out what’s causing the problem. Your dog is not pooping in the house to upset you, they are likely trying to tell you something and as a pet owner, it’s your job to figure it out.
Final Word
Hopefully, these reasons will help you manage this problem and put a stop to it. Pugs can be trained like any other dog and if they are pooping inside, it’s likely something simple that can be fixed.
If you still can’t figure out what’s causing this problem, I recommend contacting your veterinarian.