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Acting out or something more serious?

2K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  sdhawan601 
#1 · (Edited)
Haven't posted on here in a while... hoping you can help me with my boxer. I'm pretty sure this sounds like acting out behavior but want to rule out anything more serious...

We have had our dog Kiefer for over 7 years. He was 1 when we first rescued him and he was our only child for a good 5 years.

About a couple months ago just before having our 2nd daughter, he started having diarrhea on the floor. I quickly switched him from the costco dog food to a bland diet, called Kirkland to complain and promptly switched dog foods. We now have him on Blue Buffalo Grain Free Lamb dry dog food. He seems to do fine on this food.

Now for the most part my wife is home taking care of a newborn but if she goes out even for 20 min, he poops and pees on the floor. Previously I would walk him first thing in the A.M before 7am and my wife would walk him around 4 when she got home for work. He had no accidents.

I'm assuming he is feeling neglected with a new baby in the family and needs more of our attention, since our attention seems to be primarily allocated to our human children at the moment. Any attention is good even if we are yelling at him for pooping?

Is this text-book acting out behavior? What would you do in our case?
 
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#3 ·
I take my Boxers out every 3 - 5 hrs. Any longer and they have accidents. They are 5 and 2.

At 7, Keifer can't hold it that long. He needs a potty break in between 6 something and 4pm.

The baby thing and his issue I would guess are unrelated. It's his age.
 
#4 ·
I would say health check is in order, if that checks out your going to have to put time in with him exercise same place safe for him to run ... no Dog Parks and walks.

That much pretty much is just basic Dog 101 and then if he all is sound??

Train Place and Do Sit on the Dog, the dog will earn to "Chill," if he gets under foot with the "Baby" you say "Place." :)

Aww I see ... Poos and Pees, when she goes out! yeah that does sound like acting out! I'm still good with my advice but Crate training should solve "that" also! :)

As always ask questions. :)
 
#5 ·
I'll chime in for the health check as well.
A good check up including a fecal, urinalysis and some blood work.
At his age you really need to rule out anything medical before assuming he's acting out.
Hope everything is ok.

:)
 
#6 ·
I'm no expert, and I would consult a vetcas well, but the fact that he both pees AND poops, ad only when left alone seems very acting-out like to me.
Also, I will say I work at a daycare/boarding facility, and diarrhea is a VERY common symptom of even mild stress, even though our dogs are well taken care of and as happy as we is reasonable being away from their people, about 1/3 exhibit diarrhea when boarding. Do that may explain the diarrhea. Just an idea.
 
#7 ·
I'm no expert, and I would consult a vetcas well, but the fact that he both pees AND poops, ad only when left alone seems very acting-out like to me.
Yes ... I caught that at the last second myself!
I'll add if it's not medical "Training calmness into the dog is the way to go!"

Also, I will say I work at a daycare/boarding facility, and diarrhea is a VERY common symptom of even mild stress, even though our dogs are well taken care of and as happy as we is reasonable being away from their people, about 1/3 exhibit diarrhea when boarding. Do that may explain the diarrhea. Just an idea.
Chicken and boiled rice time "here" maybe??
 
#8 ·
Boxers do get insecure and specially in your case what I read, he was well taken care for 5 years, and has suddenly started poop/pee when your wife goes out.
We had a similar case with ours of insecurity when my wife goes out even for 15 minutes and he used to create a mess. We had to re-assure that we are coming back slowly by training. It took some time to figure out but he got it.

if he is not creating a mess when you /wife are at home. Than the issues is more of insecurity which needs to be corrected. All the best.
 
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