Pooping in Her Cage Dear Trainer, Hi, I've got a big problem. My 8 month old boxer will not stop pooping in her cage. We have two dogs, a 7 month old Golden Retreiver and the 8 month old Boxer. Both Female. The Golden Retreiver is completely house-broken, was since after the first week we got her. The Boxer however keeps pooping and peeing (mostly pooping) in her cage. We started them off in seperate cages, in different rooms of the house. We had the boxers cage too large when we first started training her. Since then we have tried making it small (so that she just has room to stand/laydown) - that does not work. We have soaked it multiple times in Nature's Way and w/ White Vinegar - she still continues to go in there. Next we tried putting the Golden and Boxer in the same large cage and that worked for about a month she had no accidents. Now in the last 3 days she's started going in there. We're going to move her back to her own cage because I do not want my other dog to be subjected to that. I am at a loss as to what to do next. The Boxer has only had one accident in the house in the past 4 months - I had just taken her out to potty outside, she peed and pooped out there like normal and then 5 minutes later she pooped in the house ? We feed them both Iams large breed puppy 2x daily. Once in the morning (6:00), and once when we get home from work (4:30), about 3-4 hand fulls each. My finance goes home for lunch and lets them out in the afternoon around 12-2ish so they are only in their kennels max of 4 hours at a time. She rarely messes her cage during the day anymore, it's mostly at night. For example last night we took her out at midnight and she pooped, we woke up at 6am and she had went in her cage again. I cleaned it with Nature's Way and Vinegar and then went back to bed and she pooped again in there before I got up at 10. I am at a complete loss. She doesn't care about messing her bed like most dogs, she will eat it, step in it, lay in it, etc. Please help!!!!! Hi ... I worked with a male boxer with similar problems. We changed his food and were able to correct the problem. I also worked with a lab pup with similar problems. I recommended him to be checked out by a vet -- turns out he had a stomach virus. So my first thought is to have your boxer checked completely by a vet. I don't know for sure, but the boxers I have dealt with seem to have sensitive stomachs. I would try a low protein diet. It also sounds as she is not completely eliminating. You might have to take her out, let her go, bring her back inside for 10 minutes then back out. Also, refrain from giving her any treats as they can cause more bowel movements. Good luck, and keep me posted, Lisa Bark & Browse

Ask the Trainer Past Columns Group Training Graduates Potty Troubles Submissive Puppy Stubborn Shih Tzu Pug Fights Trouble with Boxer Multiple Troubles Paper Trained ??? Aggressive Dog Pooping in the House Chewing Golden Housebreaking Cujo at Bedtime Socializing with Dogs Pooping in her Cage Violent Streak Fear of Lightning Lab Snaps at Kids Canine Marking Fighting Dogs Barking Chihuahua Trouble Grooming Shitzu Barking Trouble EMAIL YOUR QUESTION FREE PET ID TAG when you bring in your new pet adoption papers!