Interesting Dog Problem

danger · 12-30-2003, 07:11 AM

I have been a little shy to put this on the board, but now it is out of hand...Everytime I take my dog duck hunting she takes a big fat dump in the back of my truck and I have no clue why. For example, we went out to Sauvies last week which is about a 40min drive. Halfway there I stop at a grassy spot and let her out hoping she will drop the bomb there...no dice, put her back in the truck and upon arrival in line we've got a winner.

The odd thing is that this has been an ongoing problem with her in my fathers truck(no canopy), but only recently has she started doing it in my NEW truck. I used to have one with a canopy and she never did it in that pu, now I don't have a canopy and it happens every trip.

Please help a guy out.

Dan(ger)

Mello-Yello · 12-30-2003, 07:18 AM

You're not alone danger. Every dog I've ever had has done this, including my 4 mo old lab.

I always thought perhaps the dog was just preparing itself for arrival, so it wouldn't have to waste any time once he hits the ground. :shocked:

I'll be interested to hear what folks have to say too.

Norm · 12-30-2003, 07:50 AM

I had freind with a lab that did the same thing. He would even sit on it to hide it so he wouldn't get into trouble [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] . I wonder if it's the exitment of the blowing fresh air

, or just a lab thing.

DriftR · 12-30-2003, 08:48 AM

My lab never did anything like that in her 14 + years. She traveled with me everywhere. I mean in my trucks, cars, motorhome and boat. I always made it a point to allow her plenty of time to do her thing prior to going anywhere. Never, I mean never rush a dog, they will not learn. Just take a bit longer before you leave. Once they get used to the fact that they have to "GO" prior to going in the rig they learn fast. Once I get to the location (if it's a short trip) on a leash she went and out to do her thing. If it was a long trip just stopped and played some tennis ball games or tug of war with a towel and she knew the drill. Just take time with your pet and don't rush them, give them plenty of praise and ear rubs and they will be the best buddy ever. Man, I miss my dog every time I open my pickup door. Had to have her put down back in Feb. and it is still hard thinking of her.

danger · 12-30-2003, 09:53 AM

Drifter,

Sorry to hear about your loss, and I also have had two other labs without this problem. As far as giving her time to go, she is an outside dog. She has all night and all usually 30 minutes before we leave to go...and sometimes she does. Regardless the problem remains.

Washington Hunter · 12-30-2003, 10:40 AM

My question would be when do you feed her? If you feed her in the morning before you leave for hunting, that could be the problem. I try not to feed my dogs anything in the morning before a hunt. I will give them extra the evening before, if I plan on hunting them all day. If just going for half a day or less, I would just feed them when I get home or back to the campground/motel. It is not good for a dog to hunt on a full stomach anyway. Another thing...does your dog just ride loose in the back of your pickup? If so, maybe the use of a plastic dog crate would eliminate the problem.

danger · 12-30-2003, 10:51 AM

She gets fed always the night before and she has gotten the same feed since she was a puppy. Yes she rides loose and I think the dog crate would work, but I was hoping not to have to go there.

Mello-Yello · 12-30-2003, 10:56 AM

With my dogs it's just some sort of phenomenon. Even if they pooped before leaving, they'd find a way to leave at least some sort of surprise.

My theory would be it's derived from the excitement of going, but again, that's just a factless theory.

I think WH just hit on a positive thought though. Kennel training is a great way to house-break the dog, so why wouldn't that also work for travelling (not to mention it's the safest way to transport). I have a short chain attached to the front/center of the pickup bed that my dog gets attached to (always). It's only long enough for him to stick his head over the edge, but not his shoulders.

James in Idaho · 12-30-2003, 12:27 PM

Why in the world would you NOT crate your dog? That's the safest place for your dog, which btw, become flying objects in a crash. My dogs are crate trained from the day they get to my house, and I have yet to have a healthy one crap in a crate (including the 10 week old puppy at home right now). In a crate your dog is much less likely to bite someone, jump out at 50 mph, run off after a sweet smelling lady and on and on. And I won't have to see his dead body on the side of the road.

FishinTechnician · 12-30-2003, 01:40 PM

This is a old trick that my wife observed while working for a vet many years ago. If you are really desperate and nothingelse works take a paper match (unlit!!!!) and stick it in the dog's anus. The sulphur will cause a slight discomfort and force the dog to defecate. Pretty drastic but it works! I think a lot of show dog owners use this technique so they don't have any surprises in the show ring. Personally, I haven't had your problem with any of my dogs and never had to resort to the technique. More importantly I do not feed my dog on the morning of a hunt because I don't want them working on a full stomach. By all means start using a dog crate.

Chukrchaser · 12-30-2003, 08:06 PM

Some dogs are just more excitable than others or have less control -- just like people -- so they loose focus during the trip while they are wandering around loose in the back of the truck --
The real question is why the dog is loose in the back of the truck

-- but I won't go there or the Mod squad will be called in to play.

But I will say that if the dog was safe and secure in a crate you probably wouldn't have the problem.

suckerfish · 12-30-2003, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Why in the world would you NOT crate your dog? That's the safest place for your dog, which btw, become flying objects in a crash. My dogs are crate trained from the day they get to my house, and I have yet to have a healthy one crap in a crate (including the 10 week old puppy at home right now). In a crate your dog is much less likely to bite someone, jump out at 50 mph, run off after a sweet smelling lady and on and on. And I won't have to see his dead body on the side of the road.

rockn'reel · 12-30-2003, 10:54 PM

I have talked to a few trainers about the whole #2 issue (though it was not referring to the back of my truck). They told me it sometimes stems from stress. My lab doesn't do it in the back of my truck but he tries--and is very sucessful--at dropping the bomb several times within a half hour time frame when we get out hunting. Keep in mind this happens the first few times at the start of the year until he becomes accustomed to the hunting trips. The guys I did talk to said this is a normal stress response. I would think your dog might also consider the back of the truck stressful especially without a canopy. I would try to ride in the back with him/her and see if this alleviates any of the problems (just being in the back might comfort the dog a bit). I wouldn't try to stop the feeding of your dog the night before or anything like that because they need the nutrients for that next day of hunting. Besides, I think it takes the dog a period of 24-48 hrs to get out of its system whatever it ate. Just a thought for you, I would hate to see your dog have other problems (lack of energy, dehydration, etc.) from changing up their feeding schedule. Dogs burn through a lot energy on a noraml hunt and the days prior are the time to be giving them the best nutrition to get them in peak fitness (similar to how a distance runner carb loads a day or two before the big race).

Keep in mind there is no sure-fire way to tell how a dog is feeling, they cannot show emotions like we do so they display them in other ways. An example of normal dog behavior is dominance. I am pretty sure none of us go around asserting our dominance on our fellow man by growling or trying to hump them (at least I hope we don't) :grin: . I hope this helps you out and if not just e-mail me and I can see if I can get a little extra info from my buddy who trains dogs.

Washington Hunter · 12-30-2003, 11:09 PM

Well the only other solution I can think of is don’t feed her the night before either. If nothing goes in one end, nothing will come out the other end! But I still think a crate is the way to go, it's much safer and more comfortable for the dog.

[ 12-30-2003, 12:10 PM: Message edited by: Washington Hunter ]

billc_sbio · 12-30-2003, 11:24 PM

I'm guessing this, like most dog things, is a conditioned response.

It got started (somehow) and now it's "just the way things are".

I'd think it's going to be pretty difficult to break this, now that it's established. The dog has just established his "spot"... and it happens to be in the back of your truck! [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

The crate idea is ALWAYS a good idea for any valuable hunting dog. The only other valuable dogs that I know of that do not regularly ride in crates in trucks are cowboy's and sheepherder's border collies. But that's just how they raise and train 'em.

One other thing. I know different folks have different ideas on this. I've had friends who were houndsmen and they ONLY feed their dogs at night. They "empty out" in the morning before they get to course, and they don't want anything in their stomachs! However I always like to feed my hunting dogs, especially my retrievers, a small meal early in the morning. For the most part they sit there...not running, and mostly swimming for their retrieves. Most of the time, the dog is just shivering if it's cold. So I believe that a small amount of food is good for the dog to have as it raises their blood sugar level along with their energy...something you want them to have.

In fact, if it's a very cold day, or we're going to be out hunting all day long I take along a couple of extra dog bisquits or even some packaged "doggy burgers", and occasionally give them something to boost their energy level.

The main thing is to not have a large amount of food in their stomach at any one time when they're active.

k9jeff · 12-31-2003, 02:43 AM

Its stress...
Crate the dog,,
before you leave home, play with the dog for a few minutes, ball, tug o war or whatever excites the tar out of it.
Try that long enough to get the desired results. Also, break it down, is it stressed because of the truck ride, or because your going hunting??? Take the dog for frequent rides in the truck without going hunting. A crate should help.

K9

Beer Waggin · 12-31-2003, 04:19 PM

I'd do the crate thing too. If not for the dumping issues then at least do it for the safety issues.

I must say, you had myself and three others falling out of our chairs here in the office. I know it's not a funny issue, but I could hardly read it to them becasue of the laughter.

Mello-Yello · 12-31-2003, 04:42 PM

I dunno, you guys say what you want. I think it's a show of love. I mean, how does a dog get someone special a gift? They got no money. They aren't allowed in stores by themselves. C'mon...what else could it be. You guys with the dogs that don't poop in yer truck are just jealous... :grin:

steelheadslayer · 12-31-2003, 04:45 PM

Dan, I've had my dogs in the crate since the day they came home from the breeder. The only time I had one defecate in the crate was when she got sick and then it was coming out both ends. I agree with other posts about it being the safest place for the dog. Besides, it'll protect those expensive rods if you ever take her fishing. :grin: