I am tired of my dog stepping on his on poop when he goes outside, it makes me want to just strangle him. He barges inside and with the feces all over his paws, he then runs around all over the carpet and makes a mess on the floor too. Do dogs have feeling senses on their paws? My dog is almost 12 years old, and he is a chocolate lab.
12 Answers
Certain labs are like the dumb jocks of the dog world. It is important that you pick up the poop with a pooper scooper very regularly. You can hire services to do this for you. For now, keep some baby wipes by the door and wipe down his feet if you can before he comes inside and runs all over your floor. He’s just concentrating on running around like the active dog he was bred to be. He doesn’t understand that the old poop is not just part of the ground.
Yes, dogs have some sensitivity in their paws and most dogs try to avoid it just like we do but if he’s had to step in it often enough he’s learned not to care anymore. And a 12 year old dog’s vision isn’t as sharp as it once was so give the poor old guy a break.
Go outside and clean up the feces. Regularly. Then you won’t have to worry about a mess or be ridiculously angry with your dog over something that’s entirely preventable and your own lazy fault.
Most communities have an ordinance mandating regular cleanup of pet waste to prevent disease and unsanitary conditions. Responsible owners pick up regularly after their dogs so their yard and public property stays clean and nobody, dog or person, has to try to dodge poop piles or suffer the stink and flies.
Most dogs would rather not step in their poop, but if there is a lot of it around then he will get used to it. Why are you getting upset about it now, after 12 years? Or, is he just starting to step in his poop? He may not be seeing it or he may not be able to avoid it. He isn’t as athletic as he used to be and if there are multiple landmines to avoid he may not be able to do it anymore. He’s put up with you for more than a decade so do something good for him. Get out there daily and clean the yard. The old guy needs more care, not anger.
my dog doesn’t like going out side when it is raining the yard is wet or snowy. Someone told me it is because it can be hurt full to there paws especially if they are dry cause the wetness can crack them and if the don’t like baths it could remind them of that as well and the fact that some dogs don’t like being dirty. Plus the fact that it makes there paws all sawgy and most dogs don’t like that either that is why wolves sleep in caves and a lot of times you won’t see them out in the rain and stuff you just have to anytime they go in the house put them outside and make them stay there for five minutes. it worked for us my dog doesn’t go in the house anymore hope it helps you. Oh and don’t waste your money on doggy shoes most dogs don’t like them and they end up comming off plus they are a hassle to put on them. but in cold weather the doggy sweaters are really nice.
Its actually amazing how uncoordinated our dogs can be with their back feet, especially younger dogs and older dogs who have a compromised mobility. If you were to set up a hurdle type jump at your dogs elbows and get him to jump over, you’ll notice that most dogs clear it with their front feet but completely miss on their back legs. Some dogs have no problem, but others do. Meaning, that when your dog poops then he’s playing outside, he avoids the pile with his front half, but has no control over his back half. Dogs do have feeling in all four feet, but for them, stepping in poop is not nearly as gross as it is for us. To them, poop feels no different than mud, and they will treat it as such.
My dog did this for a while, simply because he had no room to take care of business then play without mixing the two. I used to keep a slip lead at my door, and catch him on a rug right inside the door and check him before he ran to play (using the slip lead like a nuice of sorts as he charged through the back door. He would have no choice but to get stuck in the lead.) Not a bad idea to take him out there supervised and clean up the mess as it happens, or make routine clean ups during the week. Make sure any toys he has out there, and any play time you have with him, is in areas clear of his “landmines” as this can help him steer away from those areas in his own play. There really is no way to teach him not to step in it: it’s all on you to make sure he doesn’t have a chance to step in it, or that he doesnt get a chance to bolt inside and get it on the carpet.
The reason why your dog steps in the poop is important. I took a class on this last year. It was fascinating! The paw can feel the poop! It slides through the toes and feel soothing to the dog’s fur! It is like a relaxing day in the meadows to them! Glad I could help! -Dr. Ashton
dog trainer 30 plus years –
I have to agree with the first answer given. Love, although dogs can feel with the pads of their feet their “clean sense” is not there…they just don’t care about stepping in their own poo…or other poo for that matter. If you just take a baggie out with you when you take your dogs out and grab the poo with your hand inside the bad then turn the bag inside out so it covers the poo, it makes clean up fast and easy. So to ease your frustration with your dog just take the bag out with you and clean it up as he goes that way there won’t be any for him to step in.
Maybe he just doesn’t care. Try picking up after it more often and it won’t have the chance to step in it.
My dog will not go near the place where she just pooed. She will “tiptoe” around it or jump right over it. She doesn’t like to go in the same place all the time and she doesn’t like to go where other dogs have gone….she’s a bit picky but I can’t say I blame her.
Dogstep
easy way to solve this is PICK THE POOP UP WHEN HE GOES then he won’t be stepping in his poop and carrying in through the house.