Hallway Toileting

[benji]

Dear All,

Benji's been such a sweetheart that it's been a long time since I've needed to post a question!!

At 1 years old next month he's been 99% house trained for some time now.
However, this morning I've come down from the shower and he's done a huge steaming poop on my brand new flooring in the hallway!!!!
I should note that this is where he used to go as a puppy overnight (with paper down of course lol) so is where he goes if desperate (even though I'd let him out 5 minutes beforehand grrr).  Having said that I can't remember the last time he had an accident so I'm surprised.

Anyway, my question is how do we reinforce that this is not a good place to go even if we miss the actual incident??
I'm aware that I shouldn't reprimand him afterwards if we miss him doing it so what can we do? We always tell him he's a good boy when he does it outside...

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated to finish off his toilet training!

Thanks,
Karen

[caro]

Make sure that you disinfect the area really well as I think the smell makes them think its ok, although it being a new floor makes it unlikely there was any smell.  It is strange.  Other than that I think you need to wait until he does it again and hopefully you will catch him doing it and you can say NO and take him outside - it may have been a one off?  Can you put a small piece of furniture in the place that he used to go?

[bonnie blue]

Hi they are so funny when we trained  Maisie she went on the patio and we swilled it off with hose and disinfectant ~for about a year even after walkies she would hold her poop and do it on patio when she got home and nowhere else !Its as if it is so drummed into them they have got to do it there !Don't know what to suggest really its annoying it may have been a flash back or adolescent moment he may never do it again!

[cazza]

I would praise and treat everytime he does a poo outside for the time being to re inforce that he is doing it in the right place 

had you fed him put him out he had wee and then went and had your shower? Just a thought as with Fern if I've fed her then, in her case, approx 45min later she does / wants a poo. Just a thought if you could keep a note of when you feed and how long after he does his business for a few weeks you could find a pattern which would help plan and you can adjust feeding times or shower times etc

[harveysmum]

Do you think he could be scent marking your new floor? my last cocker spaniel used to do this sometimes if he couldn't smell himself on something new in the house he would wee on it and then he seemed quite happy to leave it alone after that

Michelle