When I first rescued Chester, a skinny little Chihuahua mix I found darting through the streets of Alameda, I quickly discovered one of the reasons he may have ended up homeless. Chester had a potty training issue—but not just any potty training issue. Chester had what I called a “secret poop” problem.
Each night, I’d take him and my other dogs out to the backyard for their bedtime potty break. While the others eagerly did their business, Chester would linger, sniffing aimlessly but never going. Then, as we all headed back inside and down the hallway toward the bedroom, Chester would mysteriously disappear. I’d call for him, only to be met with silence. My first thought was always the same—had I accidentally left him in the backyard? But each time I’d double back to check, he wasn’t there. Instead, as I wandered through the house looking for him, he’d eventually reappear by my side, his ears cupped back, his body tense, and his eyes filled with worry. And sure enough, somewhere in the house, Chester had stealthily left a hidden “surprise.”
It didn’t take long to piece together what was going on. Chester wasn’t just avoiding the cold or wet grass outside—he was avoiding being seen. His behavior strongly suggested a history of harsh punishment for pottying in the wrong place. The final clue? As soon as I found one of his secret poops and reached for the cleaning supplies, Chester would dance nervously around me, clearly expecting to be yelled at or even hit. His worried movements were a heartbreaking reminder of how physical corrections can create not just confusion, but deeply ingrained fear.
Chester’s story was particularly eye-opening for me because he was my first small dog. Before him, I’d only owned large dogs—Pit Bulls, Shepherds, Labs—so I had a lot of preconceived ideas about Chihuahuas. The stereotypes immediately came to mind as I realized I now had a Chihuahua that liked to poop in my house. It was easy to fall into the trap of thinking his behavior was simply part of “being a Chihuahua,” but the truth was far more complex. Chester wasn’t sneaky by nature; he was scared. His actions were a response to past experiences, not an inherent trait of his breed or size.
Chester’s story is one of many examples of how potty training issues can become more complex when fear or misunderstanding are part of the equation. A dog who has learned that going to the bathroom in front of people isn’t safe won’t simply respond to treats for going outside—instead, they may hide their accidents and refuse to go in front of you, making the problem even harder to address.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Has a Secret Poop Problem?
If your dog has a secret poop habit like Chester once did, the first step is to change their emotional association with the act of pooping. For Chester, who now has perfectly normal potty training habits five years later, this process began with an unexpected tool: the “You Pooped” song.
Dogs are incredibly sensitive to our emotional states, often reading our physical cues with astonishing accuracy. From the tone of our voice to subtle changes in body language, heart rate, or even the pheromones we emit, dogs are adept at picking up on how we feel. This ability is why dogs can be trained as emotional support or service animals—they perceive emotional shifts in ways we might not even realize.
In Chester’s case, this skill worked against him. He had developed a strong association between a human feeling upset and the likelihood of being physically punished. It wasn’t just the act of finding his poop that worried him; it was the emotional response he anticipated from me. Singing the “You Pooped” song wasn’t just about lightening the mood for Chester—it was also a way to ensure I didn’t let my own frustration creep into my tone or body language. This seemingly silly act helped me stay calm and consistent, preventing Chester from being triggered by my emotional responses.
Yes, it felt ridiculous at times to cheerfully sing while cleaning up after a sneaky poop and even more so to offer Chester treats afterward. But that was exactly what I needed to do to break his cycle of fear. The song itself was simple but effective.
🎶 Pooping is... a normal thing—we all go poop, and so do you. Who’s a good boy who went poo poo? Chester likes to do the sneaky poo. 🎶 🤦🏻♀️😂
This routine might seem over-the-top, but it was critical for rebuilding trust and reconditioning Chester’s responses. Clearly, someone in Chester’s past had been deeply frustrated with his potty habits, resorting to punishment that only made the problem worse. My job was to undo that damage and show him that accidents weren’t a cause for fear.
You might wonder, “How will I ever get my dog to poop outside if I give them treats after they have had accidents indoors?” The answer lies in the bigger picture. For a dog terrified to poop in front of people, the first step is making it safe. If your dog fears you seeing them poop, they’ll never feel comfortable going in an appropriate spot in front of you.
Sometimes, feeding your dog treats after they went poop in the house can be the key to solving a complicated potty training issue. 🤯
Encouraging Your Dog to Poop on a Leash
The next step in helping Chester was to create new opportunities for him to feel safe pooping in my presence—but in a completely different context. It became clear that his previous potty training didn’t involve leashed walks, so I started taking him on longer walks, giving him the time and space to feel comfortable. Eventually, the longer walks worked, and he would poop while on leash. This allowed me to generously reward him with treats right after he finished.
This process was pivotal. By rewarding him in a new environment, Chester began to understand that it was safe to poop in front of me, even though it initially had to be in a context far removed from the house. Over time, this helped rewire his associations, setting the stage for successful potty training in more familiar settings.
Managing the "Poop Ninja" Problem
Effective management became a crucial part of solving Chester’s secret poop habit. He was, in every sense, a “poop ninja,” vanishing without a sound and completing his mission before I even realized he was gone. Trying to catch him in the act was impossible, so I had to shift my focus to being proactive instead of reactive.
I began by identifying the times and triggers that were most likely to prompt a sneaky poo. Just as you might potty train a puppy by taking them outside after waking up, eating, or playing, I had to consider when Chester might need to relieve himself—and recognize those moments as high-risk for a secret poop.
If we went into the backyard for a last potty break and he didn’t go, I made sure to reward him for sticking with me when we came back inside, using treats to reinforce staying close rather than wandering off. Even a brief glance away could result in him disappearing like a magician. When I was certain he still needed to go, I’d take him on a leashed walk to encourage him to finish his business in the right context.
Over time, I became better at predicting his patterns, allowing me to intervene before a sneaky poop could happen. This proactive approach helped reduce his opportunities for mistakes while also reinforcing positive behaviors that built his confidence and trust.
The Turning Point: Building Confidence and Reinforcing Positive Behavior
After weeks of consistent management and reinforcing positive associations, the breakthrough finally came. One day, Chester pooped in the backyard while I stood about 15 feet away. I kept calm and didn’t make a big deal of it in the moment, but as soon as he finished, we celebrated with a big, joyful party and lots of treats. That moment marked a significant shift in Chester’s mindset—he began to understand that it was not only safe to poop in front of me but that doing so would result in rewards and a happy human.
From that point forward, I was able to focus on reinforcing him for going potty in appropriate locations. This was a game-changer. Normal potty training habits began to take shape as I established a consistent schedule, taking him outside regularly and rewarding him generously for doing his business in the right places.
This marked the beginning of the end for Chester’s sneaky pooping habits. He learned that pooping in the correct spot didn’t just avoid punishment—it brought good things his way. Over time, his fear-based behavior gave way to confidence and clarity about where and when to go, setting the stage for a lifetime of successful potty training.
Overcoming the Sneaky Poop Situation
So that’s the simple—but surprisingly complicated—story of how I helped my Chihuahua mix, Chester, overcome his habit of secretly pooping in the house. To summarize: I celebrated finding secret poops with a cheerful song and treats, introduced safe opportunities for him to poop on walks, and generously rewarded him for any progress. Once he began feeling comfortable pooping in the backyard in front of me, I reinforced that behavior consistently. Along the way, I carefully managed his environment to prevent sneaky poops, paying close attention to triggers that might prompt them. These combined efforts ultimately solved Chester’s sneaky poop problem.
Now, is the sneaky poop situation completely behind us? Not quite. About once a year—on the first rainy day after summer—Chester reverts to his old habit and performs the poop ninja routine one time. He’s not a fan of the rain, and if I’m not on top of managing that first rainy day, I’ll inevitably find a surprise in the house. But it’s not a big deal. I clean it up, laugh about it, and get him right back on track. Sometimes, our dogs have quirks, and we learn to accept them for who they are. Ultimately, I’m proud of how far Chester has come. His story is a reminder that potty training isn’t always the straightforward process it’s made out to be—it can involve complex emotions, histories, and behaviors.
In the next blog, I'll explore other complicated potty training issues, like dogs who eat their own poop, those who pee or poop in their crate and seem indifferent to staying clean, dogs with compulsive marking behaviors, and dogs whose potty accidents are part of larger anxiety-driven compulsive patterns. These challenging scenarios may require extra care, creativity, and patience, but with the right approach, even the most complex cases can improve.
Who knew potty training could be so complex? While many assume it's as simple as taking your dog outside when they need to go and rewarding them with a treat, the reality is often far more nuanced. From emotional trauma and anxiety to compulsive behaviors and deeply ingrained habits, these complicated cases require us to think outside the box and truly understand the root of the problem. And if I'm being honest? These are the cases I love most. There's something incredibly rewarding about helping a dog overcome these complex challenges and watching their confidence grow in the process.
Are you struggling with a complicated potty training issue? Sometimes the standard advice just isn't enough, and you need someone who understands the deeper complexities of canine behavior to help you piece together the puzzle. Whether your dog is showing fear-based potty habits like Chester, marking compulsively, or displaying other challenging bathroom behaviors, I'm here to help. Let's work together to understand what's really going on with your dog and create a tailored plan that addresses the root cause of their potty problems. Click here to schedule a consultation, and we can talk through your specific situation.
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