Rat Terrier potty issue...how to prevent or stop this from happening?
My best friend has a 6 year old Rat Terrier, who is fully potty trained. Never had an issue with that. She also has a 5 month old son.
They also have a diaper genie.
And she has noticed the Rat Terrier...Ricky has been sniffing around the diaper genie for some time now. 3 weeks ago he started pooping by it, and now he is peeing on it.
Obviously the dog smells the dirty diapers and she said he is doing this about 3-4 times a day.
Well here is my concern I have a baby and we have a diaper genie and our poodle is starting to sniff at it, after being around this other dog. Should I be concerned that he is going to do the same thing? And how to prevent it? I shoo him away every time he goes near it.
Also how to correct the behavior of a dog that is already doing it?
(Both dogs are males by the way if that has anything to do with it, my female dog could care less and my friends female is a cat so it doesn't apply)
Thanks
Update:By the way I do feel she shouldn't be letting the dog in her babys room.
Our baby however shares a room with us and her changer and diaper genie is in our family room, so its unavoidable that the dogs are around it
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Dogs recognize the "bathroom" area by the smell, and males are more likely to mark over another scent than females (although I have had some females who would do it, too.)
I would put the Diaper Genie somewhere he cant get to it - like in the closet, or behind a baby gate.
IMO better to avoid the behavior completely, than have to try to correct it once it starts. :o)
It sounds almost like a territorial thing. Dogs use droppings as ways to mark their territory, and it could be that they're smelling the baby's droppings and equating it to a challenge to their territory (I think males are more likely to be finicky about their territory, so that might explain why it's only the males who are doing it). I would keep an eye on your poodle and do your best to keep the diaper genie where he can't reach it, or block his access to the room with the diaper genie in it. Shut the door, put up a baby gate, etc.