u/Efficient_Skirt3070

Hi everyone!

I recently got a puppy last sunday and we have already gotten him to realize that going potty outside is the right thing to do! He just turned 6 months old on monday, a mini australian shepherd.

He already has certain spots outside that he likes to go, so every time we take him out we lead him to those spots first thing. He has no issue going pee outside, but when it comes to pooping, he refuses!!

It’s confusing to me because he had no issue going outside and in his normal spot the entire first week we had him, but now when we tell him to go he looks at us and lays down, almost like he’s rebelling. I usually take this as a sign that he doesn’t have to go, but he does it almost every time up until the point I have to leave for work.

Yesterday I took him outside at least 20 times between 8 am and 2 pm before I had to go to work, and he still waited until I was gone to go poop in his crate. I only work a two hour shift so I am literally gone for about 3-3 1/2 hours. So within that time frame he went in his crate after being outside at least 5 times each hour before I left.

I have noticed him becoming way more comfortable around us, not sure if he’s testing boundaries or not. I never get angry at him, because I assume he is just confused, but it is a little frustrating taking so much time out of the day to take him outside and seeing little reward.

I’m not sure where to go from here. I don’t want to force him to go if he doesn’t have to, but I also don’t want him to keep having poop accidents in the house.

(I apologize if this post should be under the potty training category, I wasn’t sure which one to click)

Thank you in advance for any advice or ideas, they will be MUCH appreciated.

Hi everyone!

I’m not sure if this is allowed or not but I am seeking advice on my 6 month old puppy! I took him to the vet May 5th and they asked me to bring back a stool sample on may 22nd, after i voiced concerns about his poop being soft and often containing a little bit of blood. They gave him another deworming medicine, thinking he had tapeworms instead of the ones he was originally treated for. I’m not sure if the deworming pill could be causing his bloody, soft stool or if it’s something like Parvo, which I should be highly concerned about.

He has no other symptoms of Parvo, still eating about 2 1/2 cups of food a day, drinking water, going outside, playing, training, absolutely no vomiting or lethargy, and interested in almost everything I do, getting up and following me everywhere I go.

Should i be concerned?

He is a mini australian shepherd, 9 lbs, male, not neutered.
he’s had soft stool since we got him, and i always noticed some blood in his stool but just thought it was from deworming. again, he has never vomited since we have brought him home.