[hackettblue]

Hi everyone, and help please?
Suzi came to use over a year ago after the elderly lady that had her couldn't look after her anymore. We got her via a rescue place and the understanding seemed to be that she had been used solely for breeding.
She settled in really well, a bit timid at first but now seems very happy and has attached to me like a second skin - according to hubby!
She has always, whilst we've had her anyway, had 'accidents' overnight when her routine has been upset ie, after being in kennels, first night home there's always an accident. Other than that she's been fantastic.
She's about 7 according to vet but this last month she has pooped nearly every flipping night, I have been getting up at 5.30 and leaving the conservatory door open for her to go out when she needs to but some mornings there's a parcel waiting for me at that time and to be honest I can't keep getting up at this time much longer, I'm knackered!
So, any tips/solutions would be gratefully received. I have read quite a bit and getting a cage type thing is suggested by a lot of people, BUT don't know why I'm not really keen on that idea and if it doesn't work I'm no further forward.
Taking her for her booster injections in a weeks' time and will speak to vet then but thought someone on here might be able to help. Will be spraying kitchen floor with vinegar tonight in the hope it will put her off!

[Garlic]

I would avoid spraying the floor with vinegar for now until you know why she is doing it.

Have you changed her feeding times or is she sleeping in a different area of the house?

My 18 month old GSD has been toilet trained since around 12 weeks old and she will go from 11pm to around 9am without needing the toilet.

However, if we stay at our holiday home, she wakes us at around 4am and if we don't toilet her she will do it on the carpet even though we keep her food and walk times the same.

[Normandie]

When's her last feed? If she's on one feed a day, try changing it to two or even three and make the last one no later than 6pm. Then take her out for a walk as late as you can and you may find she lasts through.

But there are the usual things like - has her diet changed, has she been wormed regularly but also... is she spayed? If not, speak to the vet as a change in lavatory habits may indicate (only may) unwanted changes internally.

If you do go the cage route (and there's nothing wrong with it, used correctly) read up on it first because the dog needs to feel it is a good place to be, one that it happily chooses to go to itself, and cages should never be used as punishment.

[hackettblue]

Good news all round - for the time being anyway - did go down the spraying a little bit of vinegar route but also ensured that no-one in the house gives her anything to eat except her regular 2 meals a day at 7.30 and 4 pm and she hasn't pooped all week - result I hope. Feel that probably her digestion just cannot take anything 'unusual' and she's going to have to be shut out of the room when food is around just so she doesn't get given any little 'treats' - thanks for your input