My dog has just developed a very annoying habit of using my pergola area as a toilet! It is extremely offensive to me, as he will even do his business right outside the back door. He has full access to the backyard, as there is no fencing around the concreted area, so I know its not because he cant get out there.

Ive tried growling at him, scolding him, showing it to him and growling, but he still doesnt get it. (This is why he is an outside dog anyway, as he refused to learn how to be toilet trained inside the house) Does anyone have an ideas on how I can stop this terrible behaviour?
He is a Staffordshire Terrier by the way

1st... is this a new behavior? Take him to the vet to make sure everything is ok... then...
this is what I did
I broke my dog of inappropriate toilet use with a wooden paddle.. I spanked him till his little fanny glowed red...all the while holding his nose in his mess... he Never went in the house again...ever... he lived to be 17 years old.

He loves you and wants to be near you and is lonely. Walk out in the yard with him on frequent occasions and he will go far away where you walk.

A squirt from the water hose just as he is starting to do his business might help.

Some animals will do this to get attention just like children do :roll: Is it cooler up by the house? Are there other shady areas he can go to in the yard? :D:D:D

Every outdoor dog I've known has done it. I don't know the dog logic behind it. Have you tried finding him another home? Or, you could build a large kennel for the times when he is unattended.

The only thing I've ever seen work is *daily* walks. Either one long one or one morning and one evening.

My husband used to lob apples or lemons at our dog whenever he caught her going where she shouldn't. lol, it worked, and she doesn't poop around the apple or lemon trees either.

Hi,

Having been a Staffie owner, I guess that he is not treating you as the alpha dog of his pack and is therefore ignoring you. the male Staffie can be very dominant.

Without knowing more about his behaviour it is difficult to make suggestions, but it does sound as if he needs training classes and/or a dog behavourist.

Thanks for all the suggestions.....

He does go for a daily walk.
He has plenty of trees for shade, and if anything, its warmer under ther pergola as it doesnt get the breeze.
He has a large kennel, and lots of blankets, and bones and toys you name it hes got it.
He doesnt do it when I am around, nor when I am awake, its like he knows he shouldnt be doing it, but still does.
I dont thing its a medical problem, as he does the number ones and twos there.
He gets plenty of attention when i come home from work, we play fetch, go for our walk, he gets brushed, and I am in and out all even ing beforeI go to bed, and he gets a bedtime biscuit.
The paddle might work, or a rolled up newspaper, because its like he knows he should not be doing it, but still does, just like when he decides to have a barking fit in the middle of the night. He sees me open the curtain, and he scuttles straight into his kennel, not to be heard from again.
Any other ideas?

I feel for you! I rescued a beagle puppy that had never been out of a gage :( We spent 8 months trying everything we could think of to housebreak her. Puppy papers. Walks. Sprays. We have a Jack Russell that never has accidents and we have a doggie door to the outside open all the time!!!! She was going to have to go to another home and as a last ditch effort I sent her to boarding school for a month. She lived in their house with 5 of the biggest labs I have ever seen .They won all kinds of ribbons and awards! I was so nervous she would fall back into bad habits since the trainer said she was most difficult to train. She came back and has never had another accident for 2 years! She also got manners and learned to walk on a leash along with tricks and obedience commands. It was expensive but worht every penny to be able to keep her.