Need to know how to stop your dog pooping in the garage? Maybe you also want to get rid of that awful scent, and you’re looking for information on how to keep dog poop from smelling up the garage? In this article, we’ll cover both these things as well as why dogs poop in the garage, and what it means when puppies do it. Keep reading below!

How to Stop Dog Pooping in Garage

To stop a dog from pooping in the garage, you should employ a combination of retraining, maintaining a regular bathroom schedule, providing sufficient outdoor time, and using positive reinforcement. Addressing this issue might also involve understanding the underlying causes and taking necessary actions to make the garage less appealing for such activities.

1. Understanding Why Your Dog Is Pooping in the Garage

Dogs may start pooping in the garage for various reasons. Understanding these can help address the issue more effectively. Your dog might feel scared, anxious, or uncomfortable outside, or the garage could simply be more convenient. A change in their diet, health issues, or a lack of outdoor time could also lead them to defecate in inappropriate places.

2. Retraining Your Dog

To discourage your dog from using the garage as their toilet, consider retraining them. This includes establishing a consistent bathroom schedule, and promptly taking your dog outside when they show signs of needing to defecate. When they do their business outside, reward them with treats or praise to reinforce the behavior.

3. Making the Garage Less Appealing for Pooping

If possible, limit your dog’s access to the garage. Clean any soiled areas thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate the scent that could be attracting them back. You might also use dog-friendly deterrents to make the area less appealing.

4. Providing Sufficient Outdoor Time and Exercise

Ensure your dog has ample outdoor time and physical activity. The more time they spend outside, the more opportunities they have to relieve themselves in appropriate areas. Regular exercise also helps stimulate regular bowel movements.

5. Important: Address Underlying Issues

While the previous steps will get your dog to stop pooping in the garage, it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issues (anxiety, training difficulties) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“Okay, so how do I make them last then?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog poops in the garage and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog pooping in the garage ever again!

How to Keep Dog Poop From Smelling up Garage

To keep dog poop from smelling up your garage, focus on timely removal, proper disposal, use of odor neutralizers, and maintaining good ventilation. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Quick Clean-up: It’s vital to remove dog poop from your garage as quickly as possible. The longer the feces sit, the more they emit foul odors, which can permeate throughout the space and make it harder to eliminate the smell. Prompt removal helps prevent the odor from lingering and becoming ingrained in your garage.
2. Proper Disposal: Once you’ve cleaned up the waste, the way you dispose of it can have a significant impact on controlling the smell. Ideally, the dog poop should be placed in a sealed bag to minimize the risk of odor leakage. Consider using specially designed biodegradable bags for dog waste disposal. However, don’t let the bag linger in the garage for too long; it should be taken to an outside bin as promptly as possible to prevent the smell from spreading.
3. Use of Odor Neutralizers: After the removal and initial cleaning process, use an odor neutralizer or a pet-friendly enzyme cleaner. These products work by breaking down the odor-causing elements, effectively eliminating any lingering smell on the garage floor. One important note is to avoid using ammonia-based cleaning products, as they can mimic the smell of urine, which might encourage your dog to soil the area again.
4. Good Ventilation: Lastly, make sure your garage has proper ventilation. Fresh air circulation is a natural and effective way to disperse any lingering odors. Moreover, having a good airflow can prevent the buildup of unpleasant smells over time, helping to maintain a more pleasant environment in your garage.

By following these steps, you can maintain a fresh-smelling garage, even with a dog in the house. Remember, prevention is always the best way to go, so to learn how to stop your dog pooping in the garage so you don’t even have to worry about getting rid of the smell, go back to the first section now.

Allowing things to go on any longer just means the behavior will be even harder to fix. If they’re not already, you’ll soon find your dog poops on concrete instead of grass, poops in the closet, poops on your clothes, and maybe even poops right on your bed. Of course, you don’t want any of this, so you should start on things now.

Why Do Dogs Poop in the Garage?

Dogs poop in the garage due to various reasons, ranging from convenience, feeling scared or uncomfortable outside, to changes in their diet, health issues, or insufficient outdoor time. Understanding these motivations can help you address the behavior more effectively and create an environment conducive to appropriate bathroom habits.

Convenience and Comfort

Dogs might choose the garage because it’s convenient or because they feel safer there. This is especially true for dogs who are scared or uncomfortable outside, due to factors like harsh weather conditions, loud noises, or unfamiliar surroundings. It’s important to identify these potential stressors and then treat them properly, which we explain in the first section.

Dietary and Health Issues

A change in a dog’s diet or health status can also trigger a shift in bathroom habits. For example, a new type of food may cause digestive issues, making it difficult for them to control when and where they poop. Similarly, health problems such as gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, or age-related incontinence could also lead to dogs pooping in the garage. It’s crucial to rule out these issues with a vet’s help.

Lack of Outdoor Time

Insufficient time outside can also lead to dogs using the garage as their bathroom. Dogs need regular outdoor access for bathroom breaks, exercise, and mental stimulation. If your dog is spending too much time indoors or in the garage, they may resort to relieving themselves there.

Established Scent Markers

Dogs are scent-driven animals. If your dog pooped in the garage previously and the area was not properly cleaned, the lingering smell might be encouraging them to do it again. It’s important to thoroughly clean any soiled areas with an enzymatic cleaner that eliminates the scent to prevent this.

Addressing Garage Pooping in Dogs

To stop dogs pooping in the garage, you should employ a combination of strategies, including retraining, maintaining a consistent bathroom schedule, providing ample outdoor time, and using positive reinforcement. In many cases, you’ll need to address an underlying issue which we explain how to do in the first section.

Puppy Poops in Garage

A puppy pooping in the garage can be due to reasons such as not being fully house-trained yet, finding the garage a comforting or convenient location, changes in diet, or insufficient outdoor time for bathroom breaks. Addressing the root cause and being patient with your puppy’s learning process can help correct this behavior.

Puppy House Training Challenges

The most common reason why a puppy poops in the garage is that they are still learning where it’s appropriate to go. Puppies don’t automatically know where to relieve themselves, and it’s up to the owner to consistently guide them. House training a puppy requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement to create a firm association between going outside and relieving themselves.

Comfort and Convenience of the Garage

Puppies may see the garage as a safe, convenient location to poop. The garage could be more easily accessible than the designated outdoor bathroom spot, especially for a young puppy still learning to control their bladder and bowel movements. A puppy might also feel safer in the garage if they’re anxious or nervous about going outside. Learn how to help in the first section.

Dietary Changes and Health Issues

Dietary changes or health issues could be causing your puppy to poop in the garage. Introducing new food into a puppy’s diet can affect their digestion and bowel movements. Additionally, health problems like gastrointestinal disorders can cause a puppy to lose control over their bowel movements. If you notice sudden changes in your puppy’s bathroom habits, it’s essential to consult a vet.

Inadequate Outdoor Time

Puppies need plenty of opportunities to go outside for bathroom breaks. If your puppy doesn’t have enough outdoor time, they might resort to pooping in the garage. Ensuring that your puppy has regular and frequent access to their designated bathroom spot outside can help prevent accidents in the garage.

Preventing Puppy Pooping in the Garage

To stop your puppy from pooping in the garage, focus on consistent house training, providing enough outdoor time, maintaining a stable diet, and using positive reinforcement when they do the right thing. It’s important to remember that patience is key in this process. Learn how to help in the first section.

I’m sure you’re ready to quit finding nasty little surprises in your garage, so I’ll let you get started on things now. Best wishes, and thank you for reading our article on how to stop your dog from pooping in the garage.