molly won't poop !

by suzy
(canada)

Hi there. I have an adorable Shih Tzu pup that is 10 weeks old. My problem is Molly will eat her food but will not poop for about 5 or more hours later. She is doing really well with paper training for pee and has gone poop only a couple of times in the last two days... once was in her crate.

We have the smallest crate there is...she is very tiny.(we just got her two days ago.) She is such a darling and I have never owned this breed before..is this normal and does any one have any suggestions?
thankyou so much
suzy



Hi Suzy
It sounds as though Molly is doing pretty well overall. It's not terribly unusual for a puppy to have tummy/elimination issues for the first few days in a new environment.

Some puppies get diarrhea, some 'hold' their poop for longer than normal, others may just seem lethargic and withdrawn. It's all part of the normal adjustment period, and unless there are signs of illness it's generally not anything to worry too much about.

It's also not unusual for a puppy to have an accident in their crate to begin with. They need to go OFTEN, and bladder and bowel control only begins at around 8 weeks old. If you've got the correctly sized crate (which it sounds as though you do) and you take her out often enough (every 30 mins or so during the day), she will soon begin to control her elimination habits.

I'd recommend that you read my Potty Training and Crate Training pages as they have lots of tips and advice that you may find helpful.

Being a first time puppy parent is challenging, but it's very rewarding too and you'll soon feel more confident. Best of luck with her.