Oh Jo! My only advice is to just wait it out. sierra won't be able to hold it forever. I'd just pull up a chair and wait until she goes. I don't know what else to suggest. I hope she can get it figured out and can enjoy the rest of her trip. Julie Johnson http://www.livingblind.com/eml ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jo Clayson" <joclayson@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 2:21 PM Subject: (VICT) need solution or suggestions > I just got a phone call from Lynn, the woman I've been working with who has > trained her own guide dog. Sierra has been doing very well, but a problem > has arisen recently while they are on a cruise. Lynn's mom, who can see > okay, is also with them. > > The problem is that Sierra is not defecating in the box on board ship. She > will urinate there okay. The box is filled with pine pellets (the kind used > for cat litter and also for wood pellet stoves for burning). Sierra has a > box with pellets at home that she used in preparation for taking a cruise > last year, and she used the box on the last cruise with no problem. She also > used it prior to this cruise. So far her stool has been normal in both > quantity and consistency. Twice now, after Lynn spent a lot of time at the > box with her and Sierra didn't defecate, within the next hour or so Sierra > just dropped her stool as they were walking. Obviously that is not > acceptable for any service or guide dog. > > Sierra normally goes soon after her breakfast, and normally only moves her > bowels once a day. Lynn has taken her to the box after Sierra ate, played > with her, had her running on some of the ships corridors in hopes the > exercise would stimulate her to go. Sierra appears to be wanting to avoid > the box after she has urinated, not that she is trying to go and can't. > > They do have some ports of call where Sierra can be on land to go, but Lynn > doesn't want Sierra to think she can hold it until they reach land. On this > trip, for the next few days they will be in port daily for a while, but then > they have 5-6 days on ship with no stops. > > Any ideas or suggestions? Lynn is going to phone me again Monday evening > after 6 Eastern Time. > > Jo > > > > > >