Refuses to poo outside.

4 month old poodle. So smart and learns just about anything very quickly, BUT he just won’t 💩 outside. I’ll put him in his crate whenever I’m away or have to do something, as well as on a regular schedule in the morning routine, then immediately take him out. I take him out every couple of hours throughout the day, sometimes for a half hour or more play, and my wife and kids walk him twice a day. Often he will pee then, but never 💩.

It seems no matter how much time we spend outside he holds it until we’re inside to go. He’s also very sneaky -and fast- and waits until your back is turned. He had been consistently going on an astroturf mat, but when we moved that by the back door it’s been hit or miss with that. If we do catch him in the act we’ll snatch him up and run him to the door, mid poop sometimes, but there’s never been an opportunity to praise him with treats,etc. because his business is always done before he connects with the earth. I should add that we don’t punish him in any way. We just ignore him when he misbehaves and praise him when he’s good, which is most of the time. Such a sweet boy.

I guess at 4 months it may be too much to expect, but he learns everything else in like 2 minutes.. It’s kind of hilarious in one way, but awful in every other.

Any suggestions?