No, it's not an old wife's tale.  I was told to use that method by
the rescue from which I got my first dog, a Sheltie.  She had been
living outside for a while.  She was so terrified of going anywhere
'wrong' that she would hold it and hold it until she couldn't any
longer and then would go inside the house.

The idea is that you put the match in to stimulate the need to 'go',
and then praise the dog for going where you want it to.  I haven't
had to use the 'match' method for years, as our other dogs haven't
had that problem, but it sure worked...  Also worked to get stool
samples 'on demand' for the vet's office.

Anyway, you use paper matches, NOT wooden ones; and stick the torn
end of the match in, and the head of the match OUT, leaving about 1/2
inch sticking out -- you don't want to insert those nasty chemicals
into the poor dog's butt!  The match is expelled along with the poop.

-- Mara

--- Serena Lanza <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Have any of you heard of the old dog show trick of putting a match
> up the butt? I guess the theory is that they will push to expel the
> match and everything else just comes out with it. Is this an old
> wives tale? It sounds like it might work...........
>

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