glenmar
Posted : 5/2/2006 8:31:01 PM
Hi, welcome to idog. Might I ask what particular brand of lunacy grabbed hold of you to inspire you to get "double the trouble"? [
] Wow, you've bitten off a LOT.
I foster and when I have a litter of pups I use an exercise pen with pads. When they are not in the pen, it's left open so they can get to their pads OR to outside. But the key, I think anyway, is that the pads are in ONE place and one place only. Basically, if someone is in a major hurry, the pads are there in the pen, but, I expect them to potty outside. I have a doggie door for them and they do love to be outside, but I also TAKE pups outside at pretty specific times.
When they wake up from a nap, out we go, after a meal or a drink, out we go, after a play session, out we go. I ALWAYS say, let's go outside and go potty and I always make a big, big deal about "goooooood potty" (this regardless of what actually comes out...potty works for pee or poop). You can use treats...just be sure they are REALLY great treats and REALLY through a party when they potty outside. And, if someone makes a mistake a simple "Unh uh, not there, lets go OUTSIDE and go POTTY" works, scoop the pup up (with a towel to keep YOU dry) and once out, say again, go potty.
Now, unless you can give 150% attention, those little ones need to be preferably in an exercise pen or crate. I like the ex pen better because they don't feel quite so isolated. You can put pads in the pen. If you can pay 100% attention...say while watching TV or on the phone, you can leash the pups to you so that if they get up and move away to potty, you'll know and be able to jump out and get them OUT where you want them to go.
Housetraining takes time, patience and consistency, but this too will pass. Just keep telling yourself that and you'll get through this trying time.