Dog Community

House breaking around a work schedule...

Posted : 2/29/2008 7:17:13 PM

I am the proud owner of a 5 month old Maltese mix, and I'm having some trouble with training him to go on a pad. I work monday thru friday from 8-5, and so I'm out of the house from 7:30 to 5:45. We have a routine of going for a walk before I leave for work, right after I get home, and right after I go to bed. He's been good about doing his business outside, but from the times I have to leave him unattended, he has a tendency to poop and pee not always on the pad, but in the general vicinity of the pad as well. I've cleaned and cleaned and cleaned the area around the pad with simple solution, as well as trying to move the pad to another area of the room, but to no avail. I really want to begin crate training him, but I just don't like the idea of him being stuck in his crate for over 8 hours at such a young age. Coming home from work for lunch will not be possible since I work in the field and am not in ideal locations to get to my house. What should I do? I'm pretty much at my wits end on what I can do to make sure he knows that he should be using the pad, or going outside. Any suggestions?

GingerDoo

Posted : 2/29/2008 7:29:01 PM

Use a petsitter. Check for excellent referral and check to be sure they have never been reported as negligent. Plus this will get your dog out more than 3 times a day. He may need at least 5 times. Allow him to release.

GingerDoo

Posted : 2/29/2008 7:30:26 PM

Too, there are now doggie litter pans available but training is required. Dogs are not like cats.

FourIsCompany

Posted : 3/6/2008 6:59:41 PM

I would suggest that if you want him to go on the pad, train him to do that when you're home. Watch him like a hawk and when he starts to sniff around, get him to the pad and PRAISE him like crazy. Then take him outside to play or whatever. He doesn't have the idea that inside stuff is supposed to go on that pad.

The area he's in should be fairly small. A laundry room or gated area. But it's probably confusing for him to be trained to go outside AND on a pad. Once he gets the pad thing down, then you can start taking him outside for potties again.

AuroraLove

Posted : 3/6/2008 7:01:58 PM

Um, take a couple weeks of work, lol

Jewlieee

Posted : 3/6/2008 7:19:07 PM

He needs to go out more. Also, dogs don't just go on pads, they have to be trained just like going outside.

mudpuppy

Posted : 3/18/2008 2:44:01 PM

what kind of flooring is the pup on? most dogs are reluctant to potty on a hard, non-absorbent surface, and reluctant to potty near their sleeping/ feeding areas. Our puppy setup is a mudroom- a tile floor. We feed and water the pup at one end of the room, and put the potty pads at the other end in case. It would, however, be better if you could hire someone to come home and take the pup out during the day for a few months...

erica1989

Posted : 3/19/2008 8:23:43 PM

8 hours is too long for any pupp to be alone. I come home on my lunch breaks to let my fosters out, so the most they are alone for is 4 hours. The commitment I made to the pups when I take them is to let them out at least every 4 hours - any more than that is just not fair to the puppy.