Disciplining Chihuahuas. (for all you Chihuahua owners out there)

jjsmom06

As far as the training.. I grew up like Probe in a home where we swatted dogs with a newspaper and rubbed their noses in it.  It WAS effective, but training has come a LONG way since then and I have learned a lot since my childhood and have been happy to teach my family a different way of potty training and disciplining their dogs over the years that is also effective and far more humane.    

I don't diagree at all but I guess it is my fault for feeling at a lost cause then??? Maybe it was even pressure from the boyfriend to GET TOUGH! TOUGH LOVE! and my mind going ahhh why does she keep peeing...

I know I didn't harm her just used the old nose in pee method twice... idk I AM open though to hearing other ways.... I think my judgemental opinion was it seems like everyone says NO punishment period... so no dog deserves punishment? Kayla is a little wise guy sometimes... she'll try to test you... thats why I felt punishment ALSO would help.

And when you take time from work and spend lots of money on a TRAINER and that doesn't work... blah that's frustraiting!!

Pomeranian <3

**content removed, previously edited content** Hopefully that can be resolved by the people who are "in charge." I'm sorry but I am allowed to point out when people offend me. **content removed, previously edited content**Try not to completely ruin this thread people... ha

I am female.  My name is Amanda, as you can clearly see in my siggie.  You may address me as Bevo, Amanda, or Queen.  I'll answer to any of them.  I didn't come to this thread with a bad attitude, I just don't understand who gave you the power to tell others to tell others to stifle their opinions.

Pomeranian <3

Pretty sure we all know house breaking is historically known to be difficult with my breed.

I completely understand the challenges that some breeds present when house training, as I have two dachshunds.  Another breed notoriously difficult to house train.  Never, did I feel that it would be in their best interest to beat them, or rub their faces in  urine or ***.

Pomeranian <3

My mother always said "dogs need to learn how to hold their pee just like a child! its a muscle that needs to be trained" but this is also the same woman who used the nose in pee method... idk... I can't be against it b/c I used it and I can't be for it b/c I don't ENJOY doing it...

Did your mother toliet train you by rubbing your face in you soiled undergarments?  If so, this may explain why you view the "old method" as you do...

WELL I personally think you need to read ALL of my posts if you want to comment... because honestly I'm sick of repeating...

I used the "proper" methods from day one untill 10months old. Never punished her for peeing inside. I can't "lift her up and bring her outside" I live on the 4th floor of a high rise apt building! So instead I took her our every 2, then 3, then 4 hours MAX to pee. She would pee right away I'd praise her; she deff knew to pee outside what she didn't know was to NOT pee INSIDE... after she did her business she'd pee AGAIN inside or I'd find tiny little pee marks in places from her marking... I even took her to the Vet a couple times to make sure it wasn't a medical thing... blah idk geez I keep having to repeat myself... SO all felt lost and I spent a lot of time and money on a trainer. They told me the SAME THINGS I had been doing, and they would also work with her... but she stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiill peed inside... It got to the point my boyfriend and I would fight like it was reeeeeally getting bad... SO one day I put her nose in it and shouted no and scared her a little then ignored her for an hour... did it again the next time... then IRONICALLY she hasn't done it ever since... did it work?? maybe...??? all I know is NOW she is deff house trained... So what I'm over all saying is I think Kayla needed SOME TYPE of "punishment"

Pomeranian <3

I don't diagree at all but I guess it is my fault for feeling at a lost cause then??? Maybe it was even pressure from the boyfriend to GET TOUGH! TOUGH LOVE! and my mind going ahhh why does she keep peeing...

I know I didn't harm her just used the old nose in pee method twice... idk I AM open though to hearing other ways.... I think my judgemental opinion was it seems like everyone says NO punishment period... so no dog deserves punishment? Kayla is a little wise guy sometimes... she'll try to test you... thats why I felt punishment ALSO would help.

And when you take time from work and spend lots of money on a TRAINER and that doesn't work... blah that's frustraiting!!

I'm not even so bothered that you did it.  I know a lot of people that used this method in the past.  I think what bothers us is that you were initially posting about it as if you advocated for other people to try this method.  If you are open to trying the other ways (like what I posted in response to your question), that's totally cool.  Everyone has made mistakes with their dogs. 

Yes, there are a lot of people that say no dog deserves punishment ever.  You might want to check out more of the Behavior threads, there are actually different kinds of punishment.  Different people use them to varying degrees. Generally, it's FAR more effective and fun for you and the dog to train the dog what you WANT her to do than punish for "bad" things.  Dogs just don't make that connection like humans do. 

I'm sorry you spent a lot of money on a crap trainer.  A lot of people here can relate.  Sometimes, a behaviorist is a better person to consult for this type of thing.  There is a huge difference between a qualified behaviorist.  Anyone can call themselves a "trainer" and try to make a buck.  It's not your fault you got ripped off, but don't hold the actions of one crap trainer against methods that do work when implemented correctly.

Pomeranian <3

WELL I personally think you need to read ALL of my posts if you want to comment... because honestly I'm sick of repeating...

I used the "proper" methods from day one untill 10months old. Never punished her for peeing inside. I can't "lift her up and bring her outside" I live on the 4th floor of a high rise apt building! So instead I took her our every 2, then 3, then 4 hours MAX to pee.

I have read all the post.  Personally, I think 4 hours is a long time for a puppy to hold it, especially one already having trouble with house training.  Hindsight is 20/20, but in that situation I would have shortened the time periods and increased the value of the rewards before resorting to punishment. 

Excellent post Liesje and you stopped me from posting much of what I was just starting to.

Pom, I think you just got “lucky” that your method worked.  I understand frustration and I even have a guy who disagrees with me on almost all training tactics and has yelled and used fear when I wasn’t around and he would see a pee spot.  Did his method or my method work?? Who knows for sure.  I just believe that all methods should be looked at when it comes to training and the more humane and positive the training the better for all involved. Hopefully your dog “stays trained” and you will never have to deal with it again.  Should you need to, as Liesje pointed out there are lots of great threads on this board and even from the old board.   

Everything Liesje has said has been great. And I do appreciate your recent posts jjsmom06. Like I said I really am open to hearing other ideas ALWAYS on ALL subjects. Apologizes if it seemed I was "promoting" the old method but I was stating that I used it. I TOTALLY am not promoting!!! Like I said I don't like the fact I "felt" that I had to use it.

If Kayla ends up having problems in the future again or for future pups I really do appreciate the advice though. It truly is probably that I had a crap trainer who read a book and thinks they know it all.

Thanks for the 4hour advice too!! Maybe I'll have to make it shorter??? This is just hard since I can only visit her for an hour on lunch. I make sure to take my lunch exactly half way through my 8hr work day. Then when I'm home we play and go outside more often of course.

She will be 1 years on on Feb 1st... is 4hrs STILL too long...??? This is just a concern for me because idk maybe I'll have to go against what I've always thought and "paper trainer" her.... I just HATE this method and think it is soooo gross... not to mention she'll eat the paper and poop... yuck....

Pomeranian <3

Thanks for the 4hour advice too!! Maybe I'll have to make it shorter??? This is just hard since I can only visit her for an hour on lunch. I make sure to take my lunch exactly half way through my 8hr work day. Then when I'm home we play and go outside more often of course.

She will be 1 years on on Feb 1st... is 4hrs STILL too long...??? This is just a concern for me because idk maybe I'll have to go against what I've always thought and "paper trainer" her.... I just HATE this method and think it is soooo gross... not to mention she'll eat the paper and poop... yuck....

It totally depends on the dog, just like it depends on the person (for example my brother had bed wetting until he was 12).  My current dogs I adopted as adults, so I haven't had to start from the beginning, just get them adjusted to my home and my schedule.  The accidents we have had have all been due to sickness, me feeding the dog a HUGE meal and not noticing her pacing by the door, or the dog waking up in the morning and getting WAY too excited about chasing a cat, lol.  Last time it happened, Coke chased the cat down the stairs.  There was pee (on white carpet) at the top of the stairs, all the way down each step in a zig-zag pattern, on the backs of the steps, and a puddle at the bottom.  I was late for work b/c I had to SpotBot the entire staircase (btw, if you have carpets, I recommend the SpotBot).

Crate training can help.  The only accident we've ever had in a crate is when Coke was very sick with diarrhea and we simply could not get home within 4 hours so he messed the crate (THAT was fun to clean!).  The crate is like a den and they really REALLY don't want to mess in their crate.  Some people crate train in combination with house training.  As the dog gets more consistent at going outside and holding it longer, the dog is slowly allowed more access to the home.  You want the dog to see the entire home as the "den" so she doesn't want to mess in it.  That can be hard for a tiny dog, especially in an apartment.  I have it easy because my dogs pee/poo on grass in the same spot every time.  They probably think grass = pee/poo, carpet = den.  The time that I forgot to let Kenya out after she ate and she pooped in the house, she went as far away as she could, not because she knew it was bad and wanted to hide, but because she didn't want to mess up her "den". 

Liesje

time that I forgot to let Kenya out after she ate and she pooped in the house, she went as far away as she could, not because she knew it was bad and wanted to hide, but because she didn't want to mess up her "den". 

That is deff the point I HOPE Kayla is at... I know she may finally know our "apartment" is the den because I have to CARRY her outside or she'll pee in the hallway!! grrr that is a totaly pain like yep don't mind my dog she just likes to pee... ha... ha...

LOL SpotBot rules! BUT I actually invested in one of those expensive carpet cleaners lol as you can tell it DID get to a point where it was bad! After crate training I let her have the living room & kitchen ONLY (thats all she gets still). Good idea with the crate though.

I THINK Kayla is starting to "understand" the routine. But gosh your predictions really are right tho. Being in a high rise apartment is SUCH A PAIN. Like I WISH I could just go Okay here you go... and open the door to let her out... oh no instead its walk all the way down our wing, walk down the hallway, walk into the elevators, walk down that hallway, then walk all the way over to the "dog area".... geeeezzzzz BUT I love her so I do it ;o) haha

Thanks for all of the awesome ideas. If she ever has another accident it will be looked at differently now. I can't let my boyfriend's frustraition or mine get to me.

I'd find tiny little pee marks in places from her marking...

That suggests to me that you just allowed her too much freedom in the house too soon.  The average puppy can hold its bladder for approximately one hour more than its age in months.  However, they do have the capacity to retain urine, and are especially likely to pee after they awaken, play, eat or drink.  And, you don't get much notice - so if you aren't right there watching, they can easily go off and squat in an unobtrusive place for you to find later.   When my Aussie was a pup I took her out every two hours and tethered her to me when she was indoors but not in her crate.  Of course, she got plenty of exercise outdoors, and plenty of interactive toys, so she was not bored.  But she, just like Sioux, had fewer than 3 accidents in the house - and has never soiled the house since. 

GypsyNBeau

And while well-bred Chihuahua's are naturally bold and saucy, they can still be sensitive little dogs, so it is important to use positive methods so that you DON'T end up with a cowering, shivering dog who is afraid of you.  :)

 AMEN! 

Wow...after reading through this entire thread I just feel so sad.

Pomeranian <3

Liesje

time that I forgot to let Kenya out after she ate and she pooped in the house, she went as far away as she could, not because she knew it was bad and wanted to hide, but because she didn't want to mess up her "den". 

That is deff the point I HOPE Kayla is at... I know she may finally know our "apartment" is the den because I have to CARRY her outside or she'll pee in the hallway!! grrr that is a totaly pain like yep don't mind my dog she just likes to pee... ha... ha...

LOL SpotBot rules! BUT I actually invested in one of those expensive carpet cleaners lol as you can tell it DID get to a point where it was bad! After crate training I let her have the living room & kitchen ONLY (thats all she gets still). Good idea with the crate though.

I THINK Kayla is starting to "understand" the routine. But gosh your predictions really are right tho. Being in a high rise apartment is SUCH A PAIN. Like I WISH I could just go Okay here you go... and open the door to let her out... oh no instead its walk all the way down our wing, walk down the hallway, walk into the elevators, walk down that hallway, then walk all the way over to the "dog area".... geeeezzzzz BUT I love her so I do it ;o) haha

Thanks for all of the awesome ideas. If she ever has another accident it will be looked at differently now. I can't let my boyfriend's frustraition or mine get to me.

Sounds like you are realizing that you have been going about this the wrong way and that is good!  Otto was able to "hold it" from about seven months on for about 8 hours.  Ollie can already do that as well and he isn't quite 8 months old.   I always have something there just in case for them in their pen but they rarely use it.  My two poop twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening so that is never a problem while I'm away.  The key is to not let her have access to your whole house, especially while you are trying to adequately train her.  My condo is sectioned off with wood gates so the boys are with me always and we never have mistakes for this reason.  I don't let them roam out of my vision still and otto is about a year and a half old.  If your dog eats the puppy pads you can try a wizdog.  Janet_rose posted a link a while back and I bought one to put in their pen when I'm away so mine wouldn't do this.  It' s like a plastic low tray with a grate on top.  The pee stays in the bottom and you just pour it out.   Honestly, don't be too hard on your boyfriend, I'd be irritated too if my SO had a little dog peeing all over the house.  Just work hard to get her on the right path now.  It really shows you what aggressive observation and training when they are small can do to improve everyone's relationship in the family.

Thanks ottoluv for the advice!

Wow I had totally forgotten about this thread! To update everyone:

Kayla is doing so much better now! I really think her allergies & drastically changing her diet a lot caused much stress on her body.

With her diet officially regulated she pees 4-5 times per day and poops 2-3 times per day. I've now come to the understanding that little dogs simply can not hold it as long as a larger dog might be able to. I am active to let her relieve herself more often now; which has caused little to no accidents.

She now understands peeing on the balcony = good! We still don't have pooping out there down yet. kelliope had sent me some great links just recently that will totally help. Since Kayla understands grass = bathroom she sent me this link http://www.gwlittle.com/prod/Product-Types/Deodorizers---Training-Pads/Training-Pads_181/PETaPOTTY-Indoor-System_1552.aspx . Also since I fear that there will be days I may not make it home in time she sent me this link http://www.thepetdoorstore.com/html/sliding/ideal/ideal_panel.htm.

Also she has not ripped something up (destroyed paper, cards, pens, etc) in a very long time. I make sure the house is always "puppy proofed" and she has many readily available toys & one kong per day.

Thanks again to everyone on the forum for helping to coach me through that frustraition!

Boyfriend & I had a very long discussion about proper training techniques and routine. I'm happy to say we are no longer bickering about the situation.