Forum Post

House-training....help!

Last post 10-11-2007 9:49 AM by Chuffy. 9 replies.
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  • 09-07-2007 7:45 PM

    • Enzo
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    • Joined on 08-10-2007
    • Raliegh, NC
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    House-training....help!

    Hey ya'll......Enzo is doing very well except in the house-training !  
    Are we expecting to much to soon or what ?
     
    He is 3 months, we have been working on house-training for 1 month.  We are doing everything that is advised in these forums. 
    1)  Crate training
    2)  Outside after every nap, meal, crate time and play time
    3)  No playing outside, only potty business
    4)  Lot of praise for going outside
    5)  Same spot outside
    6)  Limited "free" space inside (we are in a small apt. and we have only given him access to  the den and kitchen), we can see him in these areas at all times
     
    Here's the problem.  He still feels free to go inside !!   He is so small (chi), by the time he has paused for the cause #1, it's over, no time to catch him before he goes. 
    We still try to scoop him up and go outside but he's done by then. 
    He can be in the middle of playing fetch and pause on his way to the ball, after being outside 10 minutes ago.
    He is good to go outside after crate time, nap time and so on but the other "inside" accidents just seem to keep coming.
    What are we doing wrong ???????   Help !!!
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  • 09-08-2007 1:33 AM In reply to Enzo

    • TorontoJenn
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    • Joined on 07-21-2007
    • Toronto, Canada
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    RE: House-training....help!

    Are you only taking him outside during the times mentioned? Chihuahuas are very tiny and have very small bladders, he needs to go approximately once every four hours, even regardless of play/eat time. ("they can hold it for one hour per month of age plus one".) Although it sounds like you're doing really well. Maybe someone else can offer some more advice. [:)]
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  • 09-08-2007 10:26 AM In reply to Enzo

    • Enzo
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    • Raliegh, NC
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    RE: House-training....help!

    I guess I should have clarified that..............we go out every 30 min. - 1 hr. in between all of the before mentioned times !!    We know how small is bladder is and do go out alot.
    He is very smart, I guess the potty training will come.
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  • 09-08-2007 10:58 AM In reply to Enzo

    • Sham85
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    RE: House-training....help!

     No playing outside, only potty business

     
    I would change this just a little.  For dogs that like to go outside(I know some small dogs find it rather scary and might actually prefer inside) taking them in immediately after pottying will make them not want to potty in order to avoid going inside.  Don't play until they potty but after that feel free to let them wander around outside or do some training excercises before heading back into the house.  They'll enjoy the outdoors a little more and actually be more willing to potty quickly than if outside is only business before being forced back inside.
     
    Otherwise I think your mainly just dealing with a young pup that has too small of bladder to understand what you want just yet.  It might help though to make him hold it just a little while longer before immediately going outside.  If he's crated for just a half hour or hour longer so he really does have to pee and then you manage to get him outside where you can praise him for it you'll have more success.  Otherwise he's not being forced to potty outside but is loose frequently enough and going back and forth in and out enough that he just goes when he feels the need without getting the connection.  You need to try to control when he has to go potty so you can control whether he is inside or outside at that moment instead of completely guessing.
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  • 09-08-2007 5:10 PM In reply to Enzo

    • Enzo
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    • Raliegh, NC
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    RE: House-training....help!

    I think you're right, I think we are going out a bit to much, I think I will try to get him more on a schedule.
     
    Today was a perfect example............we had gone on a little road trip, after about an 1 1/2 he was crying a bit so we stopped and he peed !!   We got home about 45 min. later and took him to his spot, no business.   Inside we went, he seemed restless, out we went, no business, back inside, and after 2 minutes he peed in the floor ! 
    I think now, after writing this I can see one mistake, we should have put him in the crate when he didn't do his business the first time.  We are learning !!   We probably need more education than he does :)
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  • 10-09-2007 12:15 AM In reply to Enzo

    Re: RE: House-training....help!

    We also have a Chi puppy.  He is having the same problems.  Reading your post is helping us.  We have been doing the same things you have been doing.  Our pup is almost 5 mos. old now.  He cannot hold his pee for 6 hours!  

    We have good days and bad days.  He will go days not having accidents (or at least we think he is), then he seems to forget all his lessons.  

    Keep on posting and updating your progress.  We are learning from your experiences.   --Thank you! 

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  • 10-09-2007 10:36 AM In reply to Enzo

    • estina
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    Re: House-training....help!

     wew... i have a blogarticle about dogs.. may be it helps..

    check it out... www.ourpetsinfo.blogspot.com 

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  • 10-09-2007 1:50 PM In reply to Enzo

    Re: House-training....help!

    Enzo:
    We still try to scoop him up and go outside but he's done by then. 

    Do you still put him outside?  Make sure, even if it's over and done with that you tell him "no", put him outside and tell him "go potty" (or whatever phrase you want to use), even if he doesn't go, eventually, hopefully, he'll get the hint that he needs to go outside.  He's a tiny little thing, so it may take longer.  We also have a Maltese, and frankly, she still goes in the house!  Good Luck!

    Handle every situation like a dog.

    If you can't Eat it or Chew it.

    Pee on it and Walk Away
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  • 10-10-2007 8:43 PM In reply to estina

    Re: House-training....help!

    estina:

    wew... i have a blogarticle about dogs.. may be it helps..

    check it out... www.ourpetsinfo.blogspot.com 

     

     

    I checked out your blog and I didn't see the info on housebreaking.  I DID see where I can buy the information... 

    • Post Points: 0
  • 10-11-2007 9:49 AM In reply to Enzo

    Re: House-training....help!

    Relax your no-play-outside rule.  Exercise and excitement both stimulate the bladder and bowels and therefore OUTSIDE is exactly where play should be happening right now!  I THINK I can see why you dont let him play outside... but maybe you could take him out on his lead, wait for him to go, say the prompt AS he goes (once only) then as soon as he is done give him a treat, praise and take the lead off.  Encourage him to run and play for a little while... it becomes an extra reward for toileting outside.  It means he gets chance to play and if he "goes" again, it doesnt matter.  In fact, you can give him another reward for it.

    When he is inside, encourage him to be sedate.  Pet or massage him, train, offer him a chew or just chill out together.

    Rather than waiting for him to "squat" and then scooping him up, watch him closely and try to spot earlier signs (circling, pacing, sniffing, returning to a place he has used before)

    Keep in mind anxiety also lessens his control, so don't let him see you upset by his mistakes.... if he becomes neurotic about toileting it will be even harder.  He may also be stimulated to go after or during a long period of chewing.

    What do you do when he makes a mistake?  What do you clean up with?  Have you tried "moving" the accident to the right place and then letting him see it?  With wees you could soak it up with a paper towel or something and then lay that in the toilet area.

    For a dog his age and size, I would be taking out at LEAST every 30 mins PLUS at the times you mention PLUS any time he looks suspiscious.... I think you are right, his bladder is tiny and he CAN'T hold it very long.

    "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo)

    "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus
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