Housebreaking help

Puppylove5825 · 07-31-2008, 08:46 PM

I have a 1 year old pomeranian (well he'll be 1 year in 4 days). I am having trouble housetraining him. I am trying to go both on wee wee pads and outside (due to the hours I work) He will use both the wee wee pads and outside. If the pad is not down he will just go, sometimes in the area where it usually is, or sometimes not. He will not let me know when he has to go outside. Also he recently has learned how to jump on my bed (which I don't mind), but he cannot get down and since he will not tell me he has to go, he will just pee on my bed. Any advice?

Karen23 · 07-31-2008, 09:04 PM

Hi Puppylove, I am trying to paper train my 4-month-old chihuahua also. It is much harder than outside training, IMO. One thing I've done is to restrict her movements. When I work from home (about 3 days a week), I confine her to the family room where my computer is. I can see her at all times, and if I see she's needing to go (circling or sniffing), I will direct her to the piddle pads.

When I'm busy and can't watch her, she goes in the X-pen (exercise pen). It's about 6 by 4 feet. There are piddle pads at one end, and a bed and water dish at the other end. I also put her in the X-pen when I leave for short periods of time.

And, I know that she will have to pee after she naps, so after each nap - whether it's on the rug in the sunshine or on my lap - she has to go into the X-pen to use the paper. Whether she likes it or not! LOL!

Whenever she goes, I praise her excessively, and she gets a special treat. This has helped a lot - she sometimes comes to tell me she's pottied on the paper. But, really, it's controlling her motions that has helped the most.

Shmee · 07-31-2008, 10:25 PM

Crate training is invaluable here guys. Most of the time the problem would be (for the tiny guys) that the crate is too big and they find a corner or end to pee/poo in. The tiny crates are for these fella's especially. If the crate is small enough, they wont goto the bathroom in it. Now, personally, I wouldn't go with the wee-wee pads because eventually, the smell of the urine's going to soak through and then they will go on what they THINK is a wee-wee pad, but it aint, it's da carpet. Crate works great if you stick with it. It really isn't torture for them and I was able to eliminate the crate after awhile altogether. Some will keep the crate in use for the life of the dog, but now my 2 are pro's (almost) at going outside and doing their business. Just takes patience and regimen.

Stick with it!!!!

-Shmee

Karen23 · 08-01-2008, 06:34 AM

Shmee, I haven't done crate training because I'm home most of the time. I'm able to supervise fairly closely. And the urine doesn't soak through the piddle pads I use. Perhaps it is a matter of brands.

We are not doing outdoor training. We can't let Lizzy outside unsupervised because of hawks and coyotes. And in the winter, the snow gets so deep sometimes we can't get out the back door. That's why I decided to paper train.

In terms of progress, it has been tough, I'm not going to lie. For one, chihuahuas have bladders that hold only an ounce or two. (Puppylove, pom bladders must also be small.) So she has to go frequently, and it only takes her a second to empty her bladder. By the time she squats, she is done. It's hard to do any kind of mid-stream correction, as I have done effectively in the past with larger dogs. Plus, she's so low to the ground, it's hard even to tell if she's squatting. Tiny toy dogs really are different in this area; I chatted with a Yorkie owner who said the same things.

In the beginning I was frustrated to wit's end because her habits were unpredictable, not like any other dog I'd ever had. Plus she's so small and squirmy I found it difficult to confine her to the paper while waiting for the potty to happen. The X-pen has worked wonders. We have created for her a safe and familiar place where she feels comfortable going. We also have a couple of pads under the desk in the office.

Right now, I'd estimate she poops on the paper 95% of the time. It's kind of cute because she comes and tells me what's she's done. The urine is less reliable. We're at about 60%, I think, making progress slowly but surely. A lot of this is simply maturity.

petwebdesigner · 08-23-2008, 05:49 PM

The best product I have seen for this type of issue is Happy Jack Dog Diapers. You can find them here: Happy Jack Best Dog Diapers - belly wraps with the non-slip strap

07-31-2008, 08:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Puppylove5825 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: -- Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Housebreaking help I have a 1 year old pomeranian (well he'll be 1 year in 4 days). I am having trouble housetraining him. I am trying to go both on wee wee pads and outside (due to the hours I work) He will use both the wee wee pads and outside. If the pad is not down he will just go, sometimes in the area where it usually is, or sometimes not. He will not let me know when he has to go outside. Also he recently has learned how to jump on my bed (which I don't mind), but he cannot get down and since he will not tell me he has to go, he will just pee on my bed. Any advice?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Funny housebreaking moments LOL	Ritz459	Dog Behavior and Training	5	06-12-2007 08:12 PM
Housebreaking	ginastags2315	Puppy Forum	33	04-29-2007 08:47 PM
Shih Tzu Housebreaking Problem- New Baby too	danh1225	Dog Behavior and Training	4	05-20-2006 05:09 PM
housebreaking help	greeneyesdrc	Dog Behavior and Training	15	09-19-2005 04:43 PM
Housebreaking..can't wait	gracie	Dog Behavior and Training	8	07-12-2004 09:53 AM

07-31-2008, 09:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Karen23 Karen23 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago area Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Hi Puppylove, I am trying to paper train my 4-month-old chihuahua also. It is much harder than outside training, IMO. One thing I've done is to restrict her movements. When I work from home (about 3 days a week), I confine her to the family room where my computer is. I can see her at all times, and if I see she's needing to go (circling or sniffing), I will direct her to the piddle pads. When I'm busy and can't watch her, she goes in the X-pen (exercise pen). It's about 6 by 4 feet. There are piddle pads at one end, and a bed and water dish at the other end. I also put her in the X-pen when I leave for short periods of time. And, I know that she will have to pee after she naps, so after each nap - whether it's on the rug in the sunshine or on my lap - she has to go into the X-pen to use the paper. Whether she likes it or not! LOL! Whenever she goes, I praise her excessively, and she gets a special treat. This has helped a lot - she sometimes comes to tell me she's pottied on the paper. But, really, it's controlling her motions that has helped the most.

07-31-2008, 10:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shmee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Jersey Posts: 245 Rep Power: 27	Crate training is invaluable here guys. Most of the time the problem would be (for the tiny guys) that the crate is too big and they find a corner or end to pee/poo in. The tiny crates are for these fella's especially. If the crate is small enough, they wont goto the bathroom in it. Now, personally, I wouldn't go with the wee-wee pads because eventually, the smell of the urine's going to soak through and then they will go on what they THINK is a wee-wee pad, but it aint, it's da carpet. Crate works great if you stick with it. It really isn't torture for them and I was able to eliminate the crate after awhile altogether. Some will keep the crate in use for the life of the dog, but now my 2 are pro's (almost) at going outside and doing their business. Just takes patience and regimen. Stick with it!!!! -Shmee

08-01-2008, 06:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Karen23 Karen23 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago area Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Shmee, I haven't done crate training because I'm home most of the time. I'm able to supervise fairly closely. And the urine doesn't soak through the piddle pads I use. Perhaps it is a matter of brands. We are not doing outdoor training. We can't let Lizzy outside unsupervised because of hawks and coyotes. And in the winter, the snow gets so deep sometimes we can't get out the back door. That's why I decided to paper train. In terms of progress, it has been tough, I'm not going to lie. For one, chihuahuas have bladders that hold only an ounce or two. (Puppylove, pom bladders must also be small.) So she has to go frequently, and it only takes her a second to empty her bladder. By the time she squats, she is done. It's hard to do any kind of mid-stream correction, as I have done effectively in the past with larger dogs. Plus, she's so low to the ground, it's hard even to tell if she's squatting. Tiny toy dogs really are different in this area; I chatted with a Yorkie owner who said the same things. In the beginning I was frustrated to wit's end because her habits were unpredictable, not like any other dog I'd ever had. Plus she's so small and squirmy I found it difficult to confine her to the paper while waiting for the potty to happen. The X-pen has worked wonders. We have created for her a safe and familiar place where she feels comfortable going. We also have a couple of pads under the desk in the office. Right now, I'd estimate she poops on the paper 95% of the time. It's kind of cute because she comes and tells me what's she's done. The urine is less reliable. We're at about 60%, I think, making progress slowly but surely. A lot of this is simply maturity.

08-23-2008, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
petwebdesigner Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: -- Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	The best product I have seen for this type of issue is Happy Jack Dog Diapers. You can find them here: Happy Jack Best Dog Diapers - belly wraps with the non-slip strap

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)