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T O P I C     R E V I E W bbaker We have a wonderful 3 1/2 mo. old Chihuahua named Fancy. The problem is potty training. She uses the puppy pads during the day while we're working except....she wants to poop on the carpet. We feed her Science Diet puppy bites so it's always very firm but this is getting to be a habit for her. I know that many of you good Allen folks have pets so maybe you'll be able to advise me. Do puppies/dogs not like to poop where they tinkle? I guess I should read up on it but there's nothing better than real experiences to go by. I take her out every morning and several times in the evening and she goes most of the time (she hates the grass when it's wet) I scold her if I catch her going on the carpet and take her out or rush her to the pad but, am relunctent to scold her after the fact (if I just happen to find an accident) I would appreciate all of the advise I can get on this issue. I might add that she's been sleeping with me since she was 7 1/2 wks. old and never has an accident in bed. I take her out about 6 am every morning. Thanks in advance. bbaker allensince1979 little dogs seem so hard to potty train. Your first major mistake was letting her sleep in your bed. Buy her a small crate, when your not at home keep her crated. Not to big of one just one the right size for her to stand up and turn around in and of course lay down in. You should buy a book on crate training, it works. I have three dogs and trained them all that way with no problem. They cried at first but now their 6,4 and 2 years old and feel safe and secure when they are in their crates and I always have somewhere safe to put them when I need to. Please buy a book and read up on it. It really works. bbaker Although I really appreciate your advise allensince1979, I wasn't complaining that she sleeps with us. She gets bathed regularly and doesnt smell. Actually her presence is comforting because she's so sweet and loving she likes to be completely covered when sleeping and keeps the same sleeping schedule as we do. I don't want her to have to stay in a crate all day. Eventually we'd like to install a doggie door her size and train her to go out side to potty. (That's why I take her out as much as I can). She just seems to think if she gets the urge while inside that the carpet's her spot to poop. I will take your advise on reading up on it though. Thanks again, bbaker JRJAEGER Hi BBaker!! (How are ya??? Remember me??) I don't think youd have to do the crate permanently, that would be temporary until she got the idea of where and when to potty. We have 2 Chihuahuas and they sleep on the beds and use the potty pads or go outside, but they are adult dogs also. Anyway, Just a thought. allensince1979 bbaker, I know you wern't complaining about her sleeping with you, the crate is used in housebreaking. It's to much for me to explain here. If you don't want to buy a book see if theres one at the library. It really works, I promise.. janes I'll second the crate! Crate training is what the professionals will tell you to use. Dogs are "den" animals and find it comforting. You'll want the crate close by since they like being in their "pack" company. And like other posters mentioned... once they're older - you don't even need to use the crate - but my guess is that your dog will love it. Many people just leave the door open - that's what we do with our lab. Now that she's much older - she sleeps in several places throughout the night - but prefers her "condo". bbaker Yep JRJAEGR I remember. Do you have a doggie door? Are your doggies small? Fancy is about 2 1/2 to 3 lbs. and will probably not get any bigger than 4 lbs. We keep her confined to the laundry room and walk in pantry during the day except when our twin 17 yr. old girls let her out. I think that's when most of the accidents happen because they get online and don't realize that she need to go out. I am so attached to this puppy that I don't know if I could crate her. She whines until I carry her around a little bit after I get home from work. I guess I've got her spoiled. Oh well....thanks for the advise. Well...I just read a couple of other posts while I was writing this one. Is this crate like those travel pet carriers and will it work if I just use it during the day? I don't know how it will resolve the poop on the carpet issue but if there's literature out there that covers this issue then I will be happy to buy/rent it. Thanks all. bbaker [This message has been edited by bbaker (edited August 15, 2002).] bbaker oops...I ment I read the posts after I had already submitted the last one. allensince1979 bbaker, my dogs LOVE their crates. AT 10:00 just like clockwork they want to go in for bed. In the beginning I bought it for housebreaking, but like the other poster mentioned dogs are den animals and really feel safe and secure in their den. Yes, i'm talking about a pet carrier. Please read up on it first so you understand why you shouldn't get one to big. I know right now your puppy is a sweet little baby but in time you will become tired of him pooping around the house, training her right to start with will make everyone happier. This has worked for all three of my small dogs. Maybe you could do a search on the internet on crate training. JRJAEGER Something else to consider, this is a gross story but worth thinking about. I was babysitting a 4 week old infant a few years ago. My brother in law had a 8 month old Chihuahua that no one had made any real attempt to potty train, so at that point no one wanted her. We were doggie sitting her, she went (#2) in the middle of my hallway. I didn't see it, and stepped in in while carrying this 4 week old baby. I slipped and fell and in attempt to keep from dropping the baby I twisted my back and severely sprained my arm. Thank God the baby wasn't hurt. Unfortunately the dog never got trained and was passed around through multiple family members because no one wanted to deal with the constant pottying on the floor. In answer to your question, no we don't have a doggie door. The dogs use potty pads when no one is home, and then bark at the door to go in and out when we are home. Anyway, sorry I don't have any better suggestions, but I do know the importance of getting them potty trained young! juan Have you tried a rolled up newspaper. Smack that dog. Worked realy good for our Great Dane. Never had a problem. Unless cleaning the back yard is considered a problem. Please, no animal right PETA nuts, need reply. deborah good advice Juan. Worked well with mine as well. jenniferd With dogs it is important for them to know that you are the dominant personality (alpha). I think it is great to love your pet, but you must let them know that you are alpha, not the other way around. I have found that if you look straight into their eyes and speak with them in a stern voice when they do something they are not supposed to, it works great. I also have to agree with other posters that the the crate is the way to go. Your dog will be happier and so will you. It is tough at first, both of you will eventually get used to it. If you dont crate her, you are actually doing a dis-service to her. I understand that you want to love on your pet and let her do as she pleases, however, a little strict, consistent discipline in her life from the beginning will make her a better pet and make you a happier pet owner. Blanco I just gotta put my $.02 in. Get the dog on a regular schedule first. BTW, I swear by crate training as well. Take the dog OUTSIDE to do it's business immediately after every feeding, or as close to immediately as possible. Use a key word indicating going outside. You want the dog to understand when you say xxxx, he/she understands that you mean "let's go outside". Once outside stay with the dog until it does it's business. Don't play with it, and don't let it play either. You're there to make sure it does it's business. It might help to use key words to help it learn what you want. I for instance would tell my dog "go POTTY". At first he had no clue. But when he'd choose to finally go potty, I'd stand there praising him for a good POTTY while he was in the act. And once he'd finish I'd give him a treat I had hidden in my pocket. And THEN we'd play and have fun. Just outside a week of that routine, once in the morning before work, as soon as I got home from work, after dinner, and then last thing before bedtime, I had him 80% trained. I'd say, "Jazz...wanna go potty"?? He'd run to the back door, very excited. I'd let him out. He'd run to go potty, then come running up to me to get his treat and play. Eventually you won't need the treat, or to play. I have realized that positive reinforcement is MUCH more effective than negative. They seem like they learn faster that way as well. Now obviously you'll have the occasional accident, usually peeing. Pooping is easier for a dog to control. If the accident has already happened don't waste time scolding. The dog doesn't have the memory to remember that you're scolding it for that reason. So it makes it more difficult to get that last 20% trained. You must keep an eye on him while in doors(when you're home). The only effective time you'll have to train him INDOORS is to catch him in the act!!! If you see him "do business" or "pottying" or whatever you want to call it, immediately(in a VERY authoritative voice) use the command word for outside, pick up the dog....even if he's still doing his business, and take him immediately outside. Don't let his feet touch the ground until he's outside. Once outside set him down and use your keyword for pottying. DON'T scold him!!!! In as a normal tone of voice as you can muster, tell him to go potty. Once he's done, you can let him back in. Clean up the accident ASAP. Nature's Miracle is THE best product I've used to clean up accidents. It's got enzymes that actually help "eat up" the stain(organic), it even eliminates the odors associated with the accident, so he won't be inclined to go again in the same spot. It even gets red wine stains up!!! Using this method, my 3rd dog took 2 weeks to train 99%. He didn't have his first accident inside the house for about 7 months later, when he was left inside for an unusally long length of time(10 hours+). I'm sure he tried to hold it, but come on, let's be reasonable. He's now almost 2 and hasn't had an accident since. The older 2 can be trusted implicitly. Sorry for being so long winded....I just feel very passionate about the way dogs are trained. If you'd like more help email me. I'd be glad to help. As far as the sleeping issue...well that's a whole other story. bbaker blanco, sounds like you have this potty training down pretty good. thanks for the tip. bbaker germanspirit2002 Bbaker, I have to agree with Allensince1979........ we never had a dog before, and when we bought our puppy someone told us CRATE and I flipped out, I thought OMG a prison for my pup NO WAY! well...........hubby had it his way and now my puppy is potty trained, sleeps at 10 pm, wakes at 6 am..........just like a child.......no accidents, as we took her potty alot from the start. I work and she is either in the crate or she is in my kitchen with the doggy door and baby gates to keep her in the kitchen, she has only made the poop mistake once...........(newspaper rolled workes wonders) trust the crate, it works great. I can leave my puppy in hers for about 4 hours before she needs to go out..........but this crate thing, IT works wonders. the puppy actually loves her "DEN" good luck, Germanspirit