Help With Toilet Training Please!

[Ruffydog]

Hi everyone,

I have a silky terrier x 11 week old (12 weeks on monday) pup called Ruffy.

I'm having a bit of a crisis about toilet training him and really just want some advice on wether I'm doing the right thing or not... I live in an apartment and want him to be an inside dog.. I have a front yard but for obvious reasons cant leave him in there all day.

The way I have been approaching toilet training so far is to leave a couple of toilet training pads around inside for when I leave him on his own (I need to back to work in a week so have been leaving for a few hours at a time most days) and also trying to take him outside when he wakes up, 10 minutes or so after a drink or some food, and every hour. I have been working on getting him to go to the toilet on command for the past week or so.. but not sure if that is working so well. He has gone to the toilet on the pads only a handfull of times but will usually just wee wherever he is. When he goes to the toilet in the right spot, inside or out, he gets lots of praise.

Am I confusing him by setting up a spot outside as well as inside for him to toilet?

I get the distinct impression that it is just luck when he wees in the right spot.. but then sometimes I feel like we may be getting somewhere.. for example, yesterday I left him for a few hours and when I came back he had been to the toilet on the floor but right near the front door (but also right next to one of the pads!).

I guess what I want to know is am I doing the right thing and will he get the idea eventually if I just give it time?

Another quick question.. he bites a lot and has started getting this nasty look in his eye and biting me really hard sometimes when I tell him No! What is the best way to tackle this problem? Will he eventually learn not to bite if I continue to stop playing when he starts biting and tell him no? I also give him one of his chew toys when he starts chewing on me or the furniture and praising him when he starts chewing on that and then regularly praising him when he starts chewing on the right things on his own.

Sorry for the long windedness of this post. Thanks so much in advance for your help!

[cassie]

Am I confusing him by setting up a spot outside as well as inside for him to toilet?

Maybe. I've never used those toilet training pads when house training a pup so can't comment too extensively (I'm sure others will be along to offer more advice though!) Just wanted to say that I'd be taking him out IMMEDIATELY after eating or drinking, don't even bother waiting 10 or more minutes. Baby puppies (especially toy breeds) have tiny bladders and it doesn't take long before they need to toilet. Also, watch him like a hawk at ALL times for signs that he needs to toilet, signs include circling and sniffing the ground. If you see him do this, pick him up and rush him outside, put him where you want him to go, and once he does, praise. If you can't watch him at all times (and let's face it, not many of us can!) you may want to look into crate training.

Good luck!

[maximum]

Hello Ruffydog!

I feel for you - I have a 21 week old poodle/maltese cross and also live in an apartment. But without the front yard!! I also use puppy pads and I've pretty much got Max toilet trained on them. He has the occasional accident, but only once every couple of weeks or so. He's been really good for about 6 weeks.

Because he's an inside dog and I work, I decided to pick one toilet spot (the laundry) that I eventually wanted him to use as his inside toilet. I also put pads down in a couple of other places that he habitually went to, with the intention of weaning him off them later, when he had more bladder control. I've done that now with all but one spot, plus the laundry. I also encourage him to go out on the balcony as much as possible (he's only a small dog and it's easy to clean), but I close the door at night because otherwise he barks at stuff. Can't do that in a flat! He tends to poo out there and wee on his pads inside now. Which is probably better for the people downstairs, who may end up with a wee shower one day! Lol!

In the beginning, I felt like it was 2 steps forward, one step back. Every time I thought he was getting better, he'd have a couple of days of piddling everywhere again! Drove me crazy...but he did eventually get the hang of it and now he very rarely slips up.

You'll get the hang of his 'patterns' eventually - I found I could tell when Max was going to poo, but not when he was going to wee. He doesn't squat or really sniff around before he wees, he just stands there and lets rip! Lol!

He did occasionally go by the front door, as you mentioned your pup is doing, but I never caught him in the act. So, I just cleaned it up and persevered. He stopped doing it within a couple of weeks. I reckon it was a touch of seperation anxiety, when I went to work.

Just keep doing what you're doing, even if he looks at you like you're bananas when you constantly plonk him on a pad or take him outside. He'll get the hang of it. And if you catch him in the act, just admonish him verbally, pick him up and take him to where you want him to go - even if he's already finished - then clean up the accident and move on!

It's really frustrating for you at the moment, I know. But hang in there, because it WILL get better!!

Re. the "nasty look" - Max does that too. They don't mean anything and if you keep doing what you're doing when he bites, he'll eventually stop. Max is 100% better than he was. Just be consistent and he'll understand in time.

That's all it is - consistency and time. For the first few weeks with Max, I kept thinking "what the hell have I done???" and would my house EVER stop being a giagantic toilet??! But now, he pretty much does the right thing and I'm absolutely loving having him in my life.

The way I've trained Max is probably not the 'right' way, but it's worked for me and I have a happy, healthy puppy and a clean house. And that's what matters!

Please don't hesitate to message me if you'd like to know any more of the 'apartment-related' stuff I've been doing. Having an inside doggy has been much harder than I thought, but it's also way more fun than I expected!

Good luck with Ruffy!

Cheers

Annie

[rish]

im still trying to tolit train

But for chewing,a nice big bone and he will soon learn,i got 1 again today as Leagh is Teething

[puggy_puggy]

Get rid of the puppy pads they are confusing him.

Take him outside constantly, every hour or so, after playing, sleeping, eating etc. Tell him to 'go to the toilet. go to the toilet' Reward him with a treat and make a big fuss when he does.

Is your front yard fenced or do you have to put a lead on him when you go outside? Is it a communal front yard or only yours? If its only yours invest in some puppy pens and set up a small area right outside your front door so that when you open your dog he can go outside safely.

For when you can not supervise him restrict the area that he has access to with barriers or puppy pen him.

[Starkehre]

Hi Ruffy dog, IMO yes it might be confusing for a 12 wo puppy to come to terms with it being OK to wee on the puppy pads and outside. I think what you are doing, although I fully understand your reasons and that you are trying to do your best, is probably confusing him. It is a lot to expect from a 12 wo pup.

I prefer to train them to go outside from day one. However, if I was in your position where you want Ruffy to be an inside dog, and you are going back to work soon and it will probably be extremely tricky for him to not have any accidents while you are at work and he is so young... what I would do in your situation is train him only to the puppy pads. I certainly would not reprimand for eliminating outside, but when training, I would be always encouraging him to empty on the pads and work on that. Over time as he matures, you can gradully move the pads nearer to the door. Eventually when he is house trained to the point where he does not have any accidents in the house, only on his pads, then the pads can be moved out the door, and he can be encouraged to still go on the pads, but outside... if that is what you want to achieve.

Males are wonderful at holding their wees for long periods of time provided they have not had too much to drink and are well etc. Obviously it is not ideal to encourage this if it is not necessary as it can cause bladder issues. But lots of owners can get their dog to hold on all day while they are away at work. Personally, if my long term plan was to have my dog locked inside the house all day while I was at work on going, then I would always have a puppy pad for him, Right through into adulthood. Yes, they can usually hang on when an adult, but it is much more comfortable for them to be able to relieve themselves if they need to.

Best of luck with your baby. You sound switched on, so I know you will work out what is best for you and Ruffy. I bet he as cute as a button.

Oh BTW, what you are doing with the biting will eventually work. Do not let him hurt you. And let him know it is not a game.

Edited February 6, 2009 by dyzney

[Ruffydog]

Thank you all so much for your replies!

I think I am much better off having the puppy pads all over the house and getting him to use them and then moving them outside when he has got the hang of only going to the toilet on the pads. Then I can relax when we are at home hanging out together and not feel as though I have to follow his around every second of the day. My puppy just like Max.. lots of warning for when he needs to poo but I can never catch him before he wees! I usually limit the areas he is alowed to roam around in and is left in during the day so I can monitor his toileting a lot better.

I have been sort-of crate training him... but he is a very energetic little fellow and I just cant bring myself to have him in his crate for most of the day and let him out for the toilet and a play every now and then.. he sleeps in his crate in my room and very happily goes in there at bed time and sometimes during the day for a rest and if I just need a minute to myself on his bad days of weeing all over the place or constantly licking and biting me! I went out and bought one of those puppy pens but he hates being in there especially when I put him in it outside and he cant see me.. I just use it now to block off the kitchen doorway when I need to keep him out of the lounge for whatever reason and still want to be able to see him.. they're not cheap so I'm glad I've found a use for it!

I'm glad to hear that if I just persevere with what I'm doing with the biting he will get the idea soon. I also rotate his chew toys so he doesnt get bored of them.. I think I'm just going to have to accept that he will always prefer my shoes though!

Thanks for the encouraging comments Annie.. I am still at the stage of thinking "what have I done" so I am glad to hear it does get better!!! :p

Thanks again!!

[maximum]

Thank you all so much for your replies!

I think I am much better off having the puppy pads all over the house and getting him to use them and then moving them outside when he has got the hang of only going to the toilet on the pads. Then I can relax when we are at home hanging out together and not feel as though I have to follow his around every second of the day. My puppy just like Max.. lots of warning for when he needs to poo but I can never catch him before he wees! I usually limit the areas he is alowed to roam around in and is left in during the day so I can monitor his toileting a lot better.

I have been sort-of crate training him... but he is a very energetic little fellow and I just cant bring myself to have him in his crate for most of the day and let him out for the toilet and a play every now and then.. he sleeps in his crate in my room and very happily goes in there at bed time and sometimes during the day for a rest and if I just need a minute to myself on his bad days of weeing all over the place or constantly licking and biting me! I went out and bought one of those puppy pens but he hates being in there especially when I put him in it outside and he cant see me.. I just use it now to block off the kitchen doorway when I need to keep him out of the lounge for whatever reason and still want to be able to see him.. they're not cheap so I'm glad I've found a use for it!

I'm glad to hear that if I just persevere with what I'm doing with the biting he will get the idea soon. I also rotate his chew toys so he doesnt get bored of them.. I think I'm just going to have to accept that he will always prefer my shoes though!

Thanks for the encouraging comments Annie.. I am still at the stage of thinking "what have I done" so I am glad to hear it does get better!!! :p

Thanks again!!

You're doing all the right things, mate - it's just perseverence and time from now on!

I found that it just 'suddenly' seemed to get better with Max. Like I was one day wondering why I got a dog and sick of cleaning up after a wee machine, then he just seemed to get the hang of it. I think it's also got a lot to do with their own confidence and familiarity with their own surroundings.

I absolutely laughed about the puppy pen - that's exactly what happened with me! Max HATED being in it from day one, even if he could see me. So, I used it to block off the kitchen when I went to work, figuring that lino was easier to clean than carpet. That didn't work, coz the little sod climbed over it and I found him running round the flat when I got home from work!!! It's a full sized pen, too - about 2 ft high! So, I bought a baby gate to block off the bedrooms and bathrooms, giving him the kitchen and laundry, loungeroom and dining room. More than I wanted, but still damage control! The puppy pen is now stretched across one end of the lounge room, to stop him chewing on all the electrical cables...

Just a couple of things to remember. The more puppy pads you put down around the house, the more spots you have to 'break' him of later. I know it seems easier now, but it'll be harder than necessary later. If you can maybe use your puppy pen to block off a section of your flat, to maybe limit his space more and keep an eye on him more easily. Then you can just use his crate for when you want a bit of time to yourself.

Don't let him chew on anything you don't want him to. Max loves shoes too! I think all pups do. I gave Max a pair of my old thongs when I first brought him home - he's allowed to have those, but no other shoes. I'm lucky that he tends not to actually chew on shoes - he just likes to carry them around!

Hang in there, Ruffydog - you're doing great! If you're in the Sydney area and would like to meet up for a doggy play date when you're little one is older and vaccinated, Max would love to meet him!

Cheers

Annie

[Ruffydog]

Thanks for the tips about using too many puppy pads Annie. I'll try and limit them.

I have thought of giving Ruffy an old thong of mine but I have read that you shouldnt give any of your old stuff to your puppy because they cant differentiate between their stuff and yours but I think I will give him one anyway because he loves them so much and looks so funny running around with a thong in his mouth!!

The play date sounds like a great idea but I live in Melbourne So nice of you to suggest it though!

Thanks for all the encouragement. I feel much more confident that we will get there soon!

[maximum]

Thanks for the tips about using too many puppy pads Annie. I'll try and limit them.

I have thought of giving Ruffy an old thong of mine but I have read that you shouldnt give any of your old stuff to your puppy because they cant differentiate between their stuff and yours but I think I will give him one anyway because he loves them so much and looks so funny running around with a thong in his mouth!!

The play date sounds like a great idea but I live in Melbourne So nice of you to suggest it though!

Thanks for all the encouragement. I feel much more confident that we will get there soon!

Yes, it does confuse them a bit by giving them your old stuff. But I just make sure he can't have anything of mine that I don't want him to have - that's where the baby gate comes in handy. As soon as I get home from work, I just chuck my shoes over the gate where he can't get them! As you said, your pup loves thongs etc. and so does mine - if you're lucky, Ruffy won't do too much damage to your shoes if he gets hold of them. But giving him his own thong whenever he goes for your shoes may deter him a bit. If that makes sense! *LOL* As I said, Max doesn't actually do any damage to shoes when he does get them, he just carries them around - my Maine Coon cat chews shoes far worse than the dog!

Hope you're both surviving ok in the heat down there. It was pretty hot in Sydney on the weekend, but NOTHING compared to you guys!

Message me any time you need to vent about your hairy little wee machine, LOL! And remember that all will settle down very soon and you'll start being able to enjoy the hairy monster properly.

Cheers

Annie