Yes Another Toileting Question

[chi4me]

Hi Everyone,

I am a bit confused about the toileting issue.

We have had Charlie the Chihuahua 2 weeks today, and all has been going well in regards to toileting. His breeder had paper trained him, and that is what I have carried on here at home.

He is set up with a puppy playpen, with the areas divided into three - crate for sleeping, food area and toileting area. His playpen measures about 6 meters long by about 2.5m wide.

My routine has been as follows;

I generally get up around 5.30am/5.45am, and I basically wake him up when I go into the kitchen. I talk to him, blather on about anything until he eliminates (he is praised and is given a treat) and then its playtime!. I have a rug/blanket set up in the lounge room, which as soon as I open the gate he runs to and he waits there for me so we can play. All has been going good in this regard, and I get in anywhere of 30 - 45 minutes of play time, before I start preparing the day for my kids.

What has been happening with no warning is that he has started to eliminate on the rug/blanket. He gives no warning sign (no sniffing or anything) and basically just squats and pees. This has happened the for the last two days, and has included number 2's as well! As soon as I catch him doing it, I have been putting him right back into his playpen on the toileting area, and basically waiting for him to eliminate again. He doesnt go!

He is then generally left in his playpen, until my kids are dressed and have had breakfast, and only then is he allowed out once more to play with the girls before they go to school. He doesnt have any accidents. They enjoy another 30 minutes or so with Charlie before they are off. Because they have played with him, I basically hang around his toileting area, until I see him go, when again he is praised and given a treat. He then follows me around the house with me taking him to his toileting area nearly every 20 - 30 minutes, watching, waiting, praising and treating. I have no problems during the rest of the day.

But, when it comes to evening time, after my girls have gone to bed, the same thing as the first thing in the morning. There is no signs he is wanting to go, and yep surprise he does.

Can anyone please offer any advice? Is there something different I should be doing?

Thankyou in advance.

[W Sibs]

Puppy needs to go outside frequently to go to the toilet. They have tiny bladders and have no control of them till they are about 6 months old.

I think if he keeps going to the rug/blanket... that's a sign he might need to go. Just have to keep an hawk eye watch out of him when he is near that area.

BTW.. Charlie is an awesome name (I have a Charlie myself )

[chi4me]

Charlie IS a good name isnt it

I understand about the tiny bladders and needing to go frequently

I wonder if its worth taking away the rug/blanket he plays on? This is the designated area, that we have for the kids to sit down and play with him, as well as clicker train.

Obviously when accidents happen a new blanket is placed down, and have been washing in biozet, so I am hoping there is no smell remaining for him to scent out.

Like I said this behaviour only happens first thing in the mornings, and last thing at night - so its made me very curious..

I thankyou for your advice

[TeamSnag]

I would also take him out on the grass to toilet... After every feed.. after every play/sleep... I would be doing wee runs every 30mins or so..

[persephone]

perhaps the OP doesn't have a yard?

[chi4me]

I would also take him out on the grass to toilet... After every feed.. after every play/sleep... I would be doing wee runs every 30mins or so..

Hi TeamSnag - I am doing this nearly every 20 minutes or so - but hes sneaky :D

perhaps the OP doesn't have a yard?

Persephone - you are dead on - we dont have a yard right now. We are actually living in our rental property, whilst our new home is being built. My aim with the paper, is to gradually reduce it, until he is actually eliminating on a puppy pee pad tray. Right now I have the tray under the newspaper and had been gradually reducing the size of the paper, to aim him towards the goal :D

I have ended up removing the blanket that he plays on, but now he is starting to go around the house! Again there is no warning, no sniffing, circling or any indication that he wants to go - he just does it!

I am perserving cause he is just a little guy ;) but the last two days have done my head in a little bit! The amount of times I have caught him, picked him up and carried him to his area - I think there has been more pee on me than any of the floorings

[DaisyDog]

Maybe keep him tethered to you, so you always have quick access to him?