Gretal is 11 weeks old and she weighs 4 pounds. I am not sure I am feeding her enough and what am I to do about the cold weather and house training??? We have the crate and she goes outside reluctantly. We have papers near the door just in case. She lets us know when she isn't happy about the cold and windy weather!.
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A new baby in the house...help!
gojisho
Nov 19, 2003 06:36 PM
Replies (2)
KDiamondDavis
Nov 19, 2003 07:55 PM
>>Gretal is 11 weeks old and she weighs 4 pounds. I am not sure I am feeding her enough and what am I to do about the cold weather and house training??? We have the crate and she goes outside reluctantly. We have papers near the door just in case. She lets us know when she isn't happy about the cold and windy weather!.>>>
Talk to your vet about the food, because it's pretty critical when a dog is that small. She will need to be fed three times a day, maybe four for awhile.
For housetraining, a coat or sweater will be needed, and possibly boots. You didn't mention whether she's going outdoors into your own fenced area. If so, you may be able to make the area more comfortable for her by providing some shelter out there, keeping the grass very short, etc.
Go out with her, and give tiny treats as rewards when she potties outside. Dachshunds are highly motivated by food. Don't send her outside alone, always go with her. And never leave her out, waiting for you to come back to let her in. That would likely lead to her refusing to go out at all.
Put her on a schedule rather than making it her responsibility to tell you when she needs to go out. Take her out once per hour during the hours you are at home and awake. Take her out extra times if she needs to go, of course. Your goal is to have her outside when she needs to go, so she can get it right. Mistakes are not her fault--it's our job as the humans to help the dogs get this right. They don't understand why it's "bad" to potty in the house.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com
Minuet
Nov 21, 2003 07:54 PM
This is exactly how my folks potty trained their dachshund we got them for Christmas, now two years ago. They would take her out, not wait to be asked, because they just don't understand right now. And boy is she food motivated!!! That's an understatement.
Good luck with your baby and show us a photo if you have one!
