Ok, so this might be a dumb question, but just humor me. Murphy is a 3 & 1/2 month old chi. I've read lots and lots of books on training dogs and puppies. But when it comes to potty training, they don't say anything useful (in my case). I really want to train Murphy to go potty in a litter box. So for now, we are using a potty pad with that frame holder around it. He does very well with the pads and only has a few accidents a day (AARRGG!!) But for real, he does use the pads, but only when they are right there. If a pad is not in sight, then he will go anywhere. He has no ambition to go find the pad, or to just hold it. I live in an apartment so i can't always just grab him when he starts to squat and run outside. What I usually do is just take the pad with us to whatever room we're in. Then he does OK (most of the time). But my IDEAL sitation would be to leave it in one spot and have him GO TO IT everytime he had to go potty. Am I asking for too much? I'm so afraid that he's going to grow up to be a bad, poorly trained dog. We are starting puppy classes at the end of March, but by then he will be over 4 months. ANY IDEAS!!?? Sorry for rambling on!
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Potty Training
Replies (5)
>>Ok, so this might be a dumb question, but just humor me. Murphy is a 3 & 1/2 month old chi. I've read lots and lots of books on training dogs and puppies. But when it comes to potty training, they don't say anything useful (in my case). I really want to train Murphy to go potty in a litter box. So for now, we are using a potty pad with that frame holder around it. He does very well with the pads and only has a few accidents a day (AARRGG!!) But for real, he does use the pads, but only when they are right there. If a pad is not in sight, then he will go anywhere. He has no ambition to go find the pad, or to just hold it. I live in an apartment so i can't always just grab him when he starts to squat and run outside. What I usually do is just take the pad with us to whatever room we're in. Then he does OK (most of the time). But my IDEAL sitation would be to leave it in one spot and have him GO TO IT everytime he had to go potty. Am I asking for too much? I'm so afraid that he's going to grow up to be a bad, poorly trained dog. We are starting puppy classes at the end of March, but by then he will be over 4 months. ANY IDEAS!!?? Sorry for rambling on!
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He needs to be under your eyes at all times at this age when loose in the apartment. He will not yet be able to handle the responsibility of going from one room to another to find a potty pad. He needs you there helping him.
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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
So do you think I should do the thing where we just take the pad w/ us to whatever room we are in?
I was having the same problem with my baby charlie. I bought one of those little exercise pens and put newspaper down and a puppy pad and he finally started to understand.
>>So do you think I should do the thing where we just take the pad w/ us to whatever room we are in?
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No, that doesn't teach the dog a location for the pad. If you want to use those pads, have a set location and take the dog there frequently to prompt the dog to use the pad.
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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
I have to agree with what has been said. My Angel is 9 weeks old today and is actually doing very well with the pads. I have her crate in the living room and I keep a pad right next to it. She goes to it on her own most of the time but it doesn't always cross her mind to do so and if she is in another room, she certainly won't think about it. I make sure to take her to the pad immediately when she wakes up, after a hard session of playing, and after meals. We have very few accidents but there are some of course. It can take months for them to grasp our house training efforts and small dogs can be difficult to train in this dept anyway. My friend's chi is a year old and still has occasional accidents.
For awhile, you will have to take him to the pad on a regular basis. He will catch on before long I'm sure. Good luck!
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J
