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My girlfriend & I've got a nine month old chihuahua. Sweets very sweet, very quiet & a really good dog... for the most part.

She seems to be getting the

My girlfriend & I've got a nine month old chihuahua. Sweets very sweet, very quiet & a really good dog... for the most part.

My gf goes out of town quite a bit on business. So, I spend a lot of time with the puppy while she's gone.

I always play with her for a couple of hours when I get home. She also likes sitting on my lap while I'm watching TV or on the computer while she chews on a toy.

She seems to be getting the whole concept of the puppy pads down pretty good. Seems like she is almost spoiled for attention. So she stays in the apartment by herself till about 4 pm, m-f. While we're gone she actually does pretty good about using the pads.

When we're home, it seems like there's MORE of a problem. If we're playing w/ her or just holding her in our laps & petting her, she'll get up & go to the puppy pads if she has to 'go.' When we're doing something else like washing the dishes, cleaning, etc. (not paying attention to her) she's beginning to potty on the floor near us.

We've got a 1/2 bath that we use as a time out area. I use a baby gate, so that she can see out. A puppy pad is in the bathroom w/ her. When we first noticed that she started doing this, we'd scolded her & put her in the bathroom for 10 min. or so. She kept doing it... so, we started placing her in the bathroom for longer periods of time (20-30 min.) It did not seem to be help much.

Today, I was reading through a book while sitting on the couch & she urinated right next to me on the rear couch cushion... I spanked her, scolded her & placed her in the bathroom for 1/2 an hour.

I am in need of any good advice anyone is willing to give. Please, if I'm doing something wrong let me know. Thanks in advance.

>>My girlfriend & I've got a nine month old chihuahua. Sweets very sweet, very quiet & a really good dog... for the most part.
>>
>>My gf goes out of town quite a bit on business. So, I spend a lot of time with the puppy while she's gone.
>>
>>I always play with her for a couple of hours when I get home. She also likes sitting on my lap while I'm watching TV or on the computer while she chews on a toy.
>>
>>She seems to be getting the whole concept of the puppy pads down pretty good. Seems like she is almost spoiled for attention. So she stays in the apartment by herself till about 4 pm, m-f. While we're gone she actually does pretty good about using the pads.
>>
>>When we're home, it seems like there's MORE of a problem. If we're playing w/ her or just holding her in our laps & petting her, she'll get up & go to the puppy pads if she has to 'go.' When we're doing something else like washing the dishes, cleaning, etc. (not paying attention to her) she's beginning to potty on the floor near us.
>>
>>We've got a 1/2 bath that we use as a time out area. I use a baby gate, so that she can see out. A puppy pad is in the bathroom w/ her. When we first noticed that she started doing this, we'd scolded her & put her in the bathroom for 10 min. or so. She kept doing it... so, we started placing her in the bathroom for longer periods of time (20-30 min.) It did not seem to be help much.
>>
>>Today, I was reading through a book while sitting on the couch & she urinated right next to me on the rear couch cushion... I spanked her, scolded her & placed her in the bathroom for 1/2 an hour.
>>
>>I am in need of any good advice anyone is willing to give. Please, if I'm doing something wrong let me know. Thanks in advance.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Punishment in housetraining is a very bad idea. Here's a link to an area with several housetraining articles. You may wish to start with Housetraining Basics, Housetraining Small Dogs, Housetraining for Good Bonding with Your New Dog, and Potty Places:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47
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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