We have two little sisters who are almost four months old. We got them two months ago. We've been trying hard to potty train them, but they continue to not get it. We have potty pads in a few places around the house, sprayed with the training aid. We also show them the pads a few times a day. They get praise for the pads and for going outside as well as treats (although they don't get treats all the time, just because they aren't always handy). When they mess up, they get a stern no, and shown the potty pads again.
After two months of this, they still don't "get it". Online, everyone seems to take a very passive approach to it, not making the dog ashamed of mistakes. Even though they don't get their noses rubbed in it or anything like that, they will, from time to time, go and hide it. When there is two of them, and you find the mess a few hours later, I don't know how to let them know they did something wrong. So they end up just getting away with it.
We desperately need help! We want to give them run of more of the house, but we can't if they keep doing this.
Second question is on food. We have this Pedigree wet food that we give them twice a day, and they have dry food they nibble on as well. For the past week they haven't been chowing down like they usually do. We tried switching them to Ceaser's, but they still won't eat. The only thing we can get them to eat is canned chicken w. white rice. They will also go nuts for peanut butter, and insist on getting our food. I think maybe they just want to eat what we are eating? The only way to get them to eat more than a few bites of dog food is to feed them by hand, which is time consuming.
They are doing okay with the chicken, but last night neither of them ate more than a few bites. I even took Pepper to the kitchen, sat down with her on my lap on the table, and watched her eat to make sure she was getting food. She wouldn't go near the food unless I brought it to her. Cammie is more of a pig, so I'm not as worried about her, but she also only ate a bit of her food last night, and this morning she completely shunned the chicken Pedigree food.
We are starting to get worried that they aren't getting enough food. What should we do?
Here are some pictures of our little girls. They are AKC certified, Pepper is availed for breeding (not ready of course) but we don't think we will. Their full names (show names? Don’t know what to call it) are: Lady Chamomile Tea Time and Lady Chai Tea Time.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/puppies/basket1small.jpg
Cammie:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/puppies/basket3small.jpg
Pepper:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/puppies/pepperblanketsmall.jpg
5 weeks:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/puppies/IMG_4880.jpg
My sister with Cammie @ 1 week:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/puppies/Tinaholdingourgirl.jpg
