Question:
Working girl having problems potty training a shih tzu puppy?
Meghan
2009-04-18 08:50:32 UTC
As normal adults do, I have a job. It is in retail so it doesn't have normal 8-5/9-5 hours. When I am at work, my 8 week shih tzu puppy finds a way to get out of the kitchen and roam the living room/dining room, in which I often come home to find "potty messes". I hate the idea of a crate. Since she is going to be 8 weeks next week, she is small. She finds her way out of the kitchen by knocking down the baby gate I have set up (with chairs to hold it and all). When I am here, I let her go outside. She does her stuff. If I catch her fixing to do something in the house, I distract her fallowed by picking her up and taking her to the grass. I just have a problem with when I am gone. My boyfriend will come over before/after he is off work (he doesn't have a normal schedule either) and do the same. We never scold her or anything. We "ignore" her messes and praise her tons when she goes outside. I recently got puppy pads for her where she normally goes potty when no one is here.

I know she's stubborn, and they are difficult to train. Any advice on potty training her?
Eighteen answers:
anonymous
2009-04-18 09:03:33 UTC
I had the same problem with my Chihuahua. I highly recommend these pee pads you can buy at walmart or wherever in the pet supply area. You can either lay them on the floor or I prefer a large litter box and line it with 2 of these pads. Change them everyday and your dog can go do whatever whenever and it's soooooo efficient for people that work all day. And for people with small dogs. I believe these pads even have something in them to attract the dogs to pee on them. But once you get him trained with treats that will not matter.
Karen L
2009-04-18 12:58:10 UTC
There's no way in the world to properly housetrain a puppy if you're not there. Puppies can't hold it more than a couple of hours, so no matter where you leave her, she's going to pee or poop there, and that will constitute her housetraining. She will learn that peeing in the house doesn't have any negative consequences, because you're not there to correct the behaviour or take her outside when she needs to go and give her positive reinforcement when she does the right thing. Potty training is not something you can achieve with a part-time effort. Look at it this way: if you were locked in a room for 24 hours, don't you think you'd have to ignore your toilet training sooner or later, and pee on the floor?



I can't think why you hate the idea of a crate, because if you had done some research on crate training you would understand that it works, and why, but a crate in the circumstances you describe would be of minimal help with teaching the dog to go outside, since the puppy is going to need to relieve itself while you're not there, crate or no crate. I think you didn't think much about it before you got this puppy. The only way to really housetrain a puppy is to have someone there to attend to it every couple of hours until it's physically mature enough to wait longer to relieve itself. How old that is for a Shih-Tzu, I don't know.



If you can live with it peeing in the kitchen only, then find something more secure than a baby gate to block off the rest of the house. There are better gates than baby gates. There are X-pens, and there are large crates. If you can't solve a problem as simple as containing an 8 week old, 4 pound dog, I'm not optimistic about this dog's future training.



Yes, I realize most of us have jobs which can be difficult to combine with owning a dog. The last time I got a new dog, I got it at a time when I was able to be there to do the puppy stuff she needed. I waited almost a year for the right circumstances. She was fully house-trained in less than a month. You get the dog when you have vacation time, maybe add a week or two of unpaid leave to that, find someone to attend the dog when you can't, whatever it takes.
Faith
2016-04-25 13:54:24 UTC
1
anonymous
2009-04-18 09:10:35 UTC
I'm afraid you don't stand a remote chance of not coming home to messes from a puppy of 8 weeks (?). She's a baby and she simply cannot hold for anything like the length of time she's apparently being left alone although I'm not sure how long this actually is?



If you don't want to use a crate (and point of fact, this baby puppy shouldn't be left in a crate for longer than 2 hourly periods) you will simply have to have her in a room (suggest kitchen or utility?) with paper down. But leaving an adult for longer than 4 hours at a stretch on a regular basis isn't right, and leaving a puppy is even worse. Apart from the house-training (which is going to take forever if nobody is there to train her), she's going to be noisy, and probably destructive, as well as unsocialised.
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2014-09-18 03:21:09 UTC
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anonymous
2016-04-21 07:25:05 UTC
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Typically dogs don't pee where they sleep, so if you start the crate training process eventually she will not do it anymore. Don't punish her when she goes in the house because at this point she doesn't know its bad. Just watch her like a hawk and if she gets in business position then scoop her up and take her outside and wait until she goes and say go potty over and over until she does then say good girl and give treat or pet or something good. You absolutley have to be consistant this is the most important part of the whole thing. I would reccomend taking her out every 30 min to 1hr for a while until she starts to catch on. Good luck, im sure it will all work out and when its all done, you will think how easy it was. I wouldn't reccomend getting the pads, dogs are suppose to pee outside, if they think they can go inside pad or no pad they will. Its not an easy thing to break when they are older. Train her to go outside while she is still a baby
anonymous
2016-04-04 20:18:01 UTC
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anonymous
2016-04-13 19:22:36 UTC
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2016-01-15 13:15:28 UTC
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After I started training my dog, he became very attached to me and loves to stay by side as long as he can. But just going to them won't help. You have to practice what they teach you outside of the class and you need to keep up with it at least every now and then after the class ends otherwise they'll just go back to previous habits. This course is a really good place to go for dog obedience classes. It get's your dog around other people and dogs to socialize while getting the training you need. As for electric collars, I would say to not get one. In my experience, they're only a negative effect on your dog. I mean of course you're going to need to correct your dog, but being positive and encouraging your dog works a lot faster and easier.



Every dog is different, so unless you have a german shepherd or a really smart dog, it might take a while to train her. You might get frustrated with her, but go easy. She's still a puppy and has a lot of energy. A backyard or somewhere to run will help her get rid of a lot of energy that might cause her to misbehave from boredom.
Todd
2009-04-18 09:06:40 UTC
I know it might not seem like the best bet, but really, crate training is key to potty training a dog especially when you are gone during the day. i work 9-5 as well and i crate my puggle during the day. he started out going potty in the crate and we went through a lot of puppy pads and blankets, but he is 7 months now and does great during the day. he doesnt go potty in the crate anymore and it doing well with regular potty training.



i hope that helps. good luck!
Cheryl I
2009-04-18 09:02:18 UTC
I have had dogs for many years and have cleaned up many, many messes! Since your dog is so young I think you should be scolding it for making a mess. If you don't, she will just keep doing it. If she doesn't know it's bad why would she stop doing it? It is VERY hard to potty train older dogs (hence the old dog new tricks quip) so it's best to nip it in the bud now.



She could be upset that you are leaving her home alone and trying to tell you by making a mess. She will grow out of that but ONLY if she gets proper training now.



Good Luck!!
anonymous
2016-06-02 19:06:33 UTC
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anonymous
2009-04-18 09:01:01 UTC
Sorry, but no reputable breeder sells a dog of this size until it's at least 12 weeks old. UGH! Letting your dog go in the house is teaching her that it's okay to piss and **** in the house, That's disgusting. In most states it's illegal to release a pup to it's new home before it's at least 8 weeks old. You need to turn the BYB into the proper authorities.



?? You say that she's 8 weeks old then turn around and say that she's going to be 8 weeks old next week? Doesn't make any sense.
anonymous
2014-08-03 10:27:22 UTC
Hi there,

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anonymous
2016-04-05 01:43:40 UTC
Dog training provides your dog with important lessons. They can save his life and they can protect you, your family, your neighbors and your household items.



Sadly, many dogs end up at the local pound because they never learned how to adapt to life within human society. This is often because owners don't know proper dog training methods. When their dogs seem unable to make the transition, owners feel their only alternative is to let the dog go.



This doesn't have to be the case for you. All it takes is knowing the right dog training techniques that work, how to apply them effectively and where to look for help.



One of the first lessons is for you.



Make dog training fun and enjoyable for you and your dog. That way, neither of you will become stressed or frustrated. Remember that dogs pick up on your emotions, the energy you emit. If you become tense, your dog becomes upset too. In this state, he is confused and unable to learn.



It takes time for a dog to learn and retain what he's learned. He might succeed admirably on your first training session, but the next day he's just as likely to have forgotten it. He might seem to have it down for an entire week or more and then fall back into his old habits.



He has a lot to learn in his youth. Because a dog's natural instincts are far stronger than any training you might apply, it's easy for him to slip back at this early stage.



This is a normal part of dog training, but it's not impossible to overcome. Simply reassert the training as a refresher course. Don't think that he just can't learn, because he can. He proved it by getting it right the first time.



Puppies love to play and interact with humans. While this is fun to observe and experience, it can present a problem during training. For an especially exuberant puppy, make extra effort to calm him whenever he loses focus.



You can do this by helping him expel some of that energy. Chase him around the yard, toss the ball, play tug-of-war, and anything else that will drain him. After about 15-20 minutes, or when you see he's slowing down, take a 5-minute rest and then begin the dog training.



Keep your training sessions short, especially at the beginning. He'll learn much better if you keep each lesson to under 10 minutes. Take a break, an hour or so, and start again.



Here are 7 basic dog training tips that will make training fun for you and your dog.



1. Seek out trained professionals. They can shorten the learning curve for you and your pet by using only the most effective dog training methods. No guesswork, just results. Refer to any of the great dog training books that are available for proper techniques.



2. Use positive reinforcement during the dog training sessions. Negative reinforcement, such as hitting your dog, can bring the opposite results to what you're trying to achieve. As well, negative punishment can make your dog fearful and even aggressive.



3. Make it fun! Dog training doesn't have to be a grueling task. Dogs love to please their owners, so if the learning environment is relaxed and fun, your dog will learn much more easily.



4. Use small treat rewards to help make the training enjoyable. Choose a special treat to use only for the training process when your dog has completed a lesson correctly.



5. Choose appropriate training products. Speak to your dog trainer or pet store professionals for advice on the proper product for your specific needs. For basic training, you need the right collar and leash, which can be a clicker collar or one of the different types of harnesses.



6. Remember that it will take time for your dog to absorb and understand your dog training lessons. Allow him the time he needs but also remember to reinforce each lesson by using the same methods every time. This will help his retention.



7. Know when to change your teaching method. While you'll want to stick to one method, it must be one that actually works. Try different methods until you find one that gets the results you want, and then continue to use that method.



Once you see some results, you'll realize that dog training can be a rewarding experience.



You could consider it an art form or special talent reserved for people like you who have the envious ability to connect with their dogs on a unique level.



Done well, dog training is like poetry in motion.



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anonymous
2009-04-18 09:04:46 UTC
Why do you hate the idea of a crate? Have you even done any research on how beneficial they are to you and the puppy?



And by the way, Cheryl, a pup of this age doesn't know what no means.





And mamaBas is correct.
anonymous
2014-09-14 18:01:33 UTC
Ehm..

If you haven't attended a good dog traning course you shouldn't complain. You have to learn to understand better your dog, the causes of its bad behaviours and some good techniques to use to get rid of any issue you have with your furry friend.



A good site with a good dog training course is http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572. I think it's the best dog training course available on the net.

Bye
anonymous
2016-04-14 06:00:18 UTC
Everyone begins training a dog with a number of unknowns. First, no one can truly know how a dog will react to training and even if you know the breed, there can be differences with each individual breed. Another unknown is the type of dog training that you use. Some dogs do well with food based reinforcement and some do not and owners will need to learn as they go along. While most of the unknowns with dog training can be overcome quickly, many owners make some pretty common mistakes while they are training your dogs. To avoid those dog training mistakes, it is important to be aware of them and that is exactly what I will be doing in this article; alerting you to common dog training mistakes that every owner has or will make at one time.



Mistake #1: Not Setting Firm and Consistent Rules: One of the most common mistakes that owners will make actually has nothing to do with the physical act of dog training and is actually a daily occurrence that usually plays in the background. As every parent will tell you, children require rules and dogs are no different. There should be rules set in place the moment that a dog is brought home. This means that if you have a rule for no dogs on the furniture, then you need to stick with it, regardless of how cute a puppy is. Not establishing those rules right from the beginning can lead to long term behavior problems and your puppy will quickly learn that he can ignore the rules and eventually simply ignore you. It is important that you avoid this dog training mistake right from the start and make sure that everyone in your house will follow the same rules with your dog to ensure the best success.



Mistake #2: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Okay, this may be a little confusing since dog training consists of the repetition of an action but while repeating an action over again is fine, repeating a command is not. When it comes to dog training mistakes, I would say that this is the biggest mistake that owners will make and I have been found guilty of this little offense myself. It is only natural to repeat a command when a dog doesn't listen but it is something that you should train yourself not to do. When you repeat a command, you are teaching your dog that he doesn't have to listen to a command every time. This means that a command stops having any affect on the dog and you end up having to retrain with a new command, which can take time and can be very frustrating for both you and your dog.



Mistake #3: Rewarding Bad Behavior: Although there are several types of dog training available, most trainers and owners will use positive reinforcement training, which consists of treating your dog, usually with food, whenever he does something positive. While this is an excellent way to train your dog, many owners make the mistake of treating the wrong behavior and end up reinforcing bad behavior. Bad behavior in dog training is anything that you don`t want your dog to do. So, for instance, your dog is in the kitchen while you are cooking a meal. At first it may not seem like he is doing anything but spending time with you and that may have been the case in the beginning but when you drop your first bit of food, or you toss him a little snack, he will quickly learn to beg whenever you are in the kitchen. Fast forward a year and you have a full grown dog under foot whenever you go to the kitchen simply because you have reinforced that begging in the kitchen is okay. To avoid rewarding a dog for a bad behavior, don`t praise him, comfort him or treat him when he is doing something you don`t want repeated. So if he barks at the door, don`t praise him for being a good guard dog and if you drop some food on the floor, pick it up yourself and take it to his dog bowl if you want to give it to him. By controlling the environment, you can quickly stop yourself from rewarding his bad behavior.



Mistake #4: Saving it for a rainy day: The last common dog training mistake that I am going to mention is the desire to put off training. Many owners feel that dog training should be done after a certain age but it has been shown time and time again that the longer you wait, the harder it will be to train your dog. Dog training should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home. It starts with establishing rules and house training first and then it quickly moves to basic training such as sit, down, stay. Puppy socialization class usually begins around 11 weeks of age and from there you will quickly start dog training. Never leave training until your dog is 6 months of age or older since many negative behaviors are established by that time. In the end, if you are aware of the dog training mistakes that you can make, you will find that you are less likely to make them and your dog will quickly respond to dog training with only a small amount of fuss.



Before You Spend MORE Money On Expensive Dog Trainers or Products,

Watch This Video First!



https://bitly.im/0niyo



Discover the powerful dog training secrets to eliminate over 30+ common behavioral dog and puppy issues with step-by-step instructions from one of the world's most skilled dog trainers!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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