| Posted By |
Message |
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Bitting and housebreaking- *update at bottom*
We have had our 3 mth pomeranian for 2 weeks now. In the beginning he was really good about going on the wee wee pad. Now when we let him out of his x-pen to hang out with us, he goes wherever he wants, mostly on the LR wood floor or kitchen floor. I catch him and tell him NO and pick him up and bring him to his pad. I'll leave him in there for 20-30 minutes and than when i let him out he does it again! I don't know what else to do? We live in an aptmt so he's only being trained to go on the pads.
The pad is in his x-pen in the bedroom- which you can see from the LR where we hang out with him. We've been bringing the pad out to the living room to try and avoid accidents, but we want him to learn to go to his pen when he needs to go.
Also, he has began puppy bitting us. We say NO BITE and take our hands away, but he's very agressive and rough (and his teeth are very sharp- he bites down and holds). Last night he bit DH's finger and cut it about 1/2 inch and it bleed bad.
Should we get a trainer, is 3 months too young? We're also moving to a house in 2 months, but i don't think we can live with this for that long.
Message edited 8/1/2007 11:32:40 AM.
|
Posted 7/31/07 12:19 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
PotofLuck06
Our Baby Boy Is Here!!!
Member since 11/06 13241 total posts
Name:
Betsy
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
When I called trainers, they said the minimal age was 4 months they could take a puppy.
It sounds like your puppy needs some chewing toys. And if he continues to bite you, do 2 things:
1. Buy the sour apple spray at Petco. Spray the dog by the mouth when it tries to bite you, or spray the item the dog is attempting to bite.
2. Get a small metal can, and fill it with marbles. When the dog misbehaves - bites or pees where it shouldn't, shake the can and say no. The noise scares them.
We started using these items over the last 2 weeks and our puppy is no longer going after our feet/fingers. And she's chewing on her toys - some we've had to replace already.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 12:50 PM |
| |
|
alexlynn7
Big brother to be!
Member since 9/06 6314 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
-about the potty training, i would also be sure to praise him wildly when you do catch him going on the wee-wee pad. this way you're not only telling him what NOT to do (pee on the floor), but also telling him what TO do (go on the pad). in addition to praising him, you might also offer him a treat immediately after he goes on the pad. the more positive reinforcement, the better.
-about the biting, to a certain extent mouthing is a puppy behavior that many dogs will grow out of. but it sounds a little out of control right now (sorry about your DH's finger!). in addition to saying NO BITE when the dog mouths you, i would immediately introduce a toy that is ok for the dog to bite on. i did this substitution thing with one of my dogs and it worked pretty well.
good luck!!
|
| Posted 7/31/07 12:56 PM |
| |
|
MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by alexlynn7
-about the potty training, i would also be sure to praise him wildly when you do catch him going on the wee-wee pad. this way you're not only telling him what NOT to do (pee on the floor), but also telling him what TO do (go on the pad). in addition to praising him, you might also offer him a treat immediately after he goes on the pad. the more positive reinforcement, the better.
-about the biting, to a certain extent mouthing is a puppy behavior that many dogs will grow out of. but it sounds a little out of control right now (sorry about your DH's finger!). in addition to saying NO BITE when the dog mouths you, i would immediately introduce a toy that is ok for the dog to bite on. i did this substitution thing with one of my dogs and it worked pretty well.
good luck!!
ITA this is great advice.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 12:57 PM |
| |
|
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by PotofLuck06
When I called trainers, they said the minimal age was 4 months they could take a puppy.
It sounds like your puppy needs some chewing toys. And if he continues to bite you, do 2 things:
1. Buy the sour apple spray at Petco. Spray the dog by the mouth when it tries to bite you, or spray the item the dog is attempting to bite.
2. Get a small metal can, and fill it with marbles. When the dog misbehaves - bites or pees where it shouldn't, shake the can and say no. The noise scares them.
We started using these items over the last 2 weeks and our puppy is no longer going after our feet/fingers. And she's chewing on her toys - some we've had to replace already.
Thanks, we'll try the can thing. we haven't done that yet. He has a ton of chew toys- i get him new ones each week! Whenever he bites, i try to draw his attention to a toy. It works for me but he always bites my dh.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 12:58 PM |
| |
|
alexlynn7
Big brother to be!
Member since 9/06 6314 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
one more thing - i was just re-reading your post and noticed that the wee-wee pad is in his x-pen. that's like a crate, right? if so, then that may be the source of your problem. dogs will go out of their way not to soil the space where they relax and sleep. so as your dog's bladder control improves, i can see why he might be resisting using the pad and soiling in the house instead. i would consider moving the pad to an alternate, neutral location and give tons of positive reinforcement when he uses it. good luck!
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:04 PM |
| |
|
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by alexlynn7
-about the potty training, i would also be sure to praise him wildly when you do catch him going on the wee-wee pad. this way you're not only telling him what NOT to do (pee on the floor), but also telling him what TO do (go on the pad). in addition to praising him, you might also offer him a treat immediately after he goes on the pad. the more positive reinforcement, the better.
-about the biting, to a certain extent mouthing is a puppy behavior that many dogs will grow out of. but it sounds a little out of control right now (sorry about your DH's finger!). in addition to saying NO BITE when the dog mouths you, i would immediately introduce a toy that is ok for the dog to bite on. i did this substitution thing with one of my dogs and it worked pretty well.
good luck!!
I look like a lunatic when he goes on the pad- it's the happiest moment of my day, hehe. And we almost always give him a treat after.
I do it all- give him the toy, everything they say to do. I don't know why he's not learning. We'll just have to keep it up and hope he gets it. It's just frustrating cause our weekend was not even fun with him, it was stressful and upsetting and we don't want that to be our feelings towards our dog.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:08 PM |
| |
|
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by alexlynn7
one more thing - i was just re-reading your post and noticed that the wee-wee pad is in his x-pen. that's like a crate, right? if so, then that may be the source of your problem. dogs will go out of their way not to soil the space where they relax and sleep. so as your dog's bladder control improves, i can see why he might be resisting using the pad and soiling in the house instead. i would consider moving the pad to an alternate, neutral location and give tons of positive reinforcement when he uses it. good luck!
well the x-pen is big- about 6 feet by 3 feet and my pup is about a foot long- this is where he stays when we're at work and at night. He always goes on the pad when he's in there. But when we open it up, he goes wherever.
Your prob right about him not wanting to go back in there but than should we just have a pads out at all times and not teach him to always go in his pen? He goes into his pen to eat and drink water but not to go?
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:13 PM |
| |
|
alexlynn7
Big brother to be!
Member since 9/06 6314 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by shiv
Posted by alexlynn7
-about the potty training, i would also be sure to praise him wildly when you do catch him going on the wee-wee pad. this way you're not only telling him what NOT to do (pee on the floor), but also telling him what TO do (go on the pad). in addition to praising him, you might also offer him a treat immediately after he goes on the pad. the more positive reinforcement, the better.
-about the biting, to a certain extent mouthing is a puppy behavior that many dogs will grow out of. but it sounds a little out of control right now (sorry about your DH's finger!). in addition to saying NO BITE when the dog mouths you, i would immediately introduce a toy that is ok for the dog to bite on. i did this substitution thing with one of my dogs and it worked pretty well.
good luck!!
I look like a lunatic when he goes on the pad- it's the happiest moment of my day, hehe. And we almost always give him a treat after.
I do it all- give him the toy, everything they say to do. I don't know why he's not learning. We'll just have to keep it up and hope he gets it. It's just frustrating cause our weekend was not even fun with him, it was stressful and upsetting and we don't want that to be our feelings towards our dog.
i hear you... i was extremely frustrated when potty-training my dog as well. i thought it would be easier because he was over a year old and would have better bladder control than a puppy. umm... not so much. we basically started from scratch and it took time, like 6-8 weeks. also, in general, smaller dogs take a longer time to potty train.
give him time... he'll learn eventually.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:14 PM |
| |
|
alexlynn7
Big brother to be!
Member since 9/06 6314 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by shiv
Posted by alexlynn7
one more thing - i was just re-reading your post and noticed that the wee-wee pad is in his x-pen. that's like a crate, right? if so, then that may be the source of your problem. dogs will go out of their way not to soil the space where they relax and sleep. so as your dog's bladder control improves, i can see why he might be resisting using the pad and soiling in the house instead. i would consider moving the pad to an alternate, neutral location and give tons of positive reinforcement when he uses it. good luck!
well the x-pen is big- about 6 feet by 3 feet and my pup is about a foot long- this is where he stays when we're at work and at night. He always goes on the pad when he's in there. But when we open it up, he goes wherever.
Your prob right about him not wanting to go back in there but than should we just have a pads out at all times and not teach him to always go in his pen? He goes into his pen to eat and drink water but not to go?
yes, i would definitely move the pad out of the pen. a dog will never poop where he eats if he can help it, and even though the pen is big he has probably identified the whole space as non-poop/pee space. i am guessing that he uses the pad when he's desparate to go while in the pen, but that he'd prefer to go outside the pen.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:18 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
If the dog sleeps, eats and drinks in the pen it will not go in there. That is exactly how our trainer had us housebreak our dog. I would try to put the wee wee pads outside of the pen.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:20 PM |
| |
|
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by alexlynn7
yes, i would definitely move the pad out of the pen. a dog will never poop where he eats if he can help it, and even though the pen is big he has probably identified the whole space as non-poop/pee space. i am guessing that he uses the pad when he's desparate to go while in the pen, but that he'd prefer to go outside the pen.
ok thanks. I'm going to move the pad into the LR when we're home and he's roaming around. Now i feel bad for getting mad at him when it's just his natural instinct to not go in there. 
Thanks everyone for you advice!
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:27 PM |
| |
|
itkocak
Member since 7/07 7639 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Message edited 11/10/2011 2:52:38 PM.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:29 PM |
| |
|
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Posted by imthekevinofcindyandkevin
Also keep a leash on your puppy until he is more consistent.
Reason being that you want to direct him to where you want him to go. If you grab him with your hands it frightens them and they associate that as a bad experience so when you try and pet/play with them they avoid your hands. Make sense?
oh your so right, since i've been grabing him to bring him to the pad he backs away from me when i try to pet him. AHHH- i'm totally screwing up my pup! it's only been a few days, so hopefully i can reverse any damage i've done!
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:31 PM |
| |
|
itkocak
Member since 7/07 7639 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Message edited 11/10/2011 2:52:54 PM.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:41 PM |
| |
|
alexlynn7
Big brother to be!
Member since 9/06 6314 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
don't feel bad about it... it's so easy to make training mistakes because animal instincts are not always intuitive. plus, i think that the closer we get to our animals, the more "human" and the less "dog" they become to us, which makes it all the more confusing to understand where they're really coming from.
dogs are extremely forgiving and love you unconditionally, so in no time your dog will forget these small indiscretions. plus, i'm sure you're doing a lot more stuff right than wrong. don't sweat it.
|
| Posted 7/31/07 1:44 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Don't feel bad. At least your dog has instincts that you can work with. Our dog went in the pen even with its food and water in there. 
|
| Posted 7/31/07 2:44 PM |
| |
|
shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
|
Re: Bitting and housebreaking
Update:
So I shared all your tips with my DH since I was going to be home late last night. He took the wee wee pad out of the pen and put it the LR. Chip went at another place in the LR and than later on- he went into the pen for some water and went in the same place the wee pad used to be!!! hehe I can't win.
I got a book on poms and it says it can take up to 4 months to house break them. So, we've just got to keep trying but I have a new outlook and last night was a much better night with him.
Thank you all for your help!!!
|
| Posted 8/1/07 11:32 AM |
| |
|
