I'm fostering a "chorkie"

[ut-fan]

I got a 7 yr. old female, 4-5 lbs., Chorkie last Weds. She belong to an elderly lady until she went into a home & her kids dumped her 4 dogs in a shelter. This tiny little thing was shivering, facing the wall when rescued. She was in another foster home w/several dogs & cats (she does fine w/both dogs & cats).

I have had her since last Weds. She is not clingy, in fact she would rather call the shots & come to you when it's her idea. So I give her her own space & accept her the way she is.

She has two issues that I would like anyone's advice on. She supposedly used a doggy door in her owner's home but I don't have one. She is housebroke but her "quirks" are: she doesn't like the wet grass in the mornings or late evenings & it takes her 5-6 mins. to finally go potty. She also won't be still when pooping, she walks or runs & spreads it as she goes. No big deal, I can pick it up off the sidewalks but it's hard to find in the grass (I keep it picked up out of my hard so no one steps in anything & brings it into my house).

Since I have only had her 4 days now, it hasn't rained yet. So the wet grass issue is going to become a bigger problem when we have rain, which there is a chance where I live Mon.-Fri. this week.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts or ideas on this. Thanks! Trish

[RoscoesMommy42]

I would like to hear people's ideas also! Roscoe cannot stand to step in wet grass and always has accidents in the house when it rains.

[chachi]

I had to pee pad My Jewels because she wouldnt go out in the rain then she stopped going in the snow and we have snowy winters. Anyway she will go outside also on nice days but she mainly uses the pee pad

[LuvmyYorkies2]

Hi Trish! Welcome to YT! How sweet of you to rescue that sweet baby and you're doing the right thing by just giving her space and letting her warm up at her own pace. Unfortunately, shelter babies come with all types of unwanted behaviors but with patience, positive reinforcement & consistency, she'll adapt disciplines the way you want her to.

One of my girls is like that...does not like going out in the rain(or right after either) or walking on wet grass. On those days, I sometimes had to pick her up and put her in a spot in the middle of the grass, not too close to the door to run back in. As she would walk to get out of the grass back onto the sidewalk, etc. she would just eventually go ahead and pee. Not right away..it took some time before she would do it but now she knows..even if it has rained and/or the grass is wet, when she's outside that means go potty & then she can go right back in.

Also, all my girls are trained to use both pp pads & go outside. Now they'd rather go outside & will not use the pads freely, but on bad rainy days/snow, etc. they know they can use the pads as an option. You should still try your best to stay consistent & teach her to use it outside also but there are other options.

So you're not the only one with that problem. Hopefully, she will get it in time.

Best of Luck to you! Would love to see pics of your baby also!

[Lee B]

Don't know what to tell you about the wet feet ... mine don't seem to mind, but they don't like getting wet (like in the rain). So I have a piddle pad for them by the doggie door. If it's nice, they WANT to go out. But if it's raining, they use the pad.

I had a GSD once upon a time who was shy about "elimination" if he was being watched. He'd pee, but not poop. When we moved overseas and were waiting for housing, I had to get a rope and turn my back on him. When he was done, he'd walk back to my side. But if I peeked while he was, umm, "engaged", he'd stop. Then it took forever before he'd go again .

And I had a Westie female who would squat and walk while "going". Never did figure out why she did; it was like she didn't want a pile behind her and would kinda spread it around . We always had a yard, so it didn't bother me. I just offer this useless bit of information to let you know your li'l lady isn't the only one with the desire to spread it around .

I hope the other dogs found homes. It's very difficult when they not only lose their home, but each other, also.

[ut-fan]

Since she is used to "going outside" & supposedly she used a "doggy door" in her first home, the rescue group I'm fostering for prefers that she continue going outside.

[ut-fan]

Thank you Yolanda for your comments. The rescue group is hoping for "Munchie's" forever home soon. I have posted "video clips" of her on You Tube. Just go there & put in "Munchie the Chorkie" & there should be 4 quick video clips of her around our farm. She has experienced ALLOT of firsts here & even though she might be nervous about things, she has learned that whatever she has done, I have been there & nothing bad happened.

[ut-fan]

I don't think "Munchie" spent much time at the shelter she was dumped at. The rescue group I am working with went to pick up a couple of Bichon's & the shelter
actually asked them to take "Munchie" because she was SO afraid. So I don't
think her "quirks" about the grass or walking while pooping were developed there.

I don't think the elderly lady may have given her allot of attention. or, perhaps because she was one of four she didn't get the attention an "only dog" would get but actually I like that she's NOT CLINGY like some small dogs are.

She likes men or women. My husband was on a business trip & didn't meet her until her 2nd day w/us & she followed him when he came home & followed him into his closet but then when he turned to her she ran off. Then 30 mins. later, she jumped up in his recliner w/him like she'd been here all her life. Go figure! She has her own ways.

[manina]

I don't know about your back door or yard , but I go out with my male which I also gave him a forever home and he won't go on the pad and doesn't want to get wet.
So I got him a rain coat and I stand over him with a umbrella until he go's.
I can't think of what else to do. I started to put on pad by the back door when it rain, but he will just jump on it. My girl don't want to get wet so she knowns to just go on the pad.

Wishing u Luck !!!
bark@ulater!!!!!!!
manina,miley,max

[redvalaria]

I love my little guy to pieces, but, I am still "top dog" in this house.

If he wouldn't go in the grass (he wasn't crazy about high grass when he was a puppy) I would pick him right up and put him in the middle of it. I have a failry large yard, so, I would stand in the middle, one way or the other, he was going to get in that grass! even if it was just to get back to the door.

If he didn't "do his business" he got scooped up at the back steps and put right back in the middle of the yard. He picked up the idea quite fast that the best way to get out of the grass was to pee and be done with it!

Remember, YOU are the alpha. Not your dog.

Just because they are small some people let them "get away" with behaviour we would never allow in a big dog. I say, bows, frilly party clothes and all, they are STILL dogs. They need to do their doggy business outside and behave with good manners, even if they are only a few pounds.

[Jemma]

rain boots?? hehe

[HERBS]

None of my 3 will go in the rain... I can't image anybody human or dog would go in the rain. Mine do not like wet grass either but if the rain has ended, they must deal with the wet grass LOL. I use piddle pads and outside. Mine go outside 99% but use the piddle pad when it rains or late at night and I am asleep. I am so thankful for the piddle pad that is for sure. I only started using them about 5 months ago. Now I don't feel bad when it rains all day and the babies are forced to hold it! As far as 5 or 6 minutes, I do not see that as abormal. I have a fenced yard and my babies know to go all the way to the back to do their #2. I have NEVER seen any in my yard... I love that about my oldest and she has taught the 2 younger ones

[maddiepie]

OMG she is soooo cute!!! Love the long tail! What a cutie. There should be NO problems in rehoming this cute little girl! Good luck!

[ut-fan]

Kate:

I agree w/being the top dog in your home, I love what Cesar teaches that dogs must respect you as their leader. I'm not a pushover either.

She is new w/me & she has her funny ways. I don't push her as far as asking her to sit w/me all the time, same for other family members here (okay, my 87 yr. old mother would LOVE for Munchie to sit w/her all the time) nor does my husband. It's all up to Munchie, she can choose who she pleases to sit with.

As far as grass, we have a farm but also a LARGE yard area around the house that we keep cut as short as any subdivision house. We cut BOTH sides around ALL of our fencing, all 34 acres of it. So there is a 4 ' - 5 ' area that is short on both sides of ALL fencing on the property. he rest of the "pastures" (we have 3, front, middle & back pastures, several acres each).

It's not the height of the grass, it's her being quirky about her feet getting wet. And her other quirk is, that she won't stand still to poop. She walks or runs & it falls out as she's moving. And she gets PLENTY OF PRAISE when she potties from me so I give positive reinforcement.

I just posted an album of pics of her if anyone wants to see her. She's a quiet little thing. I heard her bark for the FIRST time yesterday when my husband shut the garage door loudly & she was chillin' in bed w/me & it woke her up. She barked exactly twice & that is all. First bark since 8/12/09!

[ut-fan]

I'm dreading rain. We have a chance every day this week!