4 month Puppy Problems

[Ginseng]

Well, not really problems but certainly annoyances for me! I'm just wondering about the following, if it is to be expected.

Rolo is 4 months and 3.8 lbs. He is so active. We have him fenced into the kitchen just in case of accident. We started out with a small space in the kitchen and as his reliability on the pee pad grew, so did his space. He now has free reign of about 200 sq. ft which is our entire kitchen, his pee pad, crate, bed, toys, food & water, etc.

1. About 70% of the time he pees on his pee pad (well sort of) and the other 30% he pees either in the middle of the floor or right beside the fence to the rest of the house. Just tonight, I was playing with him in the kitchen. He ran over to the 'fence' - as he often does when we play - out of my sight and pee'd. Why is he inconsistent with his pee pad? Also, it seems like he stands on his pee pad and hangs his but over the edge and pees/poops on the floor. I used to call this a 'hit' when he was younger but I'd sure like him to get his hits better.

2. He is very active and if I am in the kitchen working, he is constantly biting at my toes. He can get ahold of my big toe in his teeth and yowch!! I can sternly tell him NO, he will stop, look up at me, wait until I go back to work and then start with my toe again. This could go on for 8 or 10 times until I get frustrated and leave the room.

3. If I get on the floor to play, he constantly wants to chew on my fingers. Same idea as the toe thing. He isn't teething right now. Baby teeth are all in. Seems more like a habit at this point.

Help. Is this 'normal' behavior or am I too slack in training?

[pancakepat]

I don't know to much so maybe someone w/more experience will respond to your post.
You might try putting pee pads down where ever he goes. Do they make bigger pads, might help him aim better. He's only 4 months so the nipping isn't surprising. Does he have toys? Sorry I'm not much help. I do think it'll get better when he gets a little older. Hang in there.

[4doggiemama]

Comment on the peeing...missing the pad. He is only a baby. Takes awhile to potty train. Some say it takes longer with a Yorkie because of their attitude. I didn't trust mine until they were over a year. When I left they were in ex-pens. Wishes for success in the potty training area. ~Joanne~

[OwnedByJezebel]

If he is stopping what he is doing and going over to the pad to pee and just missing, then there is nothing I would do but praise him. He is doing his best to go on the pad, and doesn't have the ability to know that his back end is off the edge. Maybe get bigger pads, but don't scold him when he goes to the right place but misses, since that might give him the idea that going to his pad to pee is a bad thing.

If he is only 4 months, he is not through teething yet. Most don't start to lose their baby teeth (front incisors) until around 5 months of age, and they lose all of their baby teeth and get their adult teeth by the time they are 7 months. He needs to chew, get him something to chew on besides your hands/toes. Tell him "ouch" when he does it and pull away, then provide him with an alternative. If that doesn't work, a squirt bottle filled with plain water works wonders (that shoots in a stream, not a mist), and just say "no" at the instant you are spraying him.

[Ginseng]

Wow. Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, he is still a baby and I try to be patient and remember that. It just seems so purposeful sometimes when he doesn't use the pad. I don't scold him when he has a 'near hit' as you are correct, I want him to go in the 'general vicinity' instead of the other side of the room.

When you speak of Yorkie's having an attitude, what do you mean by that? I realize he has a sparky little personality but he seems quite clever. If he finds a way out of his enclosure for example, he can sure remember that every time!

He has chew toys and treats but let's face it, a live moving tasty toe is so much better! I may try the spray bottle thing. We'll see. thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it.

[pancakepat]

Spray bottle might make her hate baths. Just a thought.

[Roccosmommy]

I'm not positive, but it sounds like when he's going near the gated area, he's trying to eliminate as far away as possible from his 200ft. 'den'. I would immediately pick him up (even in mid-pee) and bring him outside and praise the heck out of him when he's outside (even if most of the pee trailed before he left the house ). It sounds like he's starting to control his impulses a bit and getting as far away as possible to pee? I too have a 4 month old baby and boy can they be tough little furbutts . Here is my past plea for help with Rocco's biting, and he is about 90% better now. Good luck!
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ve-biting.html

[Cerise]

Originally Posted by Ginseng

Well, not really problems but certainly annoyances for me! I'm just wondering about the following, if it is to be expected.

Rolo is 4 months and 3.8 lbs. He is so active. We have him fenced into the kitchen just in case of accident. We started out with a small space in the kitchen and as his reliability on the pee pad grew, so did his space. He now has free reign of about 200 sq. ft which is our entire kitchen, his pee pad, crate, bed, toys, food & water, etc.

1. About 70% of the time he pees on his pee pad (well sort of) and the other 30% he pees either in the middle of the floor or right beside the fence to the rest of the house. Just tonight, I was playing with him in the kitchen. He ran over to the 'fence' - as he often does when we play - out of my sight and pee'd. Why is he inconsistent with his pee pad? Also, it seems like he stands on his pee pad and hangs his but over the edge and pees/poops on the floor. I used to call this a 'hit' when he was younger but I'd sure like him to get his hits better.

I would make a larger square with four pee pads to give him more space for now, until he gets use to knowing that he has to pee on a pad. I would also put one at the gate...to let him know that in the house he can ONLY pee on a pad. Later when he's older you can conditioner him to use one pad and location. Right now you want him to go on a pad.

2. He is very active and if I am in the kitchen working, he is constantly biting at my toes. He can get ahold of my big toe in his teeth and yowch!! I can sternly tell him NO, he will stop, look up at me, wait until I go back to work and then start with my toe again. This could go on for 8 or 10 times until I get frustrated and leave the room.

I would clap my hands and say "no bite" looking at him with the mommy look and then buy him a bunch of toys to play with and some Bully sticks to chew on.

3. If I get on the floor to play, he constantly wants to chew on my fingers. Same idea as the toe thing. He isn't teething right now. Baby teeth are all in. Seems more like a habit at this point.

Buy him some Bully sticks. They are a finger saver

Help. Is this 'normal' behavior or am I too slack in training?

Welcome to YT!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

If he is stopping what he is doing and going over to the pad to pee and just missing, then there is nothing I would do but praise him. He is doing his best to go on the pad, and doesn't have the ability to know that his back end is off the edge. Maybe get bigger pads, but don't scold him when he goes to the right place but misses, since that might give him the idea that going to his pad to pee is a bad thing.

If he is only 4 months, he is not through teething yet. Most don't start to lose their baby teeth (front incisors) until around 5 months of age, and they lose all of their baby teeth and get their adult teeth by the time they are 7 months. He needs to chew, get him something to chew on besides your hands/toes. Tell him "ouch" when he does it and pull away, then provide him with an alternative. If that doesn't work, a squirt bottle filled with plain water works wonders (that shoots in a stream, not a mist), and just say "no" at the instant you are spraying him.

I agree - he's trying and that's a good sign !

Some don't ever really 'get it' and it takes some longer than others....My oldest Chanel trained on pads in less than 2 weeks as a very young puppy - while Cheri took 11 months and still 'tries' to sneak a pee when it rains out or she's too excited to go out to my fenced patio (I leave my door open for them when home) I also have a pad in my house so got all my bases covered.....

I SO remember the biting days.....I never had to do a water squirt but puppies love to bite and chew - This will pass - he's just a baby...you'll miss these days down the road -

there's nothing like having a little puppy running around - they're so freakin CUTE but the good thing about yorkies is they kind of stay puppies in many aspects - they're like having perpetual toddlers in the house. It's a fun time - but CAN be frustrating for some - good luck !

[paris pancake]

I have found the more we exercise (walk her) the less nipping and biting. I can't believe it worked but it has, whenever she gets wild like that we go for a walk and it stops.

[capt_noonie]

As far as the shooting but missing the target... have you thought about getting a pad holder? It has a slightly raised edge so they know when they are "on". Or you can get a litter pan. That what I did for Uni. I got a cat litter pan from walmart for like $4 and folded the pad in half and put it in. Uni was potty trained at about 4 or 5 months. She never has accidents. Katie on the other hand..... She misses, but I don't have the money to buy a pad holder, so I've just been taking her outside every few hours.

The toe biting.... Uni did this as well. They are just playing. She still does this from time to time when she is super hyper and in a playing mode. She has stretched out many a sock from it. I don't think it's anything to worry about, esp if she is starting to teeth soon, the chewing is just beginning!

[marilena4488]

Well I sort of have the same problem with the chewing!

Ruby is 3 months now and she chews on everything that moves! She has a soft spot for toes too!!! Every time I'm switching shoes to go to the gym or take of my socks she will RUN to get to my toes as quickly as possible, and then chew my fingers until I tie my shoes.

NO will not work always and never completely or on the first time...She knows it's wrong, but she does it anyway! I guess all we can do is keep being firm and not let them continue to do it for a long time but immediately take the "temptation" (toes, socks, fingers etc) away as soon as possible

[Ginseng]

As far as the shooting but missing the target... have you thought about getting a pad holder

?

I have a pee pad holder for sure. If I didn't, those pee pads would never be in the right place and would be shredded to bits. lol Anyway, he stands on the pad and hangs his but over the edge of the holder and poops on the floor. It is strange but i've come to accept it. If that is the way he must go about his business, as long as it is consistent, I can work around that! As for the pee, he pees in the corner of the pee pad or the very edge, not the middle. He always has a clean on so I'm not sure why but regardless, that is his thing. I was thinking I might get something a little bit elevated so he has to step or hop up onto the pee pad. That way, he might be more apt to go in the middle.

[teacup0819]

Trixie will be 4 months tomorrow and we have some of the same problems. She pees on the pads about 98% of the time, but poops on the pads only about 75% of the time. We have her setup in an xpen, but she is out of the pen when we are home and watching her. Even so, she still has poop accidents (can't watch her every minute)....usually somewhere near the pad. The potty training can take a long time with yorkies so be patient! We are paper training her and will move her to outdoor training when we have the fence finished. PS - she now loves to shred the peepads too!

Trixie is also very nippy/bitey lately....but not aggressive. She is just teething and playing. When she nips, we trade our fingers for a toy or an empty water bottle. She loves the bully sticks!

[Ginseng]

I don't know what a bully stick is. Can someone send me a link please?