[gemy]

We are very experienced dog owners and breeders - but we never had a toy dog and used pee pads at all.


I have told this story before; somewhere here, but when we got Razzman Dec 30th during a very very cold winter here - and he froze trying to go outside we attempted to use the peepads. I was unsuccessfull with the training as I was not determined enough. About 3months later with pee going everywhere and poo too, my husband got very sick of it. Luckily we were coming into the spring. But I took my husbands concerns very seriously and instituted a strict outdoor regime - I essentially gave up on pee pads. He how-ever never said get rid of this dog or else ------! For sure Razzman was my idea that hubby acceded to. Of course now and for a long time he loves our Yorkie just like our big dogs..


As a dog lover and trainer - I know who is to blame at least 95% of the time for behavioural or pottying issues - and that is the owner!


A dog never takes the place of your husband or wife. A dog needs to fit into your household. You do your very outmost to make this happen - doing what it takes - outside training - a behaviourist - commitment of time, energy and $$$ - but if all else fails - then you are responsible for re-homing this dog. And if a re-home is not possible (as can be the case with a very large and aggressive dog - who resists all the training etc etc) it is your responsibility to PTS your dog.


My dogs are an incredibly important part of my life - I would not want to live a life without my dogs - but they are not human children - or my sister or my husband. In our breed for example if a dog bites a human that resides in the home - that is a very very huge RED Flag. I remember with a large BRT I fostered for a time - he shortly after being in our home - for no reason that I could fathom - saw my sis go to the washroom - then when she came out he went for her - that is charged her aggressively . I was out of my chair so fast my head spun. But he backed off when I interposed my body between him and my sis. Sis did everything right - halted said nothing - crossed her arms over her chest - and waited for me to control the situation. He backed off and never did it again - but you can be sure I watched him very very closely - and his obedience training went up to 3x per wk.


This dog was not house trained - and for the first month or so - peed a lake in my home. Many folks would not have accepted the damage to their home - and been confident enough and patient enough to help train this young soul. When he was placed - he was placed with full disclosure about his house training.


I think many folks with small dogs let them get away with things that large dog owners would never ever accept. And while misbehaving medium to large breed dogs are not un-common, many many small breeds are!


For example would this owner - if that Yorkie weighed a 110lbs and peed a lake in her living room accept this behaviour? I really think not! She would be forced to do something about it!