Esme is pee pad trained. She is six months old and she REALLY got the hang of it at 4 months. When we brought her home, she was 12 weeks old. At that time, I was putting her on the pad every 10-15 minutes or so. I would make her stay there until she peed. Then I would INSTANTLY give her a reward and praise. Cheerios works wonders!!! I would say 'Yes, good girl!!!' in a really happy voice, give her the cheerio and some freedom. She was 1lb and 8 ouces then, so she really had to go every 10-15 minutes!!! I would NEVER let her out of my sight and if I couldn't watch her for even a minute, I put her in her play pen (a real human playpen). I work, so she is in her pen from 6:30am to 3:30pm. She has her bed, some toys, and the pee pad on one end. For the first few weeks, I would come home and she had peed off the pad, but she quickly got the hang of it. About a month ago, we bought an x-pen where she has more space since she was too big for the play pen. She's done great in there, and we have started leaving her free for VERY short periods of time in the house. So far, so good. I am hoping that in the next few months I can eliminate the x-pen all together. Overall, I don't have to watch her around the house anymore, she does her thing on the pad and then comes scratch my leg so I can give her the treat. It's all about consistency and REPITION!!! GOOD LUCK! I am posting a picture of the x-pen!
GOOD LUCK!
Mari
__________________ Esme & Mari |