Potty Training Scruffles and Other Issues
 

Hi Everyone,

Attached is a picture of my 4 ½ month old, 2 ¾ lb. baby, Scruffles. Isn’t he the cutest!!!

Well, I’m sorry for this to be my first post, but I found this website in search for information and suggestions. I’ve followed the Forums over the past few weeks and all information has been extremely helpful so I thought I would share my situation to see what everyone thinks.

When it comes to potty training, Scruffles has regressed. In my honest opinion, I think he is beyond angry with me. Today, I called two local trainers and I’m looking into getting help.

I got Scruffles on February 25th. Now, the timing could not have been worst because I actually had a spinal fusion on March 3rd (I’m great now, btw), but he was ready to come home from the breeder and I really needed him so I couldn’t delay getting him. Plus, I imagined that being out of work on LOA would actually work out in the end because it would allow me to spend quality time with him before returning to work. In addition, my husband was out of work for two weeks because of my surgery so it gave us quality time together as a family. Well, now I’m back at work. Over the last two weeks his behavior has gone from the perfect puppy to stubborn and spiteful puppy. At times I have to admit that the behavior was funny to me because I can’t believe how smart he is, but now I have to wonder??? We were training Scruffles in a litter box and he was doing really well, but now he’s going anywhere and everywhere. Last night, I was standing in front of the stove cooking. Scruffles was standing on my feet. Front paws on my left and back paws on my right foot. I looked down at one point and I had to do a double-take. I noticed that he was standing on my feet in a hunchback position. He was starting to poo on my feet. I picked him up, gave him a firm “NO” and carried him over to his litter box. Then I gave him a time out in his play pen. Has anyone every heard of such behavior??? Needless to say, I called a trainer today. This incident, on top of other behavior, concerns me. Over the past two weeks he’s started pooping in his crate (which is not too big), staring at me and not coming when called and last night he didn’t follow me wherever I went, like he usually does. I love him so much, but he seems so angry with me and I feel like a bad mommy. I am getting training because I need help, not Scruffles.

Thanks for listening,
Heather

Sounds like calling the trainer is a good idea. My guess is that the trainer is going to tell you that you need to make it clear to him that you are the pack leader . Trainers believe that there are no problem dogs, only problem people. :)

Good luck, let us know how things go with the trainer.

BTW welcome to YT.

I don't know something doesn't feel right here. When was the last time you had him to the vet for a checkup? I think it is odd that he stopped following you around the house. Dogs do not start potting in the house out of spite. With you going back to work full time how much attention is he getting? How many walks do you take him on? How much has his schedule changed?

What questions are you asking the trainer? What kind of training do they do? Do they use choke collars? What do they think about positive training?

I have to admit the pooping on your foot was very odd. I have had them pee on me but never poop on me unless they were sick.

Your picture of your little one is really cute.

Thanks for the responses.

I work 9 to 5 pm, but my spouse works later in the day and he doesn’t leave for work until 2 pm. Therefore, Scruffles is only alone in his crate for a maximum of 5 hours until I get home from work and physical therapy. My husband takes Scruffles on a walk every day and so do I when I get home. He gets plenty of attention.

I’m just now looking into formal training. Up until now, I’ve been training him myself, which clearly isn’t working.

As far as the vet goes, he’s had all of his shots and was just at the vet this past Saturday. He passed with a clean bill of health.

I’m worried.

Mmmmmmmmm - when did both of you go back to work? Yorkies like a routine and do get upset when things start changing around. Like with my gang even if I stay up until 2:00 am at 5:00 am they expect breakfast and at 5:00 pm they expect dinner. It doesn't matter if they had a treat at 4:30 they expect dinner at the same time everyday and let me know that I had better move my fanny and get it for them.

My husband went back to work on March 20th, but I just went back last Tuesday and this is when this behavior increased. He’s had accidents in the past, but very few up until recently. I was with him 24/7 until I returned to work.

It sounds to me that he is just unsettled by the change in routines.Just persevere and praise and reward the behaviour you want. Training classes sound a good idea to give you both a time to learn together and a focus for the training. He is still little and they do go through a phase where they try to be more independent. As for the pooping in the crate-well he was used to being able to go to the litter tray whenever he needed to? He has to learn to hold on.Is he taken out just before crating to eliminate? He will have accidents,but they should improve as he gets used to the new timetable.Let us know what the trainer says. It will be interesting.

Try feeding so many times a day at EXACTLY the same times 7 days a week.

Leave food down for 15 MINUTES and then take it up.

Put water down along with the food.

Leave water down for only 15 SECONDS and then take it up.

You can feed water every 2 hours for only 15 seconds.

Last food and water is to be at 4:00 p.m.

Gets ONE ICE CUBE in a bowl at 9:00 p.m. to help "freeze up" innerds!

This is all per our trainer. Worked wonderful for us.

I'd keep him confined behind a gate or tethered until no accidents..

There are a couple of problems that I can identify. Muffie’s Mom I believe you are correct. Part of the problem is that he is not on a feeding schedule. One of the questions that I asked the breeder before I got him was when to feed him. The breeder said that he will eat when he is hungry so to leave the food and water down. I also agree with keeping him confined until he learns. Unfortunately, our floor plan is open so there is not a small enough area that I can gate off, so I thought that I could contain him by sectioning off a bathroom. I placed his litter box, food & water, and all of his toys in a large enough bathroom. I separated his food and water far enough from the litter box because I know that Yorkies do not like their food anywhere near where they go to the bathroom. I did what I thought was the right thing, but it didn’t work. He was so upset by being confined that he would not stop crying and he refused to eat. Well, I took him out of the bathroom. My next idea was to purchase an X Pen to place in our living room where we could be with him. I was going to put all of his things in the X Pen. I went to JB Wholesale Pet Supply and the sales lady said that this would be a waste of money. He will not like this and the best thing that I can do is just keep my eye on him constantly. I never bought the X Pen. Maybe I should try this idea again?

I also believe that I need to start potty training from the beginning, Throw out everything I’ve been doing and start fresh. I think that we have thoroughly confused him. We have two litter boxes (upstairs and downstairs) and we also take him outside. His crate is in a bedroom upstairs so when he wakes up and before he goes to bed, we take him to the upstairs litter box. When we’re downstairs in the living room, we have another litter box for him to use. Plus, we walk him outside a lot and he goes when he’s outside. This combined with my change in schedule has confused him so I cannot wait to go to training to help correct some of the mistakes that I have made. As I stated in my first post, the use of two litter boxes once worked, but now that I’m back to work, I think he is confused and upset.

Thank you everyone for all of your advice. I really appreciate it.

I would agree that you should find one spot that you want him to do his business and keep taking him to the same spot. I only outside train so I don't know much about litter box. But Chance did very well with potty training outside. I even made sure that we used the same door everytime we went outside. Even though we have more than one door to our backyard. Just be consistant with what ever method you use. Good Luck.

Using the x-pen when i am at work has been great for us.There are many members on here who use them too. My trainer at puppy school said if they had to be left while we are are work,out otherwise etc. to try and leave with a 'view of the world' through either a window or ranchslider/door as they can see outside and don't feel so closed in/isolated etc. My cats also keep my pup company withput her being able to bother them-they often sleep on a chair near the x-pen. My pup won't eat when I am not there either,although i leave out kibble in her pen. I try to make sure she has had some breakfast and leave her a stuffed Kong. We outside train-in the yard and are pretty good now unless it is awful weather, or the supervising person is on the playstation and forgets to take her out--my son!lol. Accidents sometimes happen,c'est la vie. I agree that consistancy is the answer. Good luck.

i meant to add-always use the same command for toilet.I say'Go toilet now'. I started whenever she went and praised. I use it on walks too. She will now have a go out in the yard when I say those words,unless something really exciting is going on. If I am at other people's houses i can use the command in their yards too.

I would put him in a X-pen in the living room so he can see everyone.

When you give him water every 2 hours for only 15 seconds, take him out to HIS SPECIAL POTTY AREA immediately. Wait at least 15 minutes for him to do his business.

If he does NOT go potty, take him inside and put him in his crate and take him back outside in 15 minutes.

In his crate, he should just have enough room to turn around in and lie down. That's it for right now!

If he goes potty in the crate, see if you can make it smaller.

I most definitely would NOT give him the run of the house.

I personally would get started in a obedience class immediately.

How old is he???

When we first got Missy at 8 weeks old, she cried every night for about a month. We KEPT QUIET and never said a word to her while she was crying.

Now, she walks right in to her cage at night, lies down and goes to sleep. When I wake up in the morning, I get her out of the cage to go outside and then eat.

Missy is 6 1/2 months old and still doesn't have the run of the house! So far, no accidents inside in 3 months, nothing chewed on but toys and she's doing fine.

Potty training
 

I have to agree that the schedule change might have thrown him off. I had an xpen for Lex in the beginning to be sure that over night he went potty where he was supposed to and not all over the house. I will only use the piddle pad when it rains I rather keep him on the outside deal. I do leave it at the front door for him in case something comes up and I can't get there to let him out at the correct time but I find if I keep my schedule with his feeding he wont' use it all. Otherwise I get up take him out and tell him to go potty, then bring him in and feed him, I will walk him a few minutes after he eats again and he will go. Then later on my kids will walk him when they get home. I also then feed him at around 5 or so when I get home from work and follow the same procedure I did in the morning. I find that if you want them house broken leaving food around all day doesn't help at all so I schedule his feedings. Judging by your household's schedule I think you can set up a scheduled feeding to help you out.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Everyone - I am struggling with the fact this puppy only weighs 2 3/4 lbs and only leaving his food down for 15 minutes and his water. For the ones of you that used this method what size were your dogs? As all of you know these little ones should be feed 3x's a day when they are so young and small.

I do feed mine 2 meals a day, same time everyday. They get a combo of soft and hard at these meals and then I always leave some dry down but rarely do mine eat it.

Feeding
 

:D The weight issue is a bit hinky but according to her and hubby's schedule she can do the 3x a day feeding. She would have to feed early and then let hubby feed before he leaves for work at 2 and then when she comes home she can feed.

I noticed that now Lex will mostly eat all of his dinner at night. The morning he might take a bite of his food but not much otherwise. He tends to ask for water during the day. I guess he doesn't need a much of his dry stuff being as he follows my almost two year old around and hoovers up after him. :D

I agree with all. He can be put on a feeding schedule. M husband’s work schedule combined with mine allows for him to be on a feeding schedule, but we didn’t put him on one because the breeder recommended letting him eat when he was hungry. We will put him on one now.

Now, I want to share something that I want to get your opinion on, but was scared to mention. His food…. The breeder fed him Iams Mini Chunks. She feeds all of her dogs Iams Mini Chunks (including puppies) and does not recommend puppy food. In her opinion, it makes Yorkies grow too fast and long before puppy food was invented, dogs were fine. This is what she said. I followed her recommendation and continued with Iams Mini Chunks. For those of you who are not familiar with this, it is adult food for small breeds. Could his food be part of the problem?

Thanks

Food
 

I personally dont' think that it's the iams chunk. He needs to be on the set schedule in order to help you out. As for her saying that they should have the adult food with no problems.... I think that is a bit out there. A young dog needs the puppy food because it has more enrichment and nutriments that are necessary because they are puppies while it's cut back in the food for older non-growing dogs. I know that is what was done back then but science has evolved and we see that they need more. I know in this day and age we coddle our pets/children way more but we know more now. Your dog being such a small dog needs the extras. I wonder if she wanted the food for the older dogs so that the pups don't gain weight too fast and end up looking too big to for her to charge the higher prices. I am not trying to disparage your breeder but with all that people know about the breed and hypoglycemia I wonder why she would go this route. This is just my humble opinion.

I agree - I think she needs to be on a PUPPY super premium dry dog food.

Check with your local feed store, fancy pet boutique or health food store.

The grocery store and PetsMart does NOT carry the GOOD super premium foods.

She needs all the extras that are in the puppy food in order to grow healthy and get what's needed.

And trust me. We ended up paying more for him than we bargained for. We were quoted a starting price for males and a starting price for females. We wanted a male regardless of price and the one I fell in love with when I saw him for the first time at 6 weeks old ended up being almost 2X’s what I thought we might end up paying based on the original quote. Hey, he’s the baby I fell in love with so of course there was no way I wasn’t going to pay. :)

I appreciate everyone’s honest opinion and I’ve read some of the other threads on food so I will try one of the brands that came recommended.

I don't think you'd want to feed your dog Iams anyway, even if you decided not to go for the premium dog food.

Iams Cruelty

I too have a problem with these schedules. My 9 week old puppy eats when he pleases and its not his fault. The first day home he ate close to nothing cuz he was nervous. The second day home, when noone was looking he devoured everything but the crunchy Eukanuba balls, the 3rd day home he ate ok too, but the problem is this: he eats WHENEVER he wants. He picks at his food for a minute, then leaves, comes back later, eats for a minute and leaves again. So you can see why I simply cannot put him on a schedule. If I take away his food after he touches it, he wont have anything to eat till the next feeding time. So i n the mornings I just leave the food out there for him, and in the evenings, I throw away that food and replenish with fresh food.

Hi Everyone. On Saturday we are having a trainer come to our home for an evaluation. Since I last posted a few things have changed for the positive. I read an excellent book by Brian Kilcommons called Good Owners, Great Dogs, which completely changed my outlook on our situation. In addition, I stopped using the litter box and I’ve switched to training Scruffles to go outside. Scruffles is also on a feeding schedule. He eats breakfast at 7 am, lunch at 12 pm and dinner at 7 pm. What a difference a feeding schedule makes when trying to housebreak. Finally, I keep Scruffles on the leash in our house so I know where he is and what he’s doing at every minute.

Ritkaa if you let him see that the food will be taken up after a certain amount of time they realize and eat at that time. When I first started Lex would do the same. I would keep an eye on him to see he was ok health wise. After the second day of doing it he caught on that he had to eat when I put it there for him and he had a time limit and it would be gone. So now eats when I put it down because he knows it won't be there forever. It helps so much in his house training.

Scruffles4ever....

Glad to hear that things are improving. That schedule does help a lot. It has helped me be able to predict when he will go poo a lot better so I can have him outside to go there and not in the house.

Muffie's Mom and others....thank you for offering so much good (and patient!) information on a subject that has been hashed over and over a million times. It REALLY helps those of us whose heads are swimming with all the different opinions and approaches we've read, while meanwhile we're struggling with our own individual specific questions and problems.

My dumb question: if the crate is only supposed to be big enough for them to turn around in....do you have to keep buying bigger crates as they grow? Does it confuse or bother them if you switch from one kind of crate situation to another? What general size should I look for?

And when they're crated overnight....they don't need food or whatever overnight, when they're puppies?