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12-20-2012, 05:10 AM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada
Posts: 1,129
| Have my cake and eat it too? Hello everyone. I am sure those of you who are seasoned Yorker owners will think I am nuts but I am just looking for advice from the "experienced" once again. Wallee currently uses pee pads in the house however will go outside as well. My problem is, the pad is in a spot in the living room that he kept young to before I used the pads. I steamed the carpet and tried moving the pad closer to the door, but he kept going back to the original spot so I put it back. I leave the pad down and during the day when I am sitting with him if I hear rustling on the pad I will quickly ask him if he wants to go outside and he will go out back with me and go. "Sometimes" he will go to the back door and ask to go out for a poo and I will immediately go out with him. Since he won't eat breakfast and does the majority of his eating at night he usually has to do this within the first half hour of getting up. Today, we went out for almost 20 minutes and all he wanted to do was pick up things on the ground to eat. We go back in and he goes straight to the pad to poo. I find while I have the pad down that he seems to go there very often, sometimes within 15 minutes of a long walk. Am I encouraging him to pee more often and confusing him giving him options? He got fixed in Nov. so I was hoping he would slow down on the pee frequency. When I go out, even for 4 hours, I leave down the pad and he doesn't use it. I immediately take him out then and he goes. He is 9 months old now. Will I ever get him to "prefer" going outside to pee? I let him out any time he asks but find myself standing out there more times than not watching him run around munching on anything he can pick up. Sorry for such a long winded story, just wanted to paint a clearer picture. |
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12-20-2012, 05:15 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada
Posts: 1,129
| I feel as if I still have so much to learn about this breed and having my family for Christmas next week, I know I will suffer lots of criticism about the pads since they all own dogs and have never used pads. Perhaps I have just been too lazy and not been consistent enough with him, or maybe my gut is right, that he just needs to mature more to go less often. |
12-20-2012, 05:28 AM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 217
| Well, I think the best idea would be to keep a tight eye on his where abouts (even if you have to tether him to you and/or keep a leash on him). Sounds mean, but you need to catch him before he goes potty and how else other than to keeping vigil. I would just retrain him to potty outdoors. Put him out on leash and say (well, what ever words work for you, but always say the same thing...), like "go potty" or "go pee" (I say, "go quickly"). Take him out at least twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon and twice in the evening (one of them being right before bedtime). Of course it's up to you how many times you decide to take him out, but if he's an adult and he's learning to potty outside (as my new 1 year old yorkie IS...ATM), this is what is working for me. I hope I have been helpful. |
12-20-2012, 08:40 AM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 26
| Hulk came to us pad trained. When we decided it was time to start transitioning him, we left the pads down, and anytime he ventured near them, we took him outside. If he did anything, he was praised and got a treat (we also did the whole "potty time" thing as well). After a few weeks, I got rid of the pad entirely and that's when we started working on the bells to teach him to tell us when he needs to go out. Oh! And when we stopped using the pads, it became the new spot for his food and water bowl, our trainer told us that if we fed him in that spot, then he won't want to "go" there. Not sure if that might work? He's very reliable now at 10 mos, but I still treat him like a puppy, he stays confined in the same room as us etc etc. It definitely is a longer process, but eventually you get there. Oh, and we pulled up our rugs until we knew that they wouldn't be treated as another potty pad I don't have a lot of experience either, but that's how we did it and it seems to have worked well. Last edited by Hulks_Mom; 12-20-2012 at 08:43 AM. |
12-20-2012, 09:44 AM | #5 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| I would block him from his old spots and watch him like a hawk or crate him when you leave the room. This type of dog I would just take out once every 30 minutes for a couple of weeks during the day IN ADDITION to after a nap, play or grooming session, any intense loving/petting session, good romp, outside walk, after a package arrives, visitors arrive/leave - any intense excitement, meals, as soon as they emerge from the crate, obedience training session - any activity. This gives the dog the sense that whatever urges he's having to potty, he knows he'll soon be going outside where he'll eventually learn that once he pees or pottys, his scent is there for all the world to enjoy! His canine nature wants to do that - leave his mark for the most possible to behold. Once they get this territorial marking in their "yard" idea in their canine psyche, they are very keen to keep updating and overriding that scent with current info. It's natural for a dog to "go" outside and mark his territory to warn other predators. But the pee pads and being allowed to "go" in the house can confuse them and it is warm and comfy there and they can get really confused. To de-program a dog from going potty in the house, as awful as it is for the appearance of the home, I just put large cardboard boxes or gates up to block them off for getting to their former favorite spots and literally set the clock for every 30 minutes during the day. I give over my life to working with that dog's potty problem. If the dog is asleep, I do forego the schedule and restart it once he awakens and we go out. An instant treat and praise as soon as he goes and if he doesn't, either wait for 2 or 3 hours until he does or bring him inside and DEVOTE yourself to watching for signs he's sniffing the floor, running about with purpose, walking near the edge of the room or anything lying on the floor and whisk him outside again. Take him to his potty spot and say, "Potty outside" in a matter of fact tone and wait. Treat if he goes, wait if he doesn't but when you do come inside, watch him all of the time. If you have to leave the room, carry him with you, take him on leash or crate him. Then when you are back, out of the crate and outside again. And he just cannot access his old spots at all. It will wear you out but you will lose some weight this way. Soon that dog will learn that he'll be going out all the time, he'll want to mark his spots outside, knows if he tries to "go" indoors he'll just be told "No" or "uh oh", scooped up and taken out so eventually when he starts to pee/potty inside, he'll instantly realize "oh, I'm about to get taken out" and catch himself, look to you. Take him right out and say "Good boy" on the way. He'll get the message that you know he caught himself before the act and approve. The 30 minute rule helped me housebreak many a rescue dog and kept me in good shape to boot. After that, I continued confinement when I couldn't watch the dog like a hawk or took them with me and watched them in the new room but eventually that schedule breaks down the most stubborn house-pee'er and he starts to know that if he tries to go inside, I'm there scooping him up or herding him outside so he just begins to stop even trying and comes to me to "tell" me he needs to go out. "Telling" usually involves prolonged staring at you as they stand before you, going in fast circles, looking a lot at the door outside or going to the door and looking at you, then at the door then at you over and over. Some come and put their paws up on your lap, look you right in the face! That's when you know your hard work and aching legs and back have paid off. He's learned going out is what we do now and let's get on with it, Mom, is the new norm.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
12-20-2012, 10:10 AM | #6 | ||
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Michigan USA & Sheffield UK
Posts: 4,119
| Quote:
Quote:
To anyone that even hints as an issue with the fact that my dog is pad trained, I ask them if they, from the minute they leave the house for work in the morning, until they arrive home in the evening do not use the restroom??? How would they feel if they were never allowed...no matter how much they drank, or what they ate, or how upset their tummy felt on any given day. Admittedly, I ask the question with an honest tone of derision & disgust, because that is truly how I feel about people that subject their animals to that.
__________________ Karan & ZoE (Chelsea ) | ||
12-20-2012, 10:37 AM | #7 | |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Quote:
I don't think Jilly or now Tibbe would eat or drink much when I was away. I always came home to full or near-full bowls when I was working and I think in time they learn to just sleep and do a little guardwork during the day but apparently don't chose to visit the kitchen much if at all. I guess they are smart enough to know when mommie is gone, it is overall best to nap and save all the eating, drinking and pottying for when she comes home where possible. And the vets say that is okay - that dogs can fast quite a while safely and do in the wild quite often. When I had to go to the ER and be admitted and stay in the hospital, I was I guess irrationally terribly concerned Tibbe would hold it until he was ill. But he didn't. My son got to my house the next day and said Tibbe had used the potty pads and then gone on the floor around them but hadn't eaten/drunk much at all. So apparently when I'm not here, my dogs Jilly and now Tibbe go on an austerity program of caloric/fluid intake except just enough to get by and so finally go when they just have to. That gave me intense relief to know Tibbe would go in the house if he had to in case of emergency. My son took Tibbe to his home for the duration of the rest of my stay so I was relieved in that. Danny said Tibbe did use the potty pad at his house while he was at work. Once Tibbe was back home, he resume his old potty habits of only going outside. When Tibbe is at the vet, he apparently hardly eats or drinks or potties either unless taken outside from what they tell me. So they get so habituated to their routine, it is very hard for them to break it except when they just have to. So getting home to that little dog to let him out as soon as work lets out was always a priority when I worked and then I would go to the store or out to dinner. Housebreaking a dog to go outside doesn't mean he never gets to go inside should his person be away a long time but it does mean they want to hold it and not go inside unless they absolutely have to. I doubt any dog would hold his potty or urine until he made himself actually ill and can't think of ever reading that a dog did that but perhaps one might. Mine haven't done that. My sister has always had dogs and she's never had that problem either.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis Last edited by yorkietalkjilly; 12-20-2012 at 10:40 AM. | |
12-20-2012, 11:14 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada
Posts: 1,129
| Thanks so much for the wonderful advice. I am going to start the 30 minute thing today. He is a pretty good boy and usually always looks to me for direction even when he steps onto the pad. I am usually in the same room as him as he is only allowed in one end of the house, however I will be opening the gate and having him follow me into the bathroom or bedroom when I go there so I can always keep my eye on him. I am pretty sure that when we get him completely "outside" trained in the cold weather he won't be going so often. I will work hard over the next few days and keep you all posted. |
12-20-2012, 12:18 PM | #9 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alexandria, VA, USA (near Washington, DC)
Posts: 312
| This is a suggestion to help you get through Christmas when your family is visiting - have you ever tried using a belly band? In case you aren't familiar with them, they are a stretchy piece of fabric that has velcro on the ends. You line it with a sanitary pad and put it around their waist, closing it with the velcro. This will "catch" any accidents in the house so you can remove the wee wee pads while you have company. It only catches urine, but that might help get you through the day while people are visiting. They may criticize your methods, but just tell them it's just there for "insurance" since there is so much going on that day you might miss his signals when he needs to go out. |
12-20-2012, 12:54 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada
Posts: 1,129
| Thanks for another wonderful suggestion. I plan on keeping a very close eye on him since he is used to only being with my husband , 4 cats and myself. If I feel he is becoming overwhelmed by all the people I may give him a little time out here and there in the safety of his crate in my bedroom away from all the action. |
12-20-2012, 01:40 PM | #11 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| When Gracie was a puppy I had a puppy pad in a frame in the bedroom and by the back door. When she was about 6 months old I decided to eliminate the one in the bedroom. I caught her peeing there twice so I put the pad back and started moving it s-l-o-w-y toward the other pad area. It took several days of moving it just a few inches at a time. Once I finally got it there I was able to eliminate it......again. They are creatures of habit. Maybe someone knows a quicker way of doing this but it worked for me and I had enough patience to see it through. |
12-20-2012, 05:17 PM | #12 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada
Posts: 1,129
| We did pretty good all day. I managed to keep his pad dry for the entire day by taking him out as soon as he went anywhere near it or every half hour during play time....but....now we have a very nasty rain storm with high cold winds and he takes one look outside and runs away from the door...sigh...so, he used the pad twice already tonight...He is napping now so will try him outside again when he wakes before we go to bed for the night. |
12-20-2012, 05:25 PM | #13 |
♥Love My Snuggle Bugs♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri
Posts: 4,290
| Have you cleaned the area where the pad is with a good enzyme cleaner? If he smells anything there it will draw him back to that spot even though you put a clean pad elsewhere.
__________________ CharleneMama to Laddy and Kyra and Always in our hearts Lolita |
12-20-2012, 05:34 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada
Posts: 1,129
| Hi Charlene. Thank you for asking, yes, I have used the enzyme cleaner and steam cleaned. I also then sprayed the area with a no repeat marking spray. I am sure that it has been my bad parenting that has allowed him to keep using the pads for so long. I need to keep focused and be more consistent. Losing my job last month really put my mind into a bit of a whirlwind and I know has caused me to let my duties slide a bit. |
12-20-2012, 05:54 PM | #15 | |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Quote:
So hang in there and even during rainy times when you lose a little ground, you can pick up your schedule when the weather is nicer again. It's nice to have a dog with tidy house habits but I do put pads down for him when I leave. The only time he's used one though was when I was in the hospital that night. I'd really feel better if he would use one when I'm gone for over 4 hours! He just won't though. He's definitely an outside kind of guy in the pee/potty department!
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis | |
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