Re: House Trainging

Question
Hi,

I've had a few dogs in my 52 years of age. Lost one (Shih-Tzu) to cancer a little over a year ago and another (same breed) a month ago to a heart attack, well behaved and trained.They were both going tobe 11 years old. They were paper trained would do # 2 outside unless they were sick. I just got another puppy and she is wonderful.(Shih-Tzu) going to be 4 months old this month. She makes # 1 on the wee wee pads but # 2 she finds a secret corner to go and seems to also be eating it. I can't seem to catch her doing this. I have never crated a dog and wish not to unless worse gets to worse. Yes, I'm visiting my son in Florida, and gave her the run of the place but going back home soon to NYC and I think she will be confused now with also #1. How can I get her to use the wee wee pads for both things? And do you think she will be confused to another enviorement? I travel at least 4 times a yr to see my son and stay for at least 3 months at a time.I wish to train her on paper. Winter is to cold to always go out, but I do take them out once a day at least. Hope to hear from you.

Thank You


Answer
I was tempted not to answer since I always have used a crate and always go outside.  Part of your problem is her age.  Past 12 weeks, puppies are much slower to form new habits.  The #2 in a secret corner likely is an attempt to continue her old life.  The older the puppy, the longer they can hold it.  Outside it can be just a matter of walking until they can't hold it any longer.  

Give her a chance to take a nap after eating.  She is likely to need to go after she wakes up.  Start a vigorous activity, fetch or something.  If she stops to start sniffing around or running in little circles, call her to the pad.  If you can manage to get her to use the pad, lavish praise on her.  

Also, use closed doors and perhaps gates to keep her in the same room as you.  If you see signs of her being ready for a bowel movement, get her to the pad.  

The best solution to stool eating, coprophagy, is cleaning them up before the dog has a chance. You can try food additives, the home remedies pineapple juice or canned pumpkin or the commercial products Forbid or Deter.

Why dogs do it is poorly understood. It may be diet related, but changing the dog's diet might cause worse problems. Whatever problems it causes for the owner, it doesn't seem to hurt the dog unless you are trying to clear up a worm infestation.

For more information see http://home.gci.net/~divs/behavior/coprophagia.html

Rethink the crate.  It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first. What the puppy wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the household, and any other pets. In our modern society, even if we are home, other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work. Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going in. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time for more than one dog.