Hi Samantha....I am so excited for you! There is nothing more exciting than a new baby in the house. I have a houseful...but my little ones are all trained to pads...we live in the mountains..get snow and harsh temps and lots of wildlife. I start any new baby off in a Childs play pen...like a pack and play...garage sales and thrift stores are great places to find these cheap. Inside the play pen on what side I place a puppy pad that fits in one of those plastic frames...I love those frames...petsmart carries them...I think actually walmart does too. Anyway, on the other end I place a bed and a water bottle hangs from the side down into the play pen. I use a LIXIT glass water bottle...really avoids a wet playpen from a spilled water bowl and the glass ones can be sterilized. Pups learn fast to use the pads...the ones I use are Top Dog...I love them as they are thick and hold a lot and have a scent in them that attracts the pup to use it. They hate peeing in their bed so they naturally will travel to the spot farthest away from their bed. I also put pads down on the floor...in spots that I am ok with using as potty areas in my home...all in frames. The frames keep the puppy from dragging the pads or tearing them up. Once the pup is regularly using the pad in the pen, we give them a little more room...like the living room. Too much space too fast and you will start to have accidents. So...back track to a smaller area until you have success. For sleeping I have tried many options but now I just know a new puppy just means I am gonna be up at night...at least until 12-15 weeks of age. I kind of have a wake-up mode naturally...so I get up every few hours and take the puppy to a pad in my master bedroom's bathroom. I like to have my puppies sleep with me but if you don't then the play pen option works great for nighttime.
We also have a doggie door in our slider door that goes out to a covered deck. Most of the dogs learn to use that doggie door and much prefer on their own to potty outside...but I always keep pads down in the potty spot inside because I want them to know how to use them in winter or rainy weather. All my guys don't mind potty-ing in the snow but EVERYONE hates the rain!!! Right now Madison my new little yorkie is the only one using pads...nice weather right now so everyone...even the Chis...will choose to go out if given the option...if I leave the doggie door open. I looked into those potty patch deals but after a lot of reading and talking to friends that use them? My conclusion? Way too much work...too hard to clean. The pads are super easy. Also I have some washable pads that my hubby brought home from work...they have rubber waterproof backing and are large...they are awesome but it does add to my laundry...so I kind of go back and forth depending on my moods...they all are familiar with both so either work well...sometimes I even have a combo going...like a washable in the living room but disposable in the bathroom. If you do buy or make the washable ones just buy that spray that attracts a puppy to pee where sprayed. Hope that helps some! And again CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Wagging Tails in the Dog Park! Deanna and the Dog Park Gang: Nugget, Shuai Li, Mable, Mouse, Myrtle, Madison, Caleb and Maxine >From the mountains of CA http://swlf.lilyslim.com/v3T7m8.png?h9j6wId9 On Jan 29, 2011, at 9:08 AM, "Samantha" <[email protected]> wrote: > Next weekend we go pick up our female Chi puppy and then a month later we > get to pick up the male...I so cannot wait. > > We plan on litter box and pad training them since we want them to be > indoors. Anyone who has done this with their Chi if you could share any > tips I would appreciate it much. > > Of course when the kids are outside they will be too. We live on base and > do not have a fence so I feel safer for them being indoor. > > -- > Samantha > Proud Military Wife ~ Deployment Survivor 7 times > Proud SAHM to 5 blessings ~ 1 boy and 4 girls > > Coast 2 Coast Chat ~ WAHM Site ~(website) http://www.coast2coastchat.org > NC Avon Rep ~ Military Discount Available ~ > http://styson.avonrepresentative.com/ > Barefoot Works Rep ~ http://samantha-tyson.barefootbooks.com > Longaberger ~ http://longaberger.com/samanthatyson > Network With Moms http://themompack.com/ > Follow Me ~ http://twitter.com/BuyItFromSam >
