The woman I got him from raises and shows chis. She sort of specializes in black&white chis. She had actually sold him to a breeder friend of hers to be used for breeding. She got him back shortly after that when the woman's husband left her. She socializes all her dogs and feels they're pets first (which I like very much)and they are crate and pad trained. I'm going to try newspaper and see if that makes a difference for him. I'm also going to make it a bit more padded and see if that helps. I just weighed him and he's around 3.5lbs. I don't expect him to get lots bigger. I've got a picture on my other computer that I'll post of him. He is long coated and black & white. We got him neutered about a month ago. I have to say that for a little guy he had quite the package on him.LOL. (Sorry if I'm offending anybody but we've been breeding livestock for the past 10 years - can't help admiring an animal that's nicely put together) Anyway - we'll get there. All the advice has helped so much and I'm so grateful for it. I know that the time this is taking is totally worth it.
--- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@...> wrote: > > What brand of food, and is it can or kibble that you feeding him? At 7months > with 3 feedings, he should be doing only 2-3 poops per day. > > I don't know where you got him from, pet shop, breeder, etc. Most breeders > use either newspaper or puppy pads and since the pups spend most of their > time in a cage/crate with the mother, it maybe that the whole cage was lined > with pads and he may have seen his mother do that. So he associates that the > pad has to be cleaned. I think that is more likely why, especially if there > was no bed in the crate, then he associates the pad as the bed, which a dog > would naturally want to keep clean. Not so weird when you try thinking like > a dog. Do you think that he would go on newspaper? Maybe that would stop him > from eating it before you can catch him. > > Also, remember that for every poop that he eats that's another meal in their > tummy and what goes in, must come out, LOL!! That could also answer why he > is pooping 3-4x a day. Maybe you should cut back a little on his food or > really try to catch him before he eats his tootsie rolls. > > Yes, I agree housebreaking any puppy or dog is a pain and very time > consuming. Look at it this way.....who would want a lifetime of 16+ yrs of > an un-housebroken dog? Better to dedicate a month or even two months and > then never have to worry about it. BTW, is he neutered? And, I am just > curious how much does he weigh? I don't remember seeing a picture of him, > maybe you posted it and I missed it? > > Peggy > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Megan > Date: 2/1/2012 2:19:06 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: Housebreaking - Morning update - now day 3 > > > I am thiinking he's pooping 3-4 times a day at the moment. He just spend a > period of time cooling his heels in his "padded cell" until he finally! made > a small poop amd got let out with treats and his good boy.. He went back > several times to try and eat it...he does respond to "leave it" but he did > end up getting the rest of it.like i said, he doesn't feel the need to eat > it when he does it anywhere but the pad..weird. The rugs are mostly darker > colors, the lightest one is green/ I'm wondering if that has anything to do > with it. Maybe I should close off the pad immediately after he poops on it. > I love the padded cell...I actually got some dishes done while he was in it! > he's just finished the rest of his kibble but i've got to get out to the > barn so in the crate he goes... > I have to admit that though this is really a pain!! It's interesting. I > really admire that little brain of his! > hope everyone is getting more done than I am.lol > > --- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@> wrote: > > > > Daddy gets a C for not watching him. Mommy gets a B for not putting him on > > the papers before she showered, and Valken gets an A for outsmarting both > of > > you, LOL, LOL!! :) too funny! > > > > Megan if he is eating 3x a day at 7months old, plus treats, then he should > > be fine. From what I have seen from people who have chis they feed them > 1/2 > > cup per day avg. and that is broken into 2 or 3 meals per day depending on > > the person, the brand of food, and the dog. I have seen that amount given > > to dogs who are 4pd and 8pd chis. Gigi gets gets 1/3 a cup per day and > > that is split into 2 meals. She weighs 7pds. It has a lot to do with the > > dogs metabolism, age, and body structure, so every dog is different. If > you > > think he is getting to fat then reduce by a couple of kibbles, if he isn't > > gaining enough then increase with a couple of kibbles. Yea, it's funny, we > > measure by kibbles, LOL! With chi's they are all so different in a lot of > > ways, yet they are all the same. Go with your gut feeling and he should be > > just fine. > > > > But for housebreaking purposes you are better off having a feeding > schedule > > so you can regulate his bathroom habits. You can always change back to > free > > feeding once he is 100% housebroken and he either tells you when he has to > > go, or he just goes on his own. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > > > From: Megan > > Date: 2/1/2012 1:40:10 AM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: Housebreaking - Morning update - day2 > > > > > > He's just about 7 or so months old. The woman I got him from said she > gives > > around 1/4cup a couple of times a day - but also sort of keeps some food > in > > the bowl all the time because he's a puppy. If he doesn't eat all his food > > right away, I leave it out & eventually he finishes it. That way I don't > > worry if he's getting enough. He might be a bit heavier than when we got > him > > but he's probably going to top out at 4+lbs. Just a little guy. I got a > > harness for him..size xxs and it's huge on him.lol > > > > --- In [email protected], Joan Croft <joan_croft@> wrote: > > > > > > Hi Megan, > > > > > > Just something to remember.if he is a puppy he may get hypoglycemic in > > > between his meals. If he does not eat an entire meal of his kibble, it > may > > > be better to leave it in his crate in case he needs it a little later. I > > > don't remember how old the little guy is, but small puppies can have > > > hypoglycemia between meals. > > > > > > > > > > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > > > Behalf Of Megan > > > Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:47 PM > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: Housebreaking - Morning update - day2 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Peggy! > > > Valken was with daddy while I was in the shower..so it's definitely > daddy > > s > > > fault!.lol > > > That poop was a real surprise to me! I had no idea the little booger had > > any > > > business to do! > > > This morning...after he peed,and wouldn't do anything else..letting him > > off > > > the pad was a test to see if he really did have to go..guess I found > out! > > > I had been just sort of keeping some food in his bowl all the time > (within > > > limits)but now I'm giving him food in the morning and then early evening > > so > > > we're more scheduled and I can figure out what his body is doing. > > > When i got back in from the barn around4:40ish I took him out of the > crate > > > > > he peed and refused to poop. We went back to the crate 5 times! I was > sure > > > he had to poop because he kept sniffing the rugs. Finally...after close > to > > > an hour of this I decided to feed him because I was sure he'd have to > poop > > > after that. After about 15 minutes he did. I put him on the pad and he > > > pooped and then manically tried to eat it..a couple of times. he only > got > > > half of it.LOL. He only does it when he poops on the pad. He doesn't > seem > > to > > > have any problem leaving the poop on the rugs.LOL. Maybe his mom did too > > > good a job at keeping their area clean. > > > > > > So. I'm gonna print this out. The first part for a chuckle and the 2nd > > part > > > for my marching orders. I can use the xpen to block off an area > > surrounding > > > the pad if I need to so i don't have to stand there forever if he > decides > > > he's gonna be xtra stubborn. > > > Stay tuned for the next super duper exciting update!!! > > > hope you and the girls have a fab evening. > > > Megan and the "squirt." > > > > > > --- In [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > > > Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Hi Megan! > > > > So why wasn't Valken in the crate while you were in the shower? Better > > > yet, > > > > why didn't you make sure he did his business before you went in the > > shower > > > > and decided to let him be free? And why didn't you wait longer this > > > morning > > > > for him to go on the pad, and when he didn't go, why didn't you put > him > > > back > > > > in the crate, and then try again in 10 minutes? Bad mommy!!! LOL! > > > > > > > > You have to figure out how many times a day, and when, you know that > he > > > has > > > > to pee and how many times a day does he have to poop. How many times > per > > > day > > > > are you feeding him?? What times do you feed him?? You have to figure > > out, > > > > does he usually poop before you feed him, or after you feed him. Each > > dog > > > is > > > > different. Does he usually poop just before going to bed at night?.... > > > > > then the odds are he will poop after he eats breakfast the following > > > morning > > > > Once you have that all figured out then use the pad training > accordingly > > > > > > > > My Princess won't eat her evening meal unless she pees and poops first > > > > > Solution.....She goes out first, then I feed her. Four hours later she > > is > > > > ready to pee again. Princess only wants to eat once a day, with treats > > > after > > > > she does her business, and she only poops once a day. Gigi always has > to > > > do > > > > both 15 minutes after she eats. She eats and poops twice per day..... > > > > Solution she goes on the pad after she eats. > > > > > > > > Scenario: > > > > Up at 7am.....Put the leash on and he goes on the pad...wait 10-15 > > > minutes, > > > > if nothing or just a pee and not a poop, he's a good boy, but put the > > > leash > > > > back on and walk to the crate for, wait 5 minutes....then walk back on > > the > > > > pad. If he still doesn't poop......then back in the crate, only this > > time > > > > feed him in the crate. (you should be feeding inside the crate all the > > > time, > > > > except for snacks). Wait 5 minutes after he finishes eating.....then > > back > > > on > > > > the pad and I can guarantee you that he will poop, if not....walk him > > back > > > > to the crate and wait another 5-10 minutes and then back on the pad > and > > > keep > > > > doing that until he poops. > > > > > > > > Lets say he did poop: > > > > Now he is free and you shouldn't have to watch him because he did his > > > > business. So lets say he is free for 1 hour, bear in mind he ate and > > > > probably drank, plus the running around.....time for the pad again for > a > > > > quick pee. If he doesn't pee.......back in the crate and try the pad > > again > > > > in 10 minutes. If he still doesn't pee........back in the crate and > try > > > > again in another 10 minutes. You keep doing that until he pees. If it > > > takes > > > > another hour for him to finally pee, then you know that his holding > time > > > is > > > > 2 hours after he eats and drinks, which means that he can have 2 hours > > of > > > > free time and shouldn't have to be watched. > > > > > > > > If you find that walking him back and forth is too much, then block > off > > > the > > > > area where you are keeping the pad. You should only have the pad in > one > > > > permanent place during the training period. If you block off that area > > > > only > > > > make it big enough for the pad and a little space for him to sit or > lie > > > down > > > > in, but no bigger then that. This way if he is stubborn and wants to > > take > > > > 1/2 an hour to finally go while in there, you can do what ever you > want > > in > > > > the meantime. If he doesn't go in 1/2 an hour then put him back in the > > > > crate and then try the pad again 15 minutes later. > > > > > > > > The whole idea is for him to associate that when he goes on the pad he > > is > > > > rewarded not only with a treat, and praising, but he is also free to > > play. > > > > When he doesn't go when he is suppose to, then he stays in the crate. > > > > > > > > As far as him wanting to eat his poop, a lot of dogs, especially > puppies > > > do > > > > that. Gigi did that constantly when I first rescued her and > occasionally > > > > still does it, and she is 7 years old, but she came from living in a > > cage > > > as > > > > a back yard breeder dog, and because those type of dogs don't have > their > > > > cages cleaned regularly, the dog naturally wants to keep it cleaned, > > > > especially when they have puppies, so that's the only way to get rid > of > > > it. > > > > Another reason is that those type of dogs are on a cheap lousy diet > and > > > > their body is missing something in nutrients so they feel eating > tootsie > > > > rolls will solve it, or they are just plain not fed enough. > > unfortunately, > > > > puppies learn a lot from their mommies and they mimic the mommies > > > behavior. > > > > That's the hardest type of behavior to break, because the puppies go > > > through > > > > an imprinting stage, and what is imprinted in their brain is almost > > > > impossible to remove. So even if your puppy was kept clean and well > fed, > > > if > > > > he saw his mother doing that, then he learned the behavior. > > > > > > > > Their are some things that you can try to do. Teach him the command ' > > > > leave-it'' It is an invaluable command, because lets say you are > walking > > > him > > > > and he goes to eat something on the street, once you yell out ' > leave-it > > ' > > > > he will back off and not touch it. > > > > > > > > Start with him sitting in front of you and have some treats in your > hand > > > > > > Put a treat on the floor in front of him and say Leave-It! and quickly > > > push > > > > him back from it. Then point to it and say ''Okay" and let him have it > > > > > Repeat several times. If he doesn't get it during the first session, > > then > > > > try it again the following day and again that night. Most dogs learn > it > > in > > > > 3-4 sessions. You are really teaching him 2 commands at a time. > > leave-it > > > > and okay. Now your ready to use that command when ever you catch him > > > trying > > > > to eat anything that isn't good for him or touching anything that you > > > don't > > > > want him to touch. > > > > > > > > They also have food treats that contain something that prevents the > dog > > > from > > > > eating their poop. I tried a brand on Gigi and it didn't do any thing. > > > > Others have said that it works, so I guess it all depends on the dog. > > Gigi > > > > stops dead in her tracks when I catch her and say 'leave-it' so that > > works > > > > for us. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > > > > > > > From: Megan > > > > Date: 1/31/2012 11:15:52 AM > > > > To: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > > > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Housebreaking - Morning update - day2 > > > > > > > > > > > > Well - Valken kicked my butt yesterday and last night but I think we > re > > > off > > > > to a better start today. > > > > Didn't need to potty last night before bedtime (of course, he'd pooped > > on > > > > the rug while I was in the shower about 20 minutes before - Ted was > > really > > > > happy about that!). > > > > REALLY had to go this morning. I put him on the pad and said potty. he > > > peed. > > > > we waited-nothing. so I let him go off the pad and caught him a minute > > > later > > > > trying to poop on the kitchen floor. Told him "NO!" and got him to the > > > pad, > > > > told him to potty and he did. He immediately and frantically tried to > > eat > > > > the poop. I had to fold the pad over it and keep him away from it to > > stop > > > > him. He was really concerned about that poop staying there. Thoughts? > > > > Suggestions? > > > > Compared to yesterday this is a great start. Not sure why he thinks > pads > > > are > > > > for peeing and the rest of the house is for pooping.LOL > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
