Dog training question

[bigwillq]

My boyfriend just got a teacup Chihuahua. It's three months old and he's trying to train it.

We keep it in a cage when he's at work and when it's time for us to go to bed. The rest of the time, it usually stays out with us. We let it run around and play.

What are the best ways to train it???

It seems to poop and pee in the cage sometimes but when it was out before it started to poop on the floor but we caught it and put the dog back into the cage so it can finish the job. Then, when it was just out like an hour ago, it peed on the floor.

My b/f bought a litter pan and tries to put it in there. He also bought this spray stuff that says you should spray it on the places you want that dog to urinate on. Doesn't seem to work.

I'm just looking for a bit of advice. I know I can google (if I posted this in GD, I'm sure they would remind me of that) but I like personal experience over anything I read over the internets.

Thanks for the help! :hi:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. feed it to my dogs?

[bigwillq]

2. Meanie!

:mad:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. you know I don't mean it...

look at those babies... they would not hurt anything...

[bigwillq]

9. I know...

your dogs are beautiful! :hi:

[DBoon]

3. newspaper training....

a dog that relieves itself in its crate is already "untrained". This is not good, by instinct dogs don't foul their own nests.

Most types of housebreaking training seem to try to convince the dog that the entire house is its den. Newspaper training tries to do the opposite, teach the dog their is a proper place to poop and pee.

We trained our puppy by taking her outside after eating and before going to bed, take her to a "special spot", and say "go pee pee" When she obliged, we rewarded her with praise and a treat. I also try feeding her at different spots througout the house, on the theory that a dog will not foul their eating place.

Try a google on "newspaper training" and "puppy" and see what you get

[bigwillq]

4. Thanks for your help.

:hi:

[Ariana Celeste]

5. At that age...

they can't hold it for too long, so patience is important.

When we got our little girl, I took her out a LOT. Lots of praise when she did her business outside, a treat when she let me *know* she had to go ut, and a stern "NO" when she went inside, coupled with picking her up and quickly getting her out.

I bought some Resolve for Pet Stains too get the smell out of the carpet- good for your nose, and also because dogs will smell for where they went before and the Resolve seemed to work out.

Not much advice, but good luck. :).

[bigwillq]

6. Thanks!

Any help is appreciated. I think we have this thing all backwards!
Haven't seen you in awhile! It's good to see you! :hi:

[Ariana Celeste]

7. Thanks. :)

I had a bad roommate for awhile who was always always behind my shoulder... so I kind of quit posting for awhile and haven't totally picked back up yet. :P :hi:

[bigwillq]

10. Well I hope you "pick it back up"

:pals:

[Ariana Celeste]

11. you're makin me blush here!

lol. I've got to get to dinner, but you'll see me around~ you're always welcome to PM me. :)

[bigwillq]

12. Enjoy the dinner!

We'll talk soon! :hi:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

13. best advice I got when we had a puppy,

who is now 16. When you catch her doing a no no, pick her up & give her a quick shake. Not a hard shake, just enough to get her attention. Look her in the eye & say NO!

Also, puppies need to go out a lot. As soon as she does her business tell her Good Girl. My dog got to when he would start, he would look over at me to make sure I was watching. lol.

have fun & congrats on the new baby.

[bigwillq]

14. Thanks!

:hi:

[Porcupine]

15. Clicker training. It's reward based and works great.

What you do is get one of these little clickers at Petco or wherever. The dog gets a click with it's food. It gets a click when it gets a treat.

Now the thing to do is to watch the dog outside and give it a click and a treat when it does it's business outside. If it is inside you keep it in a large cage area with mattress covers (from medical supply houses) covering the floor. Put some of it's old stuff in one corner. Click only when it goes in that corner.

You can train a Chihuaha sized dog to use a cat's pot this way. The dog gets a reward signal when it uses the pot. After a while you leave the cage door open.

Anyway Google clicker training and you will get too much info.