Puppy is driving me insane

deanozzi

We just got a puppy (long haired chiuahuah) 3 weeks ago. Everyone said it would be hard, but I never would have known it would be this hard.

We are trying crate training and he hates it. We have 2 cats both whom are not de clawed so we can not let him  run loose in our house when we are not home. He is still not potty trained which I am working so hard on and has totally ruined our $3,000 wood floors. He refuses to use puppy pads (we have even bought the special drops that will help him want to go on the pads and they do not work).

He barks really really loud like he is being tortured  almost like a scream constantly(he is not tortured).

I do not know what to do, I want to give up but my FI does not want to and I feel like our relationship is crumbling (we are getting married in 4 weeks)...

Any advise from anyone who had puppy trained their small dog would be great.

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:8831036c-4dbe-4a9f-bdb8-37dee4420ac1">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Three weeks it NOT ENOUGH TIME for everyone to adjust.  Don't give up. We got a dog last June and I'd say it took a good 6 months for everyone to get on a schedule and him to be fully potty trained. You have to be consistent with the crate training.  We took Yoshi out pretty much every hour for the first month or so we had him. Any time he went near the door, we went out.  Crazy amounts of praise when he did his thing outside.  They just need routine. It gets easier, but it is not an overnight process.
</strong>Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

Thank you! I am trying so, so hard. I take him out at least every 2 hours. How did the cate training work for you? How often was he crated? Did you crate him when you were home? Or only at night?

cwaggoner07

I promise it gets better! Everyone has to get used to a new routine. I too wanted to give up after 2 weeks, but now 2 years later he is so perfect! Going to obedience school early on was our saving grace.

melanieky

It look me a good year to completely potty train my puppy. It wasn't easy but you have to want to work at it. I agree pee pads don't work, my puppy used to chew them up if we left them out. A puppy should go out first thing in the morning, right after any meal, right after play time, right after nap time, basically every 1-2 hours because their bladders are so small they can't hold it very long. You have to development a routine. Every time my puppy went potty outside he got a treat immediately! He eventually got the idea. I have no advice on the crate training, but like PP's suggested, why not consult a dog trainer?

amys325

Yeah I agree with the PPs.  3 weeks is not enough time for you to just give up. 

If you have a Petsmart near you, they do a puppy class and it's really helpful for you as the owner and for the puppy.  It's not that expensive either.

Getting our puppy crate trained was hard (separation anxiety, whining and crying), but once you get past that hurdle, it's the best thing.  It makes our life so much easier and she actually loves her crate.  It's her special place and she's starting to go in there on her own.

Maggie0829

We crate trained our puppy.  Since both H and I work full time (and since he doesn't have a set schedule) I would go home every day at lunch to let her out and play with her.  I would put her into her crate at 7:30am and be home by 11:30am.  She never had one accident while in her crate.  I know many people will think that is too long to leave a puppy in a crate but that is what we had to do to make our situation work.  I would stay home with her for about an hour to an hour and a half and then put her back in her crate until either I or my H would come home (the latest I would come home was 4:30pm).  She hated being in there in the beginning but now (almost a year later) she loves being in her crate.

At night, when we first got her and getting her potty trained we would crate her.  She would wake up and cry (just like a baby) and depending on her cry we would either let her out to use the bathroom or just lay by her crate and gently pet her to calm her down.  The cries were definitely different and distinct between "I need to pee now!" and "I am just scared and lonely"

After about 3 months she was completely potty trained (they aren't completely potty trained unitl they absolutely have zero accidents in your house for quite a while) and we stopped putting her in her crate at night.  We do still crate her during the day but it probably isn't necessary anymore.

Training a dog takes a lot of time.  Everyone needs to get used to one another and establish a routine.  I too started going a bit insane at the two week mark due to lack of sleep, potty accident and those damn puppy teeth, but now that I look back it was so worth it because I love my pup more then anything.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Three weeks?  Lol.  Our dog is a year and a half old and will still poop on the floor once in a while.  Dogs are an investment - of money, time, emotions and sanity.

None of what you described sounds at all out of character of puppies.

lbarr088

A puppy should be on a set bathroom schedule.  Not every two hours.. more like every 30min - 1 hour and slowly increase the time between bathroom sessions.  Be diligent in bringing them out 20-30 minutes after eating.  Also, it will take some time for everyone to adjust to the schedule but stick with it!  We had a dog that was fairly difficult at training and when he urinated in the house my mother sort of "dipped" a heavy object in his pee and brought it outside to where we wanted him to go.  That worked, since he was able to find his smell outside and not just all over our floors - ____-.

Small dogs are also notoriously more difficult than larger breeds so keep that in mind.  For new and experienced dog owners I've always suggested bringing dogs to classes so they can socialize and so the owners can work with the trainers  

abwatts

I have had several chihuahuas and they are not the easiest dogs to train. Because they are so tiny its very easy for then to go in there crates. Thats why youhave to be diligent about taking them out. Every hour and right after they eat. puppies have super fast metabolisms. We used puppy pads for our boston puppy when we got him, but only because we lived on the 3rd floor of our apartment and needed to have something in case we couldnt make it in time.

A dog is a puppy for a year, it could take that long for them to be perfectly potty trained, and even then they are still dogs, and still have accidents. But the accidents and all the chewed shoes in the world cannot ruin the amount of love and loyalty a dog can give to you.

It breaks my heart that you want to give up on this helpless animal after such a short time. I think everyone on here is begging you to get a professional dog trainer if you cant handle it. But beware, a professional dog trainer can't do a hole lot about potty training on a dialy basis. YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK!

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:ca457690-1716-4f39-a67a-9a78d43081f8">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I promise it gets better! Everyone has to get used to a new routine. I too wanted to give up after 2 weeks, but now 2 years later he is so perfect! Going to obedience school early on was our saving grace.</strong>
Posted by cwaggoner07[/QUOTE]


Thats what friends are saying. :) Thanks a bunch!

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:84fc32f8-64b5-4e62-8a56-75cd136f381d">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]I have had several chihuahuas and they are not the easiest dogs to train. Because they are so tiny its very easy for then to go in there crates. Thats why youhave to be diligent about taking them out. Every hour and right after they eat. puppies have super fast metabolisms. We used puppy pads for our boston puppy when we got him, but only because we lived on the 3rd floor of our apartment and needed to have something in case we couldnt make it in time. <strong>A dog is a puppy for a year</strong>, it could take that long for them to be perfectly potty trained, and even then they are still dogs, and still have accidents. But the accidents and all the chewed shoes in the world cannot ruin the amount of love and loyalty a dog can give to you. It breaks my heart that you want to give up on this helpless animal after such a short time. I think everyone on here is begging you to get a professional dog trainer if you cant handle it. But beware, a professional dog trainer can't do a hole lot about potty training on a dialy basis. YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK!
Posted by abwatts[/QUOTE]

Unless you have a lab and then they are a puppy for their entire life!

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:9aeea327-30d9-4735-97db-dc6fa5e9dac7">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Ok, I'll be the one to mention the elephant in the room.  <strong>Why on earth would you get a puppy only seven weeks before your wedding? </strong> That's kind of masochistic.  Or maybe self-sabotage.
Posted by LucyHC[/QUOTE]

The puppy was given to me. I did not buy him. My mothers best friend had a litter and he wanted me to have one. I know now that I should have spent more then 3 weeks making the decision to take him. I did take 3 weeks before making that decision but I think I should have thought about it longer.

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:a64417c3-b2f0-43f2-80c1-54371bd4a239">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>We crate trained our puppy every night, and during the day when we were at work. She definitely cried, but after days of ignoring her, she quieted down. As for the potty training, DO NOT USE PEE PADS. Pee pads teach your dog to go to the bathroom inside the house, which is what you do not want. A puppy should be going out every hour, and after each feeding time. Lots of praise when he does his business outside. I would also recommend coming home during your lunch hour to walk the dog, or hire a dog walker. For the barking.. he is likely do it to get your attention. If he barks, ignore him completely. Don't even look at him. When he is quiet for more than 5 seconds, praise him and give him a treat. Repeat this every time he barks. Chihuahuas are also yappy by nature, so it will always be a struggle for you. Training a dog is hard. It bothers me that you would consider giving him up after only three weeks. If it's so hard for you, hire a professional trainer. But you made a commitment and you need to follow through.</strong>
Posted by cfaszews25[/QUOTE]

I only thought that peepee pads would be great because if we are gone for more than 6 hours he knows that he can relieve himself. Maybe I will re think.

I always ignore him when he yaps. But I did not think about praising him when he stops. NOTE TO SELF!!

I do not want to get rid of him, I was being over dramatic because I got no sleep because of the barking. I really am trying my hardest and he is the sweetest most loving thing.

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:ca457690-1716-4f39-a67a-9a78d43081f8">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]I promise it gets better! Everyone has to get used to a new routine. I too wanted to give up after 2 weeks, but now 2 years later he is so perfect! Going to obedience school early on was our saving grace.
Posted by cwaggoner07[/QUOTE]

What do they actually cover in obedience school?

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:edd90621-76f1-4435-bd6c-f9d74bff66d9">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Please don't give up on the puppy after only three weeks. Small dogs especially need lots of positive reinforcement and extra care that they are taken outside often. We have a pomeranian and he wasn't truly house trained until almost a year, probably even a little longer than that. But now he does perfect and we couldn't imagine our lives without him.
Posted by rachers1017[/QUOTE]

:)

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:4112ba88-cbb2-482d-8434-cf78199154f8">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]We crate trained our puppy.  Since both H and I work full time (and since he doesn't have a set schedule) I would go home every day at lunch to let her out and play with her.  I would put her into her crate at 7:30am and be home by 11:30am.  She never had one accident while in her crate.  I know many people will think that is too long to leave a puppy in a crate but that is what we had to do to make our situation work.  I would stay home with her for about an hour to an hour and a half and then put her back in her crate until either I or my H would come home (the latest I would come home was 4:30pm).  She hated being in there in the beginning but now (almost a year later) she loves being in her crate. At night, when we first got her and getting her potty trained we would crate her.  She would wake up and cry (just like a baby) and depending on her cry we would either let her out to use the bathroom or just lay by her crate and gently pet her to calm her down.  The cries were definitely different and distinct between "I need to pee now!" and "I am just scared and lonely" After about 3 months she was completely potty trained (they aren't completely potty trained unitl they absolutely have zero accidents in your house for quite a while) and we stopped putting her in her crate at night.  We do still crate her during the day but it probably isn't necessary anymore. Training a dog takes a lot of time.  Everyone needs to get used to one another and establish a routine.  I too started going a bit insane at the two week mark due to lack of sleep, potty accident and those damn puppy teeth, but now that I look back it was so worth it because I love my pup more then anything.
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

Thanks a bunch!!

amys325

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:e1f53dc1-7183-4b5c-b51c-430a3382fc5d">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Puppy is driving me insane : What do they actually cover in obedience school?
Posted by deanozzi[/QUOTE]

<div>Ours covered the typical commands.  Sit, down, leave it, drop it, and some bonus tricks like paw and rollover.  Then we worked on leash walking and coming when called.  But they do a good job explaining to you how to get them to not jump up on people and information that is good for the owners.  </div><div>
</div><div>We did the positive reinforcement type of training (aka lots of treats) and overall our pup is pretty obedient. She could use some more training which we plan on doing.</div><div>
</div><div>I highly recommend doing something like that and as soon as you can. </div>

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:dbeda4fb-0b18-4269-ba78-34a9b6ed8241">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Everything cfasz said.  (love your new sig, btw, cfasz) Puppy training can be a long, difficult process.  The more consistent you can be, the better.  Three weeks is definitely not enough time.  Good lord.   Also, you could try tethering him when you're at home.  <strong>Put a leash on him and attach the leash to your belt loop or something -- that way he can never be out of your eyes which most pupplies will try to run and hide to potty which you dont' want to happen.</strong>  You could also set a timer that goes off every hour to remind yourself to take him out to potty.
Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE]

lol. My fiance actually started doing it and I did not know why. He is so great!

deanozzi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:48b21f83-b51e-4804-848b-b70103708d21">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Did your 'thinking' about it involve any breed specific research?  Have you ever had a dog? And ffs, if you do decide to re-home him, try to find a breed rescue group rather than taking him to a shelter where he could be killed.  Also, some breeders will take their dogs back so they don't go to a shelter so I'd see if that were an option. And if this is causing problems in your relationship with your future husband?  Oy.  
Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE]

I would never bring him to a shelter. I have many family members who would do anything to adopt him. I am going to keep on with the training and see how it goes.

QueerFemme

Ditto what everyone else said. Small dogs are harder to potty train... their bladder is about hte size of a half dollar.  They can't hold it for very long.  The puppy should be let out every hour when you are home. And, IMMEDIATELY after he eats and drinks. Also, limit his water intake.  Make sure he has access to clean, fresh water... and then immediately take him outside. Wait another 20 minutes and take him outside again.  We did that consistently for 4-5 weeks with our pups and they were potty trained. But, if you skip a day, get lazy, tired, etc.  You basically have to start over. 

 Also, GET UP in the middle of the night and take that dog out.  Don't let him have any water an hour or so before bedtime, and then take him out to pee.  then, set an alarm for 3 hours later, and take him out again... and again, 3 hours later. It's just like having an infant. As the pup ages, you will be able to increase the amount of time you can sleep, and eventually, he will be able to sleep through the night without needing to go out.

Take him out to the same spot every time to pee.  And as soon as he pees... give a TON of praise, YES, even if its 3am. 

If he is in his crate at night, put the crate in your bedroom.  (assuming you aren't already doing this).  Dogs are den animals. They like to sleep with their pack.  I'm not suggesting you have to let the dog sleep WITH you, but being in the same room will help with the seperation anxiety.  How would you feel if you were banished to the living room every night when the rest of your family goes to bed?

Put a towel, tshirt, etc. that smells like you in the crate with him.   I also suggest a dog walker. Even if its a local stay at home mom or kid that can come by mid-day and let him out.  6 hours is too long to expect him to hold it, and pee pads encourage going to the bathroom in the house.   If you can't get to him in a reasonable amount of time and/or can't hire a sitter/walker... then, he is going to go to the bathroom in the house.  There is no way around that.  Again, it's like an infant.  You don't get mad when you have to change an infant's diaper, right?

When you are home, keep the dog in your line of vision at ALL times.  Gate him off to the room that you are in.  AS SOON as he wakes up from a nap, take him out.  After playing for a while, take him out.  At this age, if he is wandering around, and looks overly interested in something, he is looking for a spot to pee, take him out.

I have had dozens of dogs in my lifetime... and probably fostered another 100 or so.  Having a pet is a major committment. And, yes, your stuff will get ruined sometimes. But, you certainly shouldn't have let the dog have free roam of the house to destroy 3,000 worth of hardwood floors.  If he is peeing on the floor THAT much, you are doing something majorly wrong.

cwaggoner07

Our dog isn't crated at night. He sleeps in a bed at the foot of our bed, and he has since he was potty trained (which was REALLY early on thank goodness).

We went to obedience school for a year, because we have a VERY energetic border collie mix (seriously, the woman who owns our day care said he is the most energetic dog they have). Because he is a working dog, he LOVED learning tricks and going to school. We eventually got 'promoted' to the group where all of the show dogs were. However, he is a mutt so he couldn't compete even if he wanted to.
I can't really give advice on the potty training, but for regular training, like heels and walking on leash and recalls, we went to class once a week and trained outside for an hour twice a week (doggie homework). It was a LOT of work but he is SO well behaved now.

abwatts

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:d89afa99-4330-425b-8b55-7d993df09503">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Puppy is driving me insane : Unless you have a lab and then they are a puppy for their entire life!
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

I also have a Boston.. and I am pretty sure we are going down that same path.. this dog is NUTS (in the best, craziest, most loveable way possible). Chihuahua's on the other hand have a tendency to turn into cranky old men pretty quickly. But I love my cranky old man!! :)

melanieky

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:3318f5f7-db1a-47f7-9052-5ff3c62bf318">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Puppy is driving me insane : Ours covered the typical commands.  Sit, down, leave it, drop it, and some bonus tricks like paw and rollover.  Then we worked on leash walking and coming when called.  But they do a good job explaining to you how to get them to not jump up on people and information that is good for the owners.   We did the positive reinforcement type of training (aka lots of treats) and overall our pup is pretty obedient. She could use some more training which we plan on doing. I highly recommend doing something like that and as soon as you can. 
Posted by amys325[/QUOTE]

Yes, training was great for me because it helped show my puppy that I was the leader and I noticed after taking him to training for 6 weeks he listened to me a lot better at home. Whenever I call his name now he turns to me and waits for direction. Puppies are just looking for guidance on what they are supposed to do.

sparent2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:48b21f83-b51e-4804-848b-b70103708d21">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Did your 'thinking' about it involve any breed specific research?  Have you ever had a dog? And ffs, if you do decide to re-home him, try to find a breed rescue group rather than taking him to a shelter where he could be killed.  Also, some breeders will take their dogs back so they don't go to a shelter so I'd see if that were an option. And if this is causing problems in your relationship with your future husband?  Oy.  
Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE]

FYI I love you.

It doesn't seem like you have ever had a dog before, and a puppy was the wrong way to go with this. But that ship has sailed. Like everyone else has said: positive reenforcement, have a schedule, instead of a full bowl of water leave him some ice cubes in a bowl while you are gone (he still has water, just not a much reducing the likelihood of an accident), associate the crate with positive things like treats or toys.

Like cwaggoner we have herding/working dogs which are easier to train since they can understand a wide variety of commands, but take you dog to obedience school and be consistent.

Consistency is the key to training. Most dogs are poorly behaved b/c their owners are to lazy to put in the time and effort to properly train them.

OBX2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:a64417c3-b2f0-43f2-80c1-54371bd4a239">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]We crate trained our puppy every night, and during the day when we were at work. She definitely cried, but after days of ignoring her, she quieted down. As for the potty training, DO NOT USE PEE PADS. Pee pads teach your dog to go to the bathroom inside the house, which is what you do not want. A puppy should be going out every hour, and after each feeding time. Lots of praise when he does his business outside. I would also recommend coming home during your lunch hour to walk the dog, or hire a dog walker. For the barking.. he is likely do it to get your attention. If he barks, ignore him completely. Don't even look at him. When he is quiet for more than 5 seconds, praise him and give him a treat. Repeat this every time he barks. Chihuahuas are also yappy by nature, so it will always be a struggle for you. Training a dog is hard. It bothers me that you would consider giving him up after only three weeks. If it's so hard for you, hire a professional trainer. But you made a commitment and you need to follow through.
Posted by cfaszews25[/QUOTE]

Great advice!

Also, make sure to reward your dog when he/she does something good, like pottying outside for example.  It's positive praise and it does wonders.

Ohhhh. and dogs only know one word commands, such as yes, no, good, bad, sit, stay, etc.  They are not humans so telling the dog that he/she isn't supposed to pee on the wood floors isn't going to get you anywhere. 

You need to have A LOT of patience as this could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get things down pat, but once you do, the reward for you and FI is beyond amazing.  The best part of my day is the moment I open the door and our dog is just sitting there, wagging her tail like a helicopter out of pure excitement just to see me!

Good luck :)

StephBeanWed61502

Just as an FYI, my parents have a really small dog (Yorkshire Terrier, he only weighs six pounds), and their vet  actually recommended against training him to go outside, so he goes on newspaper indoors.  Basicallly, the vet said that he was so tiny and his bladder was so small that unless they planned to take him outside every 2 hours (even overnight) for the rest of his life, he would never be accident-free in the house, because he's just not physically capable of "holding it" the way a bigger dog would be.  You may be having problems with the potty training because you're asking him to hold it for longer than he's physically able to, which is basically setting the poor little guy up for failure.

QueerFemme

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:3bd394ce-bea4-419c-a788-128a18cdfb05">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Just as an FYI, my parents have a really small dog (Yorkshire Terrier, he only weighs six pounds), and their vet  actually recommended against training him to go outside, so he goes on newspaper indoors.  Basicallly, the vet said that he was so tiny and his bladder was so small that unless they planned to take him outside every 2 hours (even overnight) for the rest of his life, he would never be accident-free in the house, because he's just not physically capable of "holding it" the way a bigger dog would be.  You may be having problems with the potty training because you're asking him to hold it for longer than he's physically able to, which is basically setting the poor little guy up for failure.
Posted by StephBeanWed61502[/QUOTE]

That vet is completely WRONG.  I'm sorry.  I have had dogs (mine and fosters) from 4 pounds up to 120 pounds and they were ALL be trained to go outside. ALL dogs can "hold it" eventually.  Not if you give them a bucket of water, of course.  But, if you are giving them the proper amount of water at the right times of day, all dogs, even the tiny little 4 pounders can be potty trained.  The hardest dog I ever had to potty train was my rescue boxer.  It took her over a year to "get it" that she needed to "hold it" in the house.  She lived the first 3 years of her life in a cage at a puppy mill.  So, she always peed and pooped indoors.  Once she figured out the difference between living area, and pooping area, she was fine.  It just took longer.  My sister has a 3.5 pound yorkie and he has peed outside and knew how to hold it since he was less than 4 months old.

Pee pads make people lazy.  It's a lot easier to let them piss in the house on a pee pad or newspaper, then you don't have to get out of bed or come home from a dinner party, since your dog has free access to food, water and a place to pee.    Any vet that would recommend that is ridiculous. 

StephanieSaucier

We got our puppy at 4 weeks old.  She is now 9 weeks.  I would say she is 80% house trained.  Thank goodness we both only live at most 2 miles from home because she does go out every 2 or 3 hours.  Also make sure when you take him/her outside and they do their duty you praise them.  The best thing to do is always have some food (or treats) on you and when they are doing something good, praise them and give them a "treat".

She knew "sit" at 6 weeks.  We are working on "stay" now.  It also helps if you have another dog (in my opinion). 

I learned in training classes, when training a dog (at any age), they don't have to have a set meal time.  For example, if you are going for a walk, take the meal with you in a bag, and when they are walking nice, sitting, staying, heeling, etc. give pieces of the meal to them.  That is the most reinforcing and fastest way for them to learn.

Also make sure you get down on their level, especially when you praise them.  Nothing shows you love your puppy than laying on the floor with them and playing, petting, praising them.

laurenoliveira23

you should definitely do some breed research . chihuahuas are very hyper and are considered hard to train - i bet your puppy runs laps around you and you can never catch it
i grew up with a half chihuahua half bison ... lol she was very hyper but after you get through the tough part everything will be good and they are nice little lap dogs ..... but they will always be hyper hahah

there's a reason people say before you have baby - get a dog and see how you do with that lol they are a lot of work .... why i have cats! :P

lls31

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_puppy-is-driving-me-insane?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:43001a66-e2cf-48b1-aec3-8f5a85ac7525Post:3bd394ce-bea4-419c-a788-128a18cdfb05">Re: Puppy is driving me insane</a>:
[QUOTE]Just as an FYI, my parents have a really small dog (Yorkshire Terrier, he only weighs six pounds), and their vet  actually recommended against training him to go outside, so he goes on newspaper indoors.  Basicallly, the vet said that he was so tiny and his bladder was so small that unless they planned to take him outside every 2 hours (even overnight) for the rest of his life, he would never be accident-free in the house, because he's just not physically capable of "holding it" the way a bigger dog would be.  You may be having problems with the potty training because you're asking him to hold it for longer than he's physically able to, which is basically setting the poor little guy up for failure.
Posted by StephBeanWed61502[/QUOTE]

<div>We have a 6 lb yorkie poo and we were also advised to train him to use pads indoors.  He's 4 years old now and it works perfectly.  I understand why other people had advised against this, but it works for us and our dog.  He's tiny, he has a tiny bladder, and there are times when he literally pees several times an hour.  We would never be able to keep up if we had to take him outside that often.</div>