Desi took a long time. My vet said that sometimes it takes longer for the bladder to develop enough to be able to hold the urine when they feel like they have to go. There was a point with Desi…and I can’t remember now how old he was, when all of a sudden it was like a page turning and he went from mistake, mistake, mistake to going out all of the time. But, with the puppy pads, he stands next to them but lifting his leg so it goes on the pad. He doesn’t really lift his leg too high when he goes. Dolly had control way earlier in her maturity than Desi did. I don’t know if that might be something else to do with the crytoorchidism.
The main thing is you have to be able to estimate – for when you are not with him all the time, how long it would take him to get from point A to point B. If he is playing (A) and he has to go potty and starts to go where he should (B) and he can make it, then you know his bladder muscles can hold it for him to get that far. So when he is unattended, while he may not yet be able to get the signal and make it outside, you may need to keep him confined to where he can make it to the puppy pad. As he matures, the bladder muscles should become stronger. Desi is a bit of a hoarder…and the breeder said his brother was like that too. So he will take toys away from Dolly – not because he wants to play with them, but because he wants to build a pile. Sometimes he will then pee on them. He has done this when Mandy has been over, and I haven’t seen him do it otherwise in over a year. I don’t think that is standard for every male. When you can get him to follow you outside while you are telling him he is going out to go potty (or whatever words you use) and he goes out and does go, then he should get big praise and a treat. You may then want to start closer to the door and without him on a leash using the same words and if he goes out and then goes, then big praise and a treat. Pretty soon he will just bark or go out a doggy door – however you do it there. Desi is into his food, so in the mornings Dolly goes out potty. Sometimes Desi will go out then too, but sometimes he just wants breakfast. So if I feed him, when he is done he goes and sits by the door and cries to go out. I open the door and he goes out and goes potty. He does it after dinner too. But they both will use the puppy pad if I am sleeping or not feeling good. For me…that is what I need. For them…they just kind of know what to do and when to do it. Good luck with your little guy. I think that right now he is just dealing with the fact that you have to give his daddy some extra time that he would like to have. Sometimes that can make a puppy start to mark to let you know that he wants to be the one for attention. I know your husband has the priority there, but your little guy doesn’t understand that. Hopefully when your hubby is doing better, your little pup will too. Then you will definitely feel much better with both of your men doing well. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rebecca Bate Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:02 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Ok I am at the end of my rope Maybe I am just expecting too much out of him. He is 10 months old. Also I haven't used puppy pads in the house, I usually take him outside. Won't he lift his leg and pee on the floor instead of the pad? I am still so new to house breaking a little guy. When he is in the house playing we have very few messes, but thats because I am trained and take him out all the time!!!! So maybe him having a spot to go in the house (not my curtain!) would relieve me some too hehe Rebecca _____ From: Joan Croft <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 10:55 PM Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Ok I am at the end of my rope When I was gone and Desi’s area was the bathroom: He would take the puppy pad if not in a frame and drag it across the room. I got the frame and put it on there and I would come home and he had peed on the puppy pad and then he must have been playing and he had some of his toys on top of where he went potty. Oooo…I am so glad that he hasn’t done that in a while. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rebecca Bate Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 4:34 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Chihuahuas] Ok I am at the end of my rope Ok so I have no issues house breaking a big dog..... But Diego is driving me batty. I have always used crates for my dogs and Diego is no different. But he is just gross, here is why. When I went back to work after summer break, I put him in a mid size crate with a litter box, and a box with his very soft nice bedding. WELL he uses the litter just fine, but then drags his bed into the litter box and then uses the other box and then drags his bed back to that box. I am bathing him every other day because he is just gross, I clean his crate often but by the time I get home he is covered. I have never had a dog that would choose to lay in its waste. Any help would be wonderful. BTW if I use puppy pads he drags those into his bed too :-/ Unfortunately I have to be gone all day for work this year, sadly this years school schedule wasn't kind to me. Thanks Rebecca
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