Housebreaking in the Cold White North

[brem]

If there is one thing I would do differently, and I've only had my puppy for a week, is to get the puppy in the spring, when it is warmer.

You think it's tough to get a puppy housebroken?

Think of getting up at 5h30 am at -18C (0F) to get him to pee pee. And deal with a puppy who would rather be inside.



Any suggestions?

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

It's slow. And the puppy seems to enjoy relieving himself right at the door (on either side), solid or liquid.

Fun fun fun!

 

[Mindy Miller]

Oh man, my heart goes out for you. I didn't want to take ours out this morning when it was 16 degrees...

 

[keller]

Perhaps getting a coat and boots for the puppy, and teaching him to go on command so he will go as soon as he gets out? Anyways, I feel for you. It's usually 15 to 20 degrees warmer here in the mornings than it is where you are, and it's been tough for me, so I can't imagine doing what you are.

Or maybe getting some of those pads, or paper training him until it warms up would be an option.

 

[Doberluv]

Keller, take it from me (LOL) there's no time to put on a coat or boots when the pup is needing to get out to pee. I did it too. I live in north Idaho and got Lryic in October....brrrrr. There were times when it was 30 below zero F. I had the same thing going through my mind...."Why on earth did I get this pup in October???" LOL. You just have to buck up and the dog has to learn to get tough. LOL. Sorry, I'm laughing.

 

[Mister B]

I have a 5 month shih-tzu in Michigan, and it is either snowy, rainy, or muddy! I seem to be alone in this, but I LOVE pee pads, we have had 100% success with them, and I never have a worry. When we go rving he uses the pad in there too. When we camp where it's mild weather he has no trouble using the great outdoors...no confusion problems! We actually built a some shelter to put the pads on now, and will move the shelter outside soon! But if that doesn't work...he'll stay small and I'll keep him on pads if necesary. I know alot of people may not agree with this but he and I are stress free!

 

[keller]

Well, we didn't do boots, but on colder days, Gage pretty much wore his coat around the house. He's a short coated dog, and he was so small that I thought he needed it outside when he first got here. I took him out every two hours (right after waking up, and 10 minutes after eating and drinking). I only took it off after he'd "went". He was in it almost all the time for the first two weeks. Once he picked up the idea of it all (about 9 weeks) he'd go to the door, and one person would run and pick him up and quickly put on his jacket, if he wasn't wearing it, while the other person put on their jacket and boots and took him out. Lots of times, when there was no one to help, he got a jacket, and we went out without ours I guess we're lucky that he didn't start peeing while being held, but he never did.

 

[Doberluv]

Hey, if it works, who cares if other people don't agree? It sounds great! Being stress free is the goal. Little dogs can be so easy in that way. I don't know if they make a pee pad big enough to hold the output my Doberman makes. He's like a horse. LOL. So he and my Chi's go outside no matter what. When it's really cold, they tend to hurry it up. LOL.

 

[Mister B]

LOL I can undrestand doberluv, when I picked up baxter from his neutering he filled an entire pad right there in the car...how nice he held it for me allllll day!

 

[Fran27]

My two had to pee really bad also when they got neutered... Boris managed to hold until outside but once on the steps he peed for like 2 minutes, Tips was so excited to see me he just couldn't hold anymore and peed on the vet's floor... You've ever had to hold so long it really hurt? You would think they could arrange for the dogs to be able to go out at least once.. poor things.

 

[brem]

Another thing that is not to my advantage is that when in cold weather, the "tube" has a tendency to contract, making it even less easy for the pup to pee.

I know from first hand experience. No pun nor nothing intended.

 

[brem]

Hey Mindy Miller, you stole my puppy!!!!

You have a beautiful Shih Tzu. What's da name?

 

[Mindy Miller]

She's a lhasa apso. The two breeds really are a lot alike. Her name's Cassie

 

[aelizilly]

Well, Bailey and I don't have to deal with the snow or cold weather, but there have been plenty of mornings where I have run him outside with my robe and hair in a towel. Thankfully I have a house with a yard, and can get away with this. I have even been known to run out there in a t-shirt.

So if they neighbors are around looking out their windows...they're sure getting an eye full. But, whatever it takes to prevent an accident, and when he has to go he has to go!

 

[brem]

Mindi: it's indeed really close. With the close up, I couldn't tell. And I've mostly seen Lhasa Apsos with white hair...

Nice looking girl you have there.

 

[Mindy Miller]

Thanks, she's a sweetie. That picture was taken when we first got her at 12 weeks. She's lost almost all of her black now. Her ears, beard and tail are still black tipped. Every time I get her groomed, she's a little more white.

Cassie actually could have shih tzu in her. The Lhasa lines have had shih tzus mixed in, I assume to offset inbreeding problems, but I don't know. My Cassie is FAR from breed standard, but we love her anyway.

Your baby is a cutie also. They're so cute when they're just little fluff balls like that. I want more! But my husband would divorce me. hee hee.

 

[brem]

I don't know whether my Shih is standard or not, nor do I really care. I fell in love and he's with me now.

A little update...

today's temperature:

-2 °F / -19 °C or -14 °F / -26 °C with the wind.

After the evening meal, I took the puppy out and he pooped very soon therafter. Yay! Victory. I gave a treat, praised, and went inside with him.

Later that evening, he went to his water bowl and gulped half a liter. I swear. So I knew he would have to relieve himself pretty soon.

I was determined to be successful in bringing him out in time for the pee, but I was NOT willing to go out and wait an hour (or even an half-hour for that matter) for it to happen.

We played a little, and then he went in the hallway. I knew this was a scheme.

I followed him everywhere he went. He usually is very glued to me, so I found this behaviour unusual. He was trying to get away from me... from my sight... so he could pee... I could see it in his eyes. He was so annoyed and disapointed I was following his every step. I even took him outside the door and encouraged him to pee... for like 5 minutes... then came back in... It was freezing.

Well folks... even if I watched, he eventually gave up and peed in front of me. I immediatly said NO, took him out and told him to pee there.

Nothing would do.

He simply didn't want to pee outside tonight.

What a setback. I was so pissed off.

What pissed me off is that I KNEW he was going to pee and I SOooooooooooo wanted to succeed.

I was angry at him... Now he's in his cage ... and I'm telling him how disapointed I am in him... of course, I'm keeping my tone really jolly... it's more for me to let steam out than anything.

Also, we came up with a silly nickname for him... he still doesn't have a name but he'S got a nickname: Boing Boing

LOL

Ok... Over and Out.

 

[filarotten]

Brrrrr. I feel for you. I've never had to deal with cold while potty training a puppy. But, I sure had a lot of mornings of standing outside in my robe, rain or shine. The neighbors just had to get over it. Housebreaking was more important. Just be consistant. Take the puppy out, after drinking, eating and waking up, and in between.. It's tough, but it will pay off eventually.

My husband and I were discussing Brutus last night. He is now 9 mos., anytime he drinks or eats he wants out to pottie. Sometimes he actually does nothing at first, but he will stay outside until he needs to go. I've never had a puppy that did that. Most would wait until they needed to go, but Brutus seems to think of it in advance. lol

 

[Gempress]

You should've seen me with my last dog.

8 week-old puppy+winter cold+3 flights of stairs between my apartment and the grass.

Not fun.

 

[Doberluv]

Ok....last night it was 4 degrees F. Brrrrr. This a.m. my little ones hesitated to go out, but I told them, "hurry up." LOL. And they did.

 

[brem]

3 °F / -16 °C with the wind -17 °F / -27 °C Partly Cloudy

This morning was another setback.

3 °F / -16 °C with the wind -17 °F / -27 °C
Partly Cloudy

We went outside, but no pee pee. 30 seconds inside and my back turned for less than 2 seconds and there he goes on the floor.

*sigh*

In fact, what infuriates me is that he would go outside and lay down on his belly. As if it wasn't cold at all.

update: we went upstairs for a nap, and he went directly in his cage! Gooooooood puppy! gave him 2 treats... I was sooooooooooooooo happy.