Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi guys!
Nothing serious here 
Just wondering if anyone had any potty training tips? Before the surgery, Jaime's potty training was spot on. We'd gone 2 weeks without a single accident! Now, at 5 months, I can expect 1-2 (sometimes more) accidents in the house. One day, he pooped in the house three times! It's really, really starting to frustrate me.
I've tried just about everything. At the beginning of these accidents, I tried only positive reinforcement. I praise and reward him every time he goes out still. I've also tried negative reinforcement. I've scolded him when I've caught him going. I've even given him little butt whacks - which I know you're not supposed to do but I've never swatted him hard enough to hurt him or even cause pain. In fact, I gave up on that method because he seems to think butt whacks are a game and wags his tail when I do it.
I've even tied bells to the door and tried to get him to ring them. Sometimes he will ask to go out, but most of the time he doesn't even ask before an accident. I know part of it may be because I play video games with friends for an hour or two when I get home and am not paying complete attention, but I never start playing until he's just gone pee and poop. I don't really want to have to spend my whole night watching him like a hawk, but I'll do it if that's what it takes.
My advice use baby gate to the room where you are at where you can keep an eye on him at all times. Its part puppy but there maybe more to it. Have you checked with your vet?
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
My apartment is 300 square feet, so he doesn't have anywhere sneaky to poop since I close the bathroom door. As I finished posting that, he pooped in the house for the third time today. I just feel like our timing is off. I let him out at least 5 times a night, and he won't go and then poop in the house. I have to admit, he did bark before he pooped just now but I thought he wanted to play because he was bringing me his toy.
Then he needs to stay out a little longer. Try to be with him and watch when he is out then you will know if it has been long enough. Sometimes they forget what they are out there to do if they play too much. I have 2 puppies a little over a year old and went through the same thing with them they are sisters.
hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Drats. Never had to train a puppy but I'm sure others here like Michelle have (and she has a lot of experience there!). Stay tuned for more insight.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the responses. The biggest comfort is that you have gone through it too, Michelle. I was actuality thinking about it today, and he seems to do it the most when I'm playing games. I think it's a cry for attention. Maybe that's why he wags his tail even when I scold him. Guess I got to give up the games for a lil bit.
I think this is just a part of puppyhood. My Lucian is also 5 months and he's starting to give us "clues" on when he needs to go outside. He'll go stand by the door and on occasion he may bark. If we're not on top of his "clues" then he'll just pee or poop. For example the other evening he got up about 3am to go out and pee. We come back inside and go back to bed but he's up and down off the bed. Hubby and I think he's just being an obnoxious puppy and wanting to play at 3am but when I finally went to check to see what he was doing I smelled where he'd pooped. I take him outside again and he's not doing anything so I think he's done. I clean up the poop and back to bed I go. He's still just up and down so I close the bedroom door so he can't go out into the main part of the house. Well he pooped in the bedroom and when I flip the light on (because you can't mistake the smell) I rush him back outside and then he vomits before I get him back out. So hubby is cleaning up the 2nd pile of poop and I'm cleaning up the vomit.
After I gave him a dose of Pepto he seemed to settle down but I'm wide awake at 4:30am so I go to take a shower and wash and do my hair. I got to lay down for about an hour before getting back up to get dressed for work so my butt was pretty much dragging that day. Hubby and I talked about his behaviors and said it wasn't like Lucian to constantly be up and down like he was. We just attributed the behavior to him not feeling well. Normally he'll go out and do his business and back to bed we go. So last night he did the up and down thing again and hubby took him back out and he pooped.
Like Michelle said since they are puppies they lose focus on what they're supposed to be doing. And sometimes Lucian will just be running and playing so much in the house that he'll just automatically stop without warning and start peeing. Hubby said they're just like small children in that they get so wrapped up in playing and having fun that they forget their body is saying "hey I gotta go to the bathroom" and then it's just too late when they finally realize hey I have to stop and go potty.
I'm not sure how much water Jaime is consuming but maybe you could curtail that some. With Lucian he will just drink and drink and drink to the point that we have to take the water away as well as not put too much in his bowl. This is a new behavior for us because neither Leland or Lucky drank like Lucian does. And if he's been playing and goes and drinks a bunch of water I know I need to get him outside in about 20 minutes because he'll be peeing.
Hang in there...the puppy stage is fun but hard as well. Hubby and I can't wait for Lucian's 1 year birthday because we're hoping he'll be settled down some by then...
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Oh goodie another puppy pawrent! Thanks Sahana.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My Lucy is 3 and she still is crated at night. If I have to go away for more than an hour or so, she stays in the mudroom. I cannot have throw rugs. She has peed on every one I have gotten. In her defense, she has struggled with UTIs, but vet thinks it is mostly behavioral. If he does not go, recrate him for a bit, then go out again. Don't rush him, supposedly, we give off a scent when we are impatient. Was told that by a trainer. ???? Lori and TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
4myty said
Don't rush him, supposedly, we give off a scent when we are impatient. Was told that by a trainer. ???? Lori and TY
Seriously? OMG .. that explains SOOOOO much about Shelby (*and Jasper Lily too).... I must reek of impatience!
I have no advice since I got both my pets when they were house-trained but I do know that Jasper, from time to time, will submissive pee. I have heard that if you carry treats outside w/you, that helps. But honestly, I've never really house-broken a dog before. Good luck!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Sorry to say that unfortunately it is just part of puppyhood. My Toby almost a year occasionally dribbles in the house. He is so excited when he is outside that he sometimes forgets to pee. Keep your routine consistent so that he knows when he is out that he needs to do his business. Stay with him to make sure that he does it. You are not alone.
I had trouble with poo with Splash until I used the clicker to mark the very start of her poo outside. I think it took about 3 times before she finally got it. it only take a day or two to teach them that the clicker means food & a click is less distracting than rushing over to offer a goody in the middle of the act.
I never did this, but they say you should take them on a leash every time & give a command to go potty (I've heard people use "get busy" or "hurry hurry" but you can use whatever you wish). Then once they have gone you can let them off leash for play time. Keeps them from taking their sweet old time b/c they are too busy exploring or playing.
Sonya & "Millie"--born Feb 1999, diagnosed with OSA 8/27/14, set free 9/27/14
(RIP baby girl)
You are probably missing his cues. Since he is not going in the crate it is probably not a medical issue. One thing you can do if you are busy doing other things is to put his leash on and have him right next to you so you can be prepared to stop him if he starts to go. Most puppies will circle and sniff before going to the bathroom. If he starts this say "NO" and then immediately take him out to the proper spot outside. It does help to use a command like "hurry up" or "go potty" and then give a treat reward as soon as he starts to go in the right spot. If you wait until he comes in the house he may have already forgotten that he went to the bathroom and he thinks you are rewarding him for coming in the house. This is why some pups race to come in for their treat and then pee or poop right in front of you.
It does take patience and watching them like a hawk but once they know what you want most puppies pick it up pretty fast. Expect most to have a bowel movement 3-4 times daily. Often within 30 minutes of eating and after playing hard. At his age you should not need to get up at night and let him out.
Pam
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions! I'm definitely gonna try the clicker...and yes, I think I am definitely missing some cues! It's just nice to know that his behavior is normal at this age, all my other dogs were house trained almost instantly so I'm not sure what's normal and what isn't. Peace peed in the house ONCE, was miserable after being scolded and never did it again - he was such a people pleaser!
The good news...
NO ACCIDENTS SINCE FRIDAY! Jaime and I went on a road trip to see some friends 3 hours away. He was SOOO good in the car, just slept! He didn't have any accidents in the car, in the hotel, or at the party. He was such a perfect gentlemen too, everyone loved him. We got brunch on the river and the entire kitchen staff had to come out and see him! He also made friends with an adorable miniature poodle puppy. It was so nice to get to see him play with another puppy, my moms dog and my sisters dog want very little to do with him. We got back last night and no accidents today either. WOOHOO PROGRESS! I think it's definitely an attention thing, because he never does it when I'm paying attention to him. He is a little 'wishy-washy' with potty trips. Over the weekend, he woke me up at 8:00 a.m. but I had to let him out three times before he went poo. Oh well, we're getting there!
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