Shitzu Potty Training

We just got a 9 week old shitzu and we live in Wisconsin and we have already had 32 inches of snow.  What is the best way to potty train this pup?  I have a pee pad in our basement and we have to carry her down every time because she is so small. She does go when we take her down.  But she does have a couple of accidents a day.   I put a bell at the top of the stairs, just starting today.  Is it possible you can train this pup with a bell?  Is it a good or bad idea to potty train her in the house until spring?  I really don't know what to do.

[utahmomma]

I'm dealing with the same thing with a 10 week old dachshund puppy in the Utah snow.  It's not fun when their bellies are so close to the ground and the snow is so deep.   I'm training him to go outside - I don't want him thinking he can go in the house so I'm avoiding pee pads.

I either take my snow shovel - or blower if it is too deep - and cut paths all around my fenced backyard.  With a dachshund puppy, an old grumpy dachshund female, and a beagle they need paths.  Yeah, the puppy and beagle will venture off in the snow but grumpy old woman (dachshund) won't.

Just my experience

[Jaybay]

Funny you should mention the bell.  Our dog Chica who is dying of renal failure now, was a horror to house train.  She was basically a feral dog when we found her.  Back then, we kept a string of bells on the back door.  It took several months, but I'll never forget the day she made the connection.  She walked to the door, rang the bells with her nose, and just stared at me.  After that, even in the middle of the night, all she did was ring the bells if she needed to go out.

With another rescue dog we had was barely 6 weeks old when we found him.  Because we both worked full time, we had to figure out a place for him to live that was a small area.  We ended up using a baby play pen.  Put newspapers at one end, and his bed at the other.  He had no problem understanding that the newspapers were his elimination area, and remembered that when he graduated to living in the rest of the house.  Getting him to go outside after using newspapers was no trouble.

For now, can you move the pads to an area closer to her living area?  The more important thing is for her to associate the pad with peeing and pooing rather than the area you eventually want her to use.  It'll be a lot easier on you too.  :-)

[madtown704]

I'm also in Wiconsin, and I got my Shitzu when she was 12 weeks old (shortly after all the big snow started).  I just take her out directly.  When she was smaller, she really wouldn't break through the snow, and now she seems to really enjoy it, she likes to play in it.

Potty training has been a challenge.  I'm using a bell too.  She has rung it a few times, but isn't consistent.  I'm doing crate training, and going straight outside when she is let out of it, after meals, and after play time.  I've learned that if I can't keep my eye on her, it's in the crate, because she can have an accident.

Good luck!  Don't fear the snow, your pup will manage in it.  (Oh, we shoveled out an area when we first got her, it still had snow on the bottom, but atleast she could walk on to that area).

Remember, reward,reward,reward, as soon as he/she goes!

[amb_hgn]

My Peke was paper/puppy pad trained, and trained to go outside, also. We work all day, so we have an area in the basement where the cat litter box is and an area for the dog, complete with pads and paper. This is so she won't be forced to hold it all day...I don't think it is fair - I wouldn't like to have to be forced to hold it all day! And this is where she goes...she is really good about it. I also have a pug and she goes in the cat's litter box. One breeder suggested getting a large litter pan and filling it with wood chips and train the dog to go in that. Hey, if a cat can be litter trained, why not a dog? Just have to watch that the dog doesn't eat the cat's waste or kitty litter - that is dangerous for the dog, but my pug does not do this. Just does her business and gets out. I don't think my cat appreciates it though.

[kkw2]

HELP ME PLEASE! My shitzu puppy Eli is a little older than one year old and still pottys on the rugs and a lot of the time DAD steps in it and get ever so mad one time he threatened to give hi away will anyone please help me before this gets to far ='(

[Jaybay]

Hi and welcome to the Dogs Community.  I reposted your question to a new thread on the forum so it will hopefully get more attention.  :-)