[graffitilvr]

You have me thinking about this pottytraining book now. HA!

[linnealand]

Ya'll have me thinking about this pottytraining book now. HA!

:)

Just for the record, if you have a young pup, my FAVORITE puppy training books (which also include potty training information) are:

#1. the puppy whisperer

And

#2. how to raise a puppy you can live with

If you're in dire need of a foolproof house training method, the little book discussed in the rest of the thread is great. It's short, sweet, cheap and to the point. All you have to do is understand why things work as they do, and incorporate that into the training. However, the two books listed above have SO much information, and I love their approaches (especially in the first one) to puppy training and care. I found them through Amazon. If you're interested, hop over there to take a peek at their reviews.

I will admit I went puppy book crazy while we were waiting for our pooch to come home. Let me tell you, it was really worth it. :)

Starby, was it the reverse sneeze that sounded like a pack of wild geese? :O

[starbuck8]

QUOTE: Linnealand
Starby, was it the reverse sneeze that sounded like a pack of wild geese? :O

Yes Linney, it was an awful sound. It sounds like a goose honking. So if your dog ever does it, just know that he is not choking, like I was certain Niki was. :)

[kraussnumber2]

Hey guys! Just thought I would give you all a little update...

So I super cleaned our house last night to attempt to rid the carpet of any odors from his previous bad habits. I used all the carpet cleaner we had in the house. Then I decided to spray the bitter stuff in the same spots as some have told me the smell will keep the puppy away. So I went to the two main areas where he goes and pretty much soaked the carpet with it. After a few minutes I started thinking that it didn't smell the same as I remembered and it wasn't suffocating me... (the bitter stuff makes me feel like I am suffocating)... so I went and looked at the bottle and I had sprayed the housebreaking aid all over the place... you know the stuff that you use to encourage the puppy to pee there! UGH I was so frustrated. And of course I had used all the carpet cleaner previously. Finally I found the bitter stuff and decided it wouldn't hurt to spray that over the housebreaking aid.
I put our cage back together and put some cozy things in there like a blanket and some of his favorite toys. He actually didn't freak out too much when I put him in there just to test out how he would react to it. So that was good.
So before bed I took him outside after he ate and planned to sit there till he went... and of course he didn't go. I even went over by where I know some other dogs have gone and he just wanted to smell it. So I sprayed the housebreaking aid on a couple spots hoping it would make him go... then I got to thinking that if he did go there I would praise him... then he would come into the house and smell the stuff and when he goes in the house I would "yell" at him... and he will get confused. So now I am not sure what to do...
Ugh!
But on a good note... I did put him in his cage next to the bed last night and after only about ten minutes of whimpering he laid down and went to sleep all night long and didn't go in his cage. Of course he went in the house today already... but I am just happy to have him sleep in his crate all night long without too much drama.
So one step at a time!

Starbuck... Im so happy your puppy was OK. I hope she continues to get better. When we got my puppy he had cocidia (sp?) and was so sick... he was constantly throwing up the 2nd day we got him and we had to take him to the er vet. Thankfully the petstore took responsibility for the bills. And of course he got kennel cough too. Our kitchen counter looked like a doggie pharmacy for awhile. And at one point I just couldn't take it anymore and we seriously considered taking him back to the pet store and demand our money back... the vet was behind us on it cause they said all the issues he had he had gotten while at the store and the store knew about it but didn't tell us cause they thought he was better. It was heartbreaking. So we had a rough couple weeks. But I just loved him so much that we stuck through and he has been healthy ever since! He was doing that coughing thing that kind of sounds like a cat hacking up a hairball... it was scary...

But he is staring at me and barking so I better find out what he needs... maybe he wants to go out to pee!! Probably not...

[linnealand]

Thank you for the updates! I like hearing them!

Well, just like you said, it's one step at a time. Today was better than yesterday; tomorrow will be better than today... :)

Oh, I'm such a weakling when it comes to sick animals. It breaks my heart! You (and starby!) have done the exact right things, and your dogs know it! <3 <3 :)

[kraussnumber2]

Well he is still opposed to going outside. Every time I take him out I stand outside with him for forever and he eventually just sits down. So I will bring him in and he will immediately try to go on the floor so I grab him and take him out and he won't finish going outside. He will wait till we go back in. And I sit out there with him forever...
So that is frustrating but I think it is still getting better.
And on the very good side of things I can now put him in his cage at night when I go to bed and he only whimpers once and then lays down and sleeps all night long. And he doesn't even wake up and start barking in the morning... he waits for me to get up and let him out. My husband is so excited about this cause normally our puppy would sleep on the bed with us which is fine... but he would jump down to do whatever ( get a drink, play with the cat, etc.) and he can't get back up by himself so he will bark and cry to be picked up and put back on the bed. Even that would be fine but although he wants to be on the bed he runs away from us when we try to pick him up so we are chasing him around the house at 3AM!
So this new skill of sleeping silently in his cage without too much drama is an awesome improvement. But we aren't done yet and we won't give up!

[starbuck8]

I'm glad your dog is doing better, and thanks for your wishes for Niki. She is doing much better. I'm so glad I found out the difference between coughing and the reverse sneeze too. It doesn't hurt them, unless they starting throwing up, or vomiting blood like Nik did.

Maybe when you take your dog out, instead of just standing and waiting for him to pee, take him on a walk around the block. If he gets moving, he is more likely to go. He will want to mark his territory also. I don't remember if you've mentioned, but have you had him neutered yet? That will help you a great deal with the problem too. All dogs are healthier, and more easily trained, much calmer, and make better pets all the way around when they are fixed. Besides that, there are just sooo many dogs that are killed everyday because no one wants them. Good luck with the potty training! :)

[kraussnumber2]

Thanks!
I do usually take him for a short walk around our apartment complex but maybe we will take a little longer walk next time! =)
He is fixed... he was fixed when we got him when he was only like 6 weeks old cause he had a hernia before we got him. So he is all done with that. And one night when we did go on a bit longer walk he did just randomly stop and pee in the middle of a driveway! We gave him so much praise when he did that! So hoping maybe longer walks will be the answer!

Thanks!!

[starbuck8]

That's great! Hopefully he can get it down pat before you move in temp with your parents. I've been so lucky with Niki. From the day I brought her home from the shelter, she has only gone in the house twice I believe. Once was when she was sick, and once after she got attacked by another dog, and she had 86 stitches. I would even pee on the floor after going through that, LOL!

Keep us updated! :)

Oh, I meant to ask. How did the poor little thing get a hernia at such a young age? Just curious. I've never heard of that happening in a puppy. Maybe it happens more than I know, and I just haven't heard.