Can you house train a toy dog?
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Is house training small dogs even possible?
When you get a puppy, or even an older dog - you know that house training your dog is job one (excuse the pun) ... It's always a challenge - but if you've heard toy dogs are even harder to train, you're right!
Experts have all sorts of theories, or even deny that small dogs are more difficult to house train, but read on and see if you agree...
Because with constant supervision at the beginning (or better yet a crate) PLUS teaching the puppy to go to the door itself -- you'll find it IS possible to potty train toy dogs!
(And you can click here for specific dog training tips for yorkies .)
Why is that?
Small dog breeds can be much more challenging to train because of their intelligence, head-strong nature and mischievous personality. Small dog breeds often view discipline and training as games and will use the opportunity to test the owner's patience. It's not unusual for a toy dog breed to quickly understand the command training being taught but still clown around to lighten the mood.Experts have all sorts of theories, or even deny that small dogs are more difficult to house train, but read on and see if you agree...
Because with constant supervision at the beginning (or better yet a crate) PLUS teaching the puppy to go to the door itself -- you'll find it IS possible to potty train toy dogs!
(And you can click here for specific dog training tips for yorkies .)
Why it's harder to house train a toy dog
First, toy dogs like Maltese or Yorkies, are hardly ever crated.
Second, we tend to pick them up and carry them outside, so they don't know how to tell us they need to go.
Crate your toy dog to housetrain him
It's not mean, it's perfectly natural and a great way to house train
Crate training is not the same as potty training
Crate training is simply putting your dog into a crate at times when you cannot watch him every second during house training, you leave home, you want him to sleep, you need him to be or feel safe, you are traveling with him (even to the vet), or you need more control over his behavior.
But how many toy dogs are crated? Hardly ever and that's one of the first problems. If you don't crate train your dog, by keeping in its crate to supervise when it seems to need to go, then you have to do the next best thing --constantly monitor or supervise your puppy. You can start to predict when he'll need to go and then have him walk to the door and go out.
If you do decide to use a crate to train your toy dog, don't forget, their time in the crate has to be quite limited. Their little bladders can't go much longer than 1 1/2 to 2 hours.... so if you're out all day, this isn't the best solution.
Crate training is simply putting your dog into a crate at times when you cannot watch him every second during house training, you leave home, you want him to sleep, you need him to be or feel safe, you are traveling with him (even to the vet), or you need more control over his behavior.
But how many toy dogs are crated? Hardly ever and that's one of the first problems. If you don't crate train your dog, by keeping in its crate to supervise when it seems to need to go, then you have to do the next best thing --constantly monitor or supervise your puppy. You can start to predict when he'll need to go and then have him walk to the door and go out.
If you do decide to use a crate to train your toy dog, don't forget, their time in the crate has to be quite limited. Their little bladders can't go much longer than 1 1/2 to 2 hours.... so if you're out all day, this isn't the best solution.
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Stop carrying your toy dog to the door
Let your small dog tell you when she has to go out
The second big problem, according to experts at the Dog Breed Info Center, is that we tend to always carry toy dogs around.
So they never have to let you know it's time to go, walk to the door, go out and find their usual spot. Walking to the door to be let out, is the way the dog signals her owner it's time to go. (We've all heard of wonder dogs who go to the back door and right a little bell... yeah right!)
So they never have to let you know it's time to go, walk to the door, go out and find their usual spot. Walking to the door to be let out, is the way the dog signals her owner it's time to go. (We've all heard of wonder dogs who go to the back door and right a little bell... yeah right!)
OK here's a really different approach to dog training: all video
Dove Cresswells - The Online Dog Trainer
all training materials are delivered by video online
All dog breeds respond positively to this method
It's fun, informative and interactive
No surprise harsh methods are involved
Anyone can join and learn this method
Click Here to learn more!
One more theory
On why it's so hard to potty train toy dogs
Another reason toy dogs don't get the idea of house training easily is that they don't consider their house their den.
They're so small, the house or apartment is like their whole world. So it is easy for
them to simply go to another part of their world (the house), usually out of everyone's sight, and eliminate. Toy breeds think if they've gone off to the far edges of the living room, for example, and peed there, that they've done the right thing.
To the larger dog the house is the den and they instinctively choose to wait to go outside to pee or poo.
This little Yorkie will be difficult to train because she sees the big huge house as her world... so if she goes in a corner, what's wrong with that? Big dogs on the other hand, see their home as their den or cave and "don't mess in their nest"
They're so small, the house or apartment is like their whole world. So it is easy for
them to simply go to another part of their world (the house), usually out of everyone's sight, and eliminate. Toy breeds think if they've gone off to the far edges of the living room, for example, and peed there, that they've done the right thing.
To the larger dog the house is the den and they instinctively choose to wait to go outside to pee or poo.
This little Yorkie will be difficult to train because she sees the big huge house as her world... so if she goes in a corner, what's wrong with that? Big dogs on the other hand, see their home as their den or cave and "don't mess in their nest"
Yes, you can train him to ring a bell to go out
And here's the bell!
Let's take an example in potty training
What if you have to house train maltese dog Maggie?
When it comes to house training Maltese dogs, they're really not much different that other small breeds. Except that you might take into account the unique Maltese characteristics, like these dogs can be snappish and inconsiderate with small children. Sometimes they are picky eaters, and would rather eat what YOU eat instead of their dog food. So keep small kids away when house training, and feed dog food on a regular schedule.The five keys to your success are:
1 When your Maltese gets up, take him to the potty place.
2 Feed your dog on a regular schedule which will eventually be twice a day, about 10-12 hours apart. After he eats or drinks anything, take him to the potty place.
3 After your dog plays or exercises, take him to the potty place.
4 Withhold water for two to four hours before your dog goes to bed.
5 Just prior to going to bed, take him to the potty place.
Depending on the age and background of your dog, you may need one of the variations suggested in the training course.
You may also want to understand the various methods of potty training and when to use which method. One method may fit your dog and your lifestyle better than the others.
Free Mini Course on training your Maltese
Want more puppy training ideas?
Get a free mini-ecourse here
Do you house train all breeds the same?
What if you're house training yorkie pup Tinkerbell?
Do you paper train dog "A" and litter train dog "B"?Small breeds all have the same challenges, whether you're house training a yorkie, potty training chihuahua babies or a maltipoo.
But it's always a good idea to take some of the basic personality traits of each breed into consideration to ensure your training goes smoothly.
For example, if you want to know how to house train a yorkie, it's helpful to remember
- Yorkies can be very stubborn
- we love yorkies because they're spirited (but willful). Self-confident (but domineering). Affectionate and very lovable (but sometimes high maintenance)
- Yorkies tend to not like other dogs so much... so when your yorkie goes outside be sure she doesn't feel threatened by other dogs
To learn more about all breeds, check a good dogfood site like Iams or the American Kennel Club
Consider online training resources
Or check out one of these books from amazon...
Guestbook - please leave your pawprint
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marlene3
Mar 17, 2012 @ 3:13 am | delete
- so cute & nice lens, thanks, Marlene
http://www.squidoo.com/pet-toys2
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AlphaChic
Feb 10, 2012 @ 9:45 pm | delete
- Some great advice. I loved your mention of crating your dog even to take it to the vet. This saved my dog's live once. Bad rollover accident, and all the dog suffered was a bad fright.
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Oct 5, 2011 @ 12:46 pm | delete
- do you mean you have a doubt about training toy dogs..though its not easy it is a cute dog for family.You can also seek chihuahua for sale or great dane for sale
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Oct 5, 2011 @ 12:44 pm | delete
- yes
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weddingfavors3 Jun 7, 2011 @ 3:54 am | delete
- The puppies are so cute. You can have it as a gift to a friend. And if you are looking for more gifts on the wedding of your friend, try this one : wedding favors
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