Comments on: What’s With Little Dogs Who Pee in the House? https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/ Helping Your Dog Love The Boat As Much As You Do Wed, 17 Mar 2021 20:49:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Lauranne https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-97813 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:00:43 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-97813 In reply to Pamela.

Your idea of being exclusively been a big dog person really has me intrigued. I wonder if maybe I am more small dog?! BD (my collie) has fear aggression, and there are many times I would give anything to be able to shrink him in size as when ever Mity (my cairn) is in trouble I pick him up to get him out of the other dogs way, but with BD I have to stay calm and try to get to him. I am not one for letting dogs sort it out amongst themselves, and in hindsight probably rather stupidly, once took on a German Shepherd that having quite happily decided to play with Mity for a while suddenly decided he was a chew toy and tried to cause him serious harm.
It would also be easier if BD was smaller, as he is a very large collie and I can’t tell you the number of times I have had to carry him over styles, nearly resulting in injury, as we have set off along public footpaths to discover a style to cross without any way through for a dog. (Another rant for another time, I think)
And it would be my large collie that thinks the best place to be in the world is curled up on top of me on the sofa – but I’m not complaining about that one!!

]]> By: Pup Fan https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96783 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 18:52:43 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96783 I’m happy to say that Tavish has peed in my house only two times in the year since we adopted him. The first time was the very first day we brought him home, when he tried to mark a table leg. (I was a bit concerned at that point, but then I took constant vigilance to a whole new level.) The only other time was one night when I left a water bowl down in the bedroom, he drank far too much, and I didn’t wake up when he tried to get my attention. Now he’s mastered the art of waking me up when he needs to go out, and we haven’t had any problems since. I took him to visit my in-laws, and he never tried to go in their house either. Needless to say, I’m pretty proud of the little guy – but I think he might be atypical in a lot of ways – he generally hates being carried, and we go on tons of walks because it’s his favorite activity. 🙂

]]> By: PepperPom https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96708 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:38:49 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96708 Well, small dog = small bladder = frequent potty breaks. Pepper (a 14 pound Pomeranian) is my medical service dog, and is potty trained on multiple surfaces, on command. I am lucky that (at home) she does bark when she needs to go out. When we are not home, I make sure to take her out at least every 4 hours. I always give her a potty minute before we enter any building. I have noticed that she will go on pavement if the grass is too long. I guess it tickles small dogs. I had studied books about Pomeranians before I got her as a puppy. She was 2 months old when I got her. I took her out every hour (even at night – alarm clock set hourly) for the first month. She was crated at night until she was potty trained (before she was 4 months old). As a puppy, I also took her out after a nap, after a meal, after playing, anytime I saw her “circling”. If she pottied outside, she got a treat and was allowed 30 minutes play time, if she didn’t then she went back in the crate for 30 minutes. Once she was 3 months old, it was every 2 hours, at 4 months is was every 3 hours, as an adult – 4 hours when we are not home (when she barks at home). I as disabled, so I am always with her. I think potty training a small breed puppy would be difficult and take longer if the humans had to leave for work. I maintained a very strict potty routine the first 2 months. I do leave a pad by the door in the event she needs out and I can’t open the door fast enough. Pee pads make great door mats. BOL!! I can’t remember the last time she used a pad indoors. Usually she uses them in the garage (she isn’t allowed outside at night).

As some of the others mentioned, I do pick her up when I think it is safer, but I also let her walk on her own paws when possible.

Hugs,
Pepper (dog) & Mom (human)

]]> By: pet angel 88 https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96284 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:09:47 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96284 In reply to emma.

Okay, your concerns are legitimate. First of all, the age of the ‘little’dog is important. Dogs want to please us, one of the problems is, they don’t know what you want. If it’s new to your household, that is another thing to factor in. After the little one has been fed, wait 15 to 20 minutes, then take him outside. Give him a chance to pick a spot, if he goes, make a big deal out of it and reward him. Something like “good boy”, maybe clap your hands then bring him inside. If you see him sniffing around and circling, take him outside immediately. Make sure your voice is “happy”. Youngsters are very sensitive to voice tones.

Your dog’s not going to do what you want him to do unless he knows what you want. Dogs who have been kept outside most of their young lives do not understand why they can’t come in the house and be part of the family. Unfortunately they end up in a shelter, or given away to someone who is clueless or might want to turn him into a fighting dog, or worse, bait for fighting dogs.
Remember “We are their voice”. Getting over the ‘hump’ of potting training is well worth what you get in return.

Goodluck
JM

]]> By: Laurie Luck - Smart Dog University https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96255 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:48:57 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96255 As a professional trainer, I’ve found that smaller dogs aren’t any more difficult to house train than larger dogs. Now…there’s a caveat (or several) that you alluded to in your post. The first is that *people* treat little dogs differently.

Maybe it’s because there’s only a thimble-full of pee or that the poops look like Tootsie Rolls and are really easy to clean.

Maybe it’s because it’s so easy to sling a tiny dog up over your shoulder that they’re treated more like dolls than they are dogs.

I’m not sure of the reasons why, but I don’t think people are as vigilant with the littles as they are with the bigs. I KNOW that I’m getting that Great Dane out every 90 minutes because I don’t want to clean up a Great Dane sized mess! So I err on the side of caution.

“Hmm, wonder if he’s got to go out?”
“Just take him, the alternative isn’t pleasant.”

So we spend some quality time outside together every hour and a half or so. Or at least we did when he was just a pup. Now that he’s almost 9-months old, he’s capable of holding it longer and I’m more easily noticing his subtle signaling.

]]> By: shanedoah@lifebypets https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96137 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 21:22:25 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96137 I never know if my dogs count as small dogs or not. They are the smallest dogs I’ve ever owned, but at 25 and 35lbs, there are plenty of dogs smaller.
I don’t think it depends on size, but more on personality of both the dog and the owner. Larry is my smaller dog and once we got past the learning stage after we adopted him, there’s never been a problem in the house.
Junebug, on the other hand, will sometimes decide not to ask to go out. She doesn’t poop in the house (unless she’s sick), and we do look for signs that peeing in the house might mean a bladder infection, but for the most part it happens in the evenings when we don’t pay attention to how long it has been since her last out. Once we started paying attention to when it was happening (and it was pretty consistent) we got ourselves on a schedule to prevent it. Within 30 minutes of her eating her dinner, she gets an after dinner out. There need to be 3 more outs after that before bed. We can get away with 2, but that means she’ll be waking me up somewhere around 3am to go out. Luckily, she does not want to pee in our room, so she does make it known she needs out in the middle of the night.
For me, it’s not a small dog thing. It might be a Beagle thing, but more than likely, it’s a Junebug thing.

However, I have noticed that both dogs like going out less when the grass needs to be mowed (real issue in the spring in the PNW), but Smokey (65lbs) and Moree (55lbs) didn’t like really tall grass either.
The other thing I’ve noticed is that the dogs don’t like it when it’s been too long between yard clean ups (which I struggle with in the winter). And it could be that lots of smaller dog owners have smaller yards and don’t do clean up as often as they should.

]]> By: Scath https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96063 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 20:10:38 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96063 When we adopted my Chihuahua, he was 4 months old. He pottied in the house one time, I showed it to him and said, “That’s a no-no” before taking him outside. That’s all it took for him.

The three we have trouble with, two are older dogs (11 and 4 or 5 years old). They aren’t peeing to relieve themselves, but to mark territory and/or add their scent to the pack. It’s slower going with them, but we’re getting there.

Number 3 is a Teacup Chihuahua. The best we’ve managed with him thus far: He potties in the bathroom instead of the living, dining, or hall. He goes outside with everyone else (about every hour, when we’re home), but I don’t know. He takes longer to get around to doing his business outside.

I’d rather clean up after him from tile than carpet, but we’re still working with him.

]]> By: Kristen https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96053 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:49:47 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96053 So funny and so true! Great insight.

]]> By: themisadventuresofmisaki https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-96010 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 08:08:36 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-96010 Mummy’s friend has a chihuahua who pees inside. He’s 2 now and they have training pads everywhere. Its crazy that mummy’s friends doesn’t seem to mind, but I think alot of the reasons you’ve suggested are true for them. I’d like to think that all dogs, big or small can be house trained.

]]> By: Amy https://www.somethingwagging.com/whats-with-little-dogs-who-pee-in-the-house/#comment-95992 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 01:00:29 +0000 https://www.somethingwagging.com/?p=11078#comment-95992 Well, we have a big dog and a little dog. They were already bonded, and so we adopted them together – both about a year old, neither one potty trained. Having never had small dogs, we approached training the chihuahua exactly like the pibble mix. They were crate trained, put on a potty schedule, and the chi went outside with her big sister – rain or shine. I never even considered pee pads. (ew!) They are both now house trained, well behaved, and never potty in the house. People always comment that our chihuahua is so calm – they think she is an atypical chi. I happen to think she just has been treated like any other dog, and so has fewer annoying habits. 🙂

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