Looking For Dog Help

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I love Polly, my new pup a lot, but I am having difficulty with three things, and I am being

Polly

Polly (Photo credit: bullcitydogs)

patient, but she is causing me a couple of problems, so I am looking to you, the dog experts.

Number one, I really want her to sleep in her cage, but when I put her in it, she barks and whimpers so loud, I give up and put her in bed with me. She proceeds to want to sleep as close as she can, giving me no room to move or roll over, or she is licking my face. LOL. How do I fix this?

She potties outside when I take her out 90% of the time, but she is almost 9 weeks, so in a matter of minutes, she dribbles on the carpet. I know how to blot it up, but do I really want my carpet ruined by pee from a beloved pet? No.

Thirdly, she has caused me to almost fall, well, I can’t even count on both fingers. She refuses to walk anywhere but under my feet, trying to walk between my feet or on my feet. I walk ever so gently, and I have tried saying no, and gently nudging her out-of-the-way, but she keeps coming back.

I feel like I need to sit on my couch and not move, in order to remain standing. I have not even been able to clean my house, and believe me, even though it is only me instead of Al and me, it shows that I am living inside of here. LOL. She wants to be held at all times, or she whimpers. She is the biggest whimper dog ever!!!

Someone help me with ideas on how to fix this! I know it takes time to housebreak a dog, so I am not being impatient, but to go outside and keep dribbling inside, well, I have had my fill of it.

Should I keep her in the crate at all times except for potty, eat, and play time, and just listen to her whimper and bark?

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58 thoughts on “Looking For Dog Help”

  1. ha! I have a Yorkie, and she is only 3 pounds, so I can empathize with much of what you say! Our dog never goes out. I trained her on pads, and she uses them. Works well for both of us. She will learn to move away from your feet the first time you accidentally step on her! She’ll always stay close, but she will avoid getting stepped on!! 🙂

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      • no do not give up on outdoor training, she will be fine, stick with what you have been doing.. you can stop her peeing inside.. once the smell is in your house she will think your house is a toilet..so wash any areas with something scented c

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  2. What a gorgeous little dog. OK. Number one: when she whimpers to get out of the cage she is TRAINING YOU to come and pick her up. Does she has some chewie treats?. You need to train her to be quiet in the cage, put in her toy, a cuddly blankie, treats and water.
    Pop her in there four or five times a day for short periods and when she is sitting quietly get her back out. Do not get her out if she cries. Wait until she is quiet.
    Put her in the cage with her treat at night after her walk outside, then put the cage somewhere where she cannot see you. Turn out the light say ni night and that is it. Do the exact same thing every night. She will yell at you for a while but eventually will settle down. You need to train her, not the other way around. It usually takes three or four nights of training and then she will get the idea. If you give in you will have to start all over again.
    If she pees inside smack a rolled up newspaper into your hand or clap your hands and tell her off Use a serious voice. Then take her outside and praise her,
    As to being under your feet you will soon train her to sit on her own cushion, she is a bit little yet but you will say on your mat or on your cushion and she will dash over there, you will say stay and give her a treat. or praise her.
    I start training dogs quite young, in fact maybe i will write a post for you.
    I have had a few people ask for one.. I will do that soon. Training a dog is easy it takes two or three 15 minute sessions a day of serious training. Then you will be set.
    let me know how you are doing, it is great that you are asking questions now before any of these become bad habits.. c

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    • I was going to give the exact advice, but adding, give her something that smells like you to sleep with in her crate. I can be a toy you rub all over your skin, or a very old sweater or something. Ha, my dogs are both well over 5 years old and I still praise them when they “go potty” outside. 😉

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    • thank you very much Cecilia,so I do not leave her in the cage except for potty time, eating, and play? I thought i left her in their except for those times, and i would appreciate the blog you write about it. she does go potty right a way when i take her out, but when i bring her in about fifteen minutes later, she pees inside again

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      • What i would do is pop her in and out of the cage (shutting the door)with a treat, often through the day, so she gets the idea that it is not a punishment. Very short stays to begin, getting longer as she settles. And all night of course ignoring the whining. If she goes to pee again 15 minutes after she has come in, then take her outside the moment she starts sniffing about, more often for a few days. But if she is doing this often I would have the vet check that she does not have a wee infection (excuse the pun) .
        I also forgot to say that it looks like you have a bright busy dog, so get that leash and your coat and her coat and go for a couple of good long walks every day, then she will go to sleep when she is inside. She needs wearing out! c

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      • you are wonderful Cecilia!! thank u for all the advice! she slept in her crate last night all night. she got up twice and whimpered and had to go potty, so i took her out and she went. she runs through the house like a crazy person!!! LOL

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  3. From the time she was a puppy my dog hated her crate and still resists if she thinks you’re putting her in. We gave up when it was costing sleepless nights and now she sleeps in the bed which is better for all of us. Fortunately she is little! Keep taking your puppy outside. You might try some dog obedience classes. They are helpful.

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  4. You’ve had a lot of advice so not sure what to add…except agree with not taking her out at night when she whimpers…you’ll need to listen to it for a week or two until she gets used to the fact she is not getting out.
    As far as her peeing in the house …if you see her do it…pick her up and softly chastise her and take her out. If you have a rug she’s going on…maybe temporarily protect it with a few pee pads and then pick her and the pee pad up and take both outside …just a thought.

    As far as her tripping you…Maybe when you walk her you could get a special short leash..I don’t know if you’ve hear of Caesar Milan…the dog whisperer.but he makes one…that keeps her close to your side…but when she gets too close pull her away from you and then maybe she’ll get used to not being ‘under your feet’ so to speak…in the house as well. And I agree she should have other ‘crate time’ for rest…hers and yours lol Again you’ll have to put up with her whimpering for awhile..turn on some music or the t.v. to offset it maybe.Just some ideas..Hope some of the ones people have offered help….Diane

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  5. I’m not a dog expert, though I do know some of the facts around behavioral training. I’m betting, though, that you’ll get some good advice from an expert. I do know, though, what to do to keep the pea from destroying your carpet or floors, ’cause I’ve had to use it a lot. (It works for other kinds of spills as well.) Keep Seltzer water on hand and pour it immediately on the spot. I mean pour it, so it can sink into the carpet. Then blot it up. It neutralizes the acid that takes the color out of the rug, or causes stains.

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  8. Hey Terry, don’t give into her. Like someone else said, she is training you, if you give in to her crying she will always cry as she knows she will get what she wants that way. Don’t let her in bed with you. Can you close her in Al’s old room in the crate at night? She is training you. You can also teach her not to be under foot…obedience training is a good idea, it is good for her and you.

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  10. Terry, why keep a little puppy in a cage – this makes me upset – would you like to sleep in a cage ???? … and puppies don’t want to walk – it’s just to carry on forcing her to walk .. same with my dog as puppy – then one day he walked just fine. She is just 8 weeks … give her time.

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      • terry, she should have a basket – not locked in – and when you’re away have her in a smaller room or the kitchen with her basket and close the door. Please, don’t lock her in a cage …

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      • here it is called crate training, she has a bed that is large enough for her to move around in. it is very nice looking and it keeps her safe when I am not at home. I don’t want her to get hurt,and dogs will not go potty where they sleep and this in turn trains them to hold their urine for a little longer than just allowing them to dabble all over the floor at all times. it is for her sake and she is not being hurt in any way. she likes it in fact, it is like her safety, her home, and then other times she runs and runs through the house playing with her toys i bought her and barking . she is very playful and she gets lots of love and cuddling from me

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  11. Like I have mentioned before sweety this is the pom personality. They wanna be held and loved all the time. They wanna be close and also will walk under your feet no matter what you do. I have stepped on my shadow and have tripped so many times I got myself in the habit of watching before I step. Not her fault she just wants to be loved and loves her momma. They show sooo much love. But they also need loads back as well. Need lots of attention too. This is what sets poms aside from all other breeds. But let me tell you when and if you get sick she will stay by your side and want to nurture you until your better. Will not leave your side. It is in the poms nature. All you can do is love her. Not saying you can’t crate train her, but poms love to be held and feel near. Especially at the young age she is at. You have to also remeber this is a new home to her too and she is afraid and scared and looks to you for that safe feeling that is why she wants to be near. You can maybe put her crate near the bed and maybe leave it open most times when poms are crated they think they have done wrong. That they are bad. Mine actually cries real tears and will show I hurt her feelings by knocking over the garbage can near my desk used to anyhow. Not to get into it but to say mom you hurt my feelings. They can not talk so this was her way of telling me. Patience patience is a big big thing that is def needed with her. But in the end they will love you more than you will ever or ever could imagine. Maybe get her a stuffie toy. My shadow knows hers as her baby. SHe will hold it in her mouth and sleep with it too. Seems to add comfort but maybe that will give her something else to cuddle in her crate and or a blankie. That may make crating her easier but in the end if she still whimpers it is only because she wants to feel you next to her. Your her mommy now and she wants to be close to mommy. SO don’t think of her sleeping with you a bad thing. But if you just can not do it then def try the blankie and a stuffie toy from dog isle maybe take her into a pet shop that allows you to bring them in and a lot of times they will pick which ones they want themselves. This way you know she will like what she gets. Also never start with the human food or she will not eat her food at all and then she will be stuck on human food as my shadow is. As my previous husband fed her his scraps. Although vet told me brown rice and an egg a day is good for their coats and skin. ANd shadow also loves tuna fish but very rare she gets it. Only when her food is out and I can not get to store. SHe just wants love from mommy and trust me I know it can be a pain sometimes, but in all honesty poms are the closest you can get to a human baby. ALso they love rides. They love going for rides in the car. Going bye bye is a big thing cause they are people lovers and are very curious about everything. Poms took smartest of breed at the westminster dog shows before and indeed they are. I know your polly is not all pom but from her pics she is more pom than anything looks just like my baby shadow when she was a pup. Same color and all and trust me the blacks are a rare breed. She is a doll. One day I hope to have another female and a male. I only breed my shadow once. I would never breed her again. But I would like to have puppies again. Wish I would of kept her 3 she had but previous husband made me find them new homes. I also laid newspapers down over the whole living room when I let the pups out of their crates to play that helped with training as well. Also baby gates help too maybe a small area in your home that she can go if it is too cold outside for her with newspapers down. ANd if that still does not work for bedtime you will have to do whatever you can to ignore her cries I know it is hard maybe some earplugs for yourself? She is not trying to be a pain she just loves her mommy shows what kind of a mommy you are. Hang in there Take care sweety

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    • this is very good advice you told me. thank u very much. i have let her start sleeping with me, i am fearful i will roll over on her, she is so tiny and cuddles so close. she goes potty each time i take her outside, but like tonight, she just pottied outside and then came in and pooped on the floor. i understand more of her ways now, thanks to you!!!!

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  12. Oh and maybe check out some info on the web about pomeranians and their nature so you have a better understanding of poms they really are a special breed. That is what I did and it helped me a lot! Especially when shadow was a baby

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  13. Also my sister in law is a dog trainer she trained dogs for over 30 years for paws for a cause in Florida. Plus had a security business where she trained all the dogs for that too and is very good if you have any other questions she is on facebook and started a new business training dogs for the disabled. One paticular breed but she still knows a lot and could be of some assistance her name is cindy spearman if you ever wanna look her up on facebook

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  14. Terry, I hate to break this to you but she is just being a puppy. Let her sleep with you and forgot on having your share of the bed from this point on—-I am lucky my two cats and my dog allow me any space on the bed—and that is okay with me. She is peeing outside 90% of the time? Wow that is amazing and she is only 9 weeks old—hmnn just to let you know it usually takes about 6 months for a puppy to have enough control over their bladder–and that is just normal–so wow 90% at 9 weeks–you have an amazing PUPPY!!!!!! Personally–I hate crates–why would youeven want to put your puppy in a crate. I have has three dogs as adults–never put one of them in a crate—9 weeksis no different than a human baby—really would you just let a human baby cry without picking it up? No, I don’t think so. She is a baby–needs attention just like any other baby—eventually she will outgrow all of these behaviors. Really, I wish I held and picked up my doggie more when she was a puppy–she is a 60 lber so not gonna happen now. Sorry, if I sound harsh but it sounds like you are expecting a puppy to be acting like a grown up dog—it will take time. Also know that dogs are considered puppies for the first two years of their life. After two years their behavior does mellow out. But it is a hugh commitment taking on a puppy–please allow her the space to be a loving puppy. She is not being bad just a baby……get the puppy pad that I mentioned before that way she has somewhere to go in the house–right now she is not old enough to have control of her bladder–humans wear diapers for two years………

    If hse cries and whimpers pick her up love her, kiss her–she will turn out just fine…..

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    • I must have come across to you wrong. I wanted help in training, as I had not had a pup before, and everyone, including you have been wonderful with advice. I don’t expect much of her at this age, but wanted to make sure i was doing it right from the beginning. She stays in a crate at night and when i leave the house. Other wise she roams freely. I love her and baby her and am always found holding her or playing with her. She even sits here in the computer chair as i type! Sorry if I gave the wrong impression my friend

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      • Hello, I am just not a fan of crates or cages at all. A few people recommended Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, he is amazing I learned so much from him–like how I did everything wrong when I got Missy!!!! He has a tv show on cable, dvd’s books, web site, he really gets dogs and their owners. Actaully his advice works well on humans too. It sounds like you and Polly are doing awesome. And dont’ worry about squishing her if she sleeps in bed with you–our Mommy insticts take over and we don’t squish them. I think about getting another puppy but with one dog and two cats I think that is enough for now. Enjoy the puppy years, they grow up faster than kids do!!!!

        🙂

        ivonne

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      • I understand and appreciate your views. You are such a wonderful friend in my book!!! Always feel free to let me know your thoughts!!!! The time does fly fast doesn’t it? The only thing I would love to have is a talking bird, one of the nice big ones, but this is a dream only as they are quite pricey!!!

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      • the one thing about me Ivonne, is I try very hard to not judge anyone. We are all individuals and therefore have our own opinions, but I still think you are terrific and could never hate you!!!!!!!i believe birds should be free to a point also.

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      • the big black crows freak me out. i believe in the crows and death, have ever since a crow flew down at my car window when i was driving and cracked the windshield. within the 21 days my mom died. crows warn, and if they fly at you or around you chattering, someone you know is going to pass away. when my dad died, within seconds the trees outside were so full of black crows, the trees looked black, and within minutes the screeching stopped and they all flew away

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      • okay, that would have had me going to therapy—where I used to live there were crows—boy can those birds get really big. I was chased by a Swan once in Puerto Rico–at the Barcadi rum factory—apparenty I was trying to take a pix of momma bird and the nest and papa Swan came after me—too bad no body video’d it I am sure it was hysterical to see…..

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      • Speaking of swans, they are so beautiful, but can be oh so mean, they have snapped at people here and taken food from humans. we have quite a few here. one time years ago i was fishing on a channel, and when i threw my line out on the water, i accidently snagged a swan. oh wow, was that bird mad. he flapped until he broke my line which was alright with me, i did not want him hurt, i thought he was going to come towards me and if he did, i was going to throw down my fishing pole and run like hell!!! LOL

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      • well if they did not laugh, they would have been crying out of fear. LOL, still wish I could have seen that in action!!!!!! no more swans for you girl!!!

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  15. being patient is great and so is understanding. puppy pads are great, i have several friends who have used them and had good luck with them. some even used them as the dogs got older but the weather was bad.

    as far as the crate? here goes…. there is a form of training considered the most effective by the mental health community. it is called intermittent training and it is what you have been using on the sweet polly. this is the way it works, a rat is placed in a cage and there is a lever to push for food. the lever does not always give food but the rat knows it has given food once so it just keeps pushing waiting for more food. food comes out again after some random number of pushes. they will keep pushing until they are exhausted or food comes out. so here is your puppy in a crate and she knows that you will take her out, not when or how long it will take but she has been trained to believe you will take her out. personally i am not a crate person but if you want to keep her in the crate make sure she is surrounded with a blanket or towel. even something that has your smell on it. she thinks of you as her mommy and she just wants to be close to you.

    i hope you get a lot of good tips and wish you both sweet dreams:)

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  16. Personally, I don’t believe in keeping dogs in crates at all; it is not natural for them to be locked up. They are sociable animals who like to be in packs. You and she are her pack and she doesn’t understand why you are separated. That doesn’t mean she should be in charge, of course. It’s about finding a balance.

    I recommend watching and reading The Dog Whisperer. He’s marvellous.

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