Member

Posts: 10
From:St. Louis Mo
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-07-2004 07:15 AM         

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Hi everyone...I've been reading here for months and since we've just adopted a new puppy I thought I'd better register so I can get all the great advice for myself. Anyway, we've just adopted a 7 1/2 week old shih tzu. She's adorable and we are so excited to have her...my first question is about housetraining. She is paper trained right now...there's a few inches of ice on the ground outside so I haven't even attempted to take her outside yet. How important is it to get her off the papers asap? Can we keep her paper trained for a few weeks until the weather gets better? or should I shovel off some snow/ice and take her out now? She's only 2.4 lbs and I don't want to make her sick by taking her out when the temp is only 20 or so...
also, how hard is it going to be to make the transfer from paper to outside, and how should I go about that...all the books I have read for housetraining are for crated dogs. We have her in a playpen with her bed on one side and her papers on the other (as it was at the breeders) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

[This message has been edited by JensMom (edited 02-07-2004).]

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Member

Posts: 89
From:NY
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-07-2004 09:05 AM         

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Hi there!

I just wanted to congratulate you on your new puppy!! I think Shih Tzu's are so cute!

I will be a new puppy owner in a couple of months, so I'm trying to learn all this myself too!

Good luck to you!

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Member

Posts: 146
From:Ca
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-07-2004 10:44 AM         

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Jensmom.. WELCOME!! I haven't been here that long either -- but I love it! Lots of help from the others

I am DEFINITELY not an expert on potty training, but I will tell you what seemed to work the best for us: As soon as Bailey woke up in the morning (even after NAPS), I would take him outside. We would stand there, and stand there, and stand there some more... and then he would eventually start puttering around. Before you knew it, he was going potty outside. Then we started to just CONSTANTLY take him outside to see if he needed to go -- you have to be adamant and consistent, of course. BUT I MUST ADMIT, he's spoiled and REFUSES (I'm not kidding) to go outside when it's rainy (or even just wet! argh) or really cold. Sometimes ya just can't win hehe

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Member

Posts: 206
From:
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 02-07-2004 03:17 PM         

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JensMom~

First of all, welcome and congrats on your new family member!!!

Suggestions for your situation:

If you are looking to have your shih-tzu use the outdoors as her place to eliminate, then I would start ASAP with the outdoor training. The younger the dog, the easier to train, especially at her age! Now is the critically learning period, so start immediately, as opposed to waiting!!!

You mentioned that your pup is paper trained. To help make the transition easier, I would take the paper that she has eliminated on, and bring it outside to the spot where you choose to have her eliminate, and set it down at that spot. Having the paper which she has eliminated on, will have the scent of her previous elimination, which will in turn entice her to eliminate there. Once you think that she is getting the hang of it, you can gradually remove the paper.

Also, make sure you take her to the same spot EVERY time as to not cause any confusion on her part. Dogs are creatures of habit, so by taking her to the same spot every time, you are helping to make the process a little more understandable to your shih-tzu. Plus, the scent of her previous elimination(s) will remind her what she is out there to do.

Hope this helped & good luck!
Kristi

*One more point, my two shih-poos only weigh in at about 9-9.5 lbs., and they still go outside to do their "business" despite the VERY cold temps. During the days, the temps are typically in the teens and lower 20's, and at night the temp. is typically in the single-digits (if not lower), and usually a wind chill factor in the negatives. Mickey & Tigger have never fallen ill due to the temps., but I must admit, they sure don't waste any time out there if it is in the negatives! I actually spoke to my next door neighbor who happens to be a vet, and he said that it is just fine for a few minutes (i.e. no more than 10 mins.).

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Member

Posts: 10
From:St. Louis Mo
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-07-2004 04:28 PM         

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thank you all so much...very good advice...I want her to do her business outside only instead of using pee pads so I better start now...she'll just have to freeze her 'lil tushy off.. I'll post pics soon...I can't wait to show her off!

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Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-07-2004 11:09 PM         

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Congrats on your new puppy!

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