134. The Jack Russell always try to escape from the "prison"

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

"My puppy always try to escape from his 'prison'", the young man commented during our discussion on paper training. His short hair and his sunburnt complexion told me he was a National Service man serving his 2 years of 'imprisonment' in the military camp. Lights out usually at 11 p.m to sleep if there are no military exercises and wake up before 6 a.m. So, all young servicemen lose their freedom.



It was a pleasure to see a father and a young adult son together. Sons of this age seldom have time for their parents as they roam downtown Orchard Road, play online games like War Craft to past midnight and wake up in the afternoon. The hair dressers are young ladies at downtown saloons and hair cuts are not less than $20 per session. I guess this lifestyle applies to most of the young men in Singapore before they go for military service.



So, it is possible that he empathised with the high energy Jack Russell puppy confined inside the crate. Whenever the door of the crate is opened, he shoots out.

"There are at least 2 reasons your puppy wants to escape," I said. "All puppies want a clean area to lie down. He has not much clean area to lie down after pooping at one corner and peeing in the middle of this small crate."

The father said, "I should change to a bigger crate."

"That would be a good idea," I nodded my head. "However, you must change immediately as such crates will rust and the pet shop operator may not want it back."

But would changing to a bigger crate help?

"The puppy is being paper trained for the first time." I said. "In the pet shop, he lies on the wire flooring. He pees onto the pee tray below and stools are removed or dropped into the tray. Now, you place newspapers above the wire flooring."

The young man said, "The pet shop operator asked me to place newspapers and to spray a smelly liquid onto the newspapers to attract the puppy to pee and poop there. I had been wondering what the tray was for."


Since this puppy was still new and the young man is very keen on his puppy, I recommend another method of paper-training.

Clean up the existing tray and wire flooring. Neutralise the ammonia smell of urine with vinegar:water 1:1.

Place a towel or his old T-shirt at one corner. Buy 3 panels of fences from the pet shop. These 3 panels form a "patio" in front of the door. They form an extended outdoor area for the puppy. Spread newspapers to cover the outdoor area. Spray the urine smell onto the newspapers. So, the puppy will come out to pee and poop, but sleep and eat and drink inside his crate.

Be with the puppy for the first 7 days, even sleeping near him. Teach him to pee and poop on the newspapers by praises and treats. Leave the crate door open. See his signs of circling, whining and put him onto the newspapers.

The young man had this Saturday and Sunday and every 2 days. The young man knew what I was talking about. He had read my blog on toilet-training the puppy.




I guess the blog had not been useful for him. So, I spend time writing this article on "how to" use the wire crate to paper-train the puppy.

I hope he succeeds and that the Jack Russell treats the crate as his sanctuary and a den. Covering up the sides of the crate will make the puppy feel secure and love to go inside it to have privacy. Some favourite chew toys given to him when he goes inside. Do not punish him by confining himself as he will hate the crate. Place the crate near a location he can see people. The puppy is a sociable animal and wants to be near people. That is the second reason he wants to escape. As he grows up, he will regard the family members either as leaders or followers to be dominated. So, it is best for all family members to be leaders by teaching him consistently on how to behave.



No water after 8 p.m. Feed twice a day and take away the feed bowl after 15 minutes. Feed and exercise on time so that the puppy has a regular schedule. I hope my advice works for this young man and his father. I sense that this dynamo will have lots and lots of love.

As for the visit, no vaccination was possible as he had some coughing. Vaccinations can only be done when the puppy is healthy and coughing is not a sign of good health.

STOOL EATING.
The puppy seems to eat only the loose stools sometimes. He leaves the solid stools alone. This habit has to be stopped now. How?

Cage 60cmx43cmx54cm or 24"x16"x21". Too small to lie down on clean area.
So, the puppy wants to "escape" to keep clean. One other reason is that he wants to come out to socialise with members of the pack (human beings).

URINE SPRAY
Effective. The puppy seems to be looking for the sprayed area in the newspapers and do not pee when fresh papers are put onto the floor of the crate. The newspapers on the floor prevents stools and urine from flowing into the pee tray. In the pet shop, there will be no such papers on the floor. So, this layout is a new things to the puppy.

Try to paper-train inside the crate may be difficult as there is lack of space to get a clean area to sleep. Bigger crate or a floor extension with 3 panels of fences outside the gate.