43. The SilkieXSchnauzer prefers the shower room

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore


9 days after purchase. The puppy was housed in the kitchen. A piece of newspaper at the corner and urine-aid sprayed on the newspapers ignored by the handome puppy. He pees and poos messing up the floor.



He prefers the shower room as toilet area. Not the adjoining toilet. In some of Singapore apartments, the shower room and toilet are next to the kitchen.

What's the solution?

1. Confine to small area and cover the floor with newspapers. May need to use a playpen or block up a small area around 9 sq feet. The kitchen is very big to the puppy.

2. Neutralise ammonia smell of floors in the kitchen and show room.

3. The puppy may need privacy sometimes but will not find any in the kitchen as there are family members or possibly a domestic worker there. It may use the shower room as a den for privacy (3 walls and a door, feels secure). Many puppies need privacy to rest.

Or he may be feeling very hot as he keeps scratching his crusty ear edges many times a day and in the consultation room. The owner thought it had heat rashes and did not consult the veterinarian.

4. He was treated for the ear skin infection first. Vaccination would wait till he recovers by 10 days.

CONFINEMENT means a small space, usually 3'x3' for small breeds so that paper-training can be successful. Newspapers cover the whole floor. Place a soft towel or bed at one corner for the small breeds. Feed bowl removed after eating within 5 minutes. Water given for the whole day.


SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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42. A 6-week-old Cocker Spaniel loves biting

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

E-MAIL FROM SEOUL
I found your toilet training blog on technorati and I was wondering if
I could ask your advice. I am living in a 5th floor appartment in Seoul. Two days ago we got a month and a half old male cocker spaniel from a family home. Their dogs had had puppies and they were giving them away. We are told that the daughter of the family was very fond of the dog and played with him everyday after school.

Picture of a Singapore Cocker Spaniel Puppy


We have a litter tray but he has only used it once for a pee and once
for excrement. He has several favourite spots for going to the toilet like
in front of the tv, in front of the front door, outside our bedroom door.
He runs freely around the flat but I have stopped him going in the
bedrooms because he also went to the toilet in there. I know nothing about dogs
at all. The people I know here favour giving the dog a slap when he has
gone to the toilet in the wrong place and then putting him on the litter tray.
He growls at me when I try this method. What should we do? You mentioned
some kind of urine neutraliser on your blog.

Secondly, he has the habit of grabbing onto trouser legs, skirts and
dressing gowns and then refusing to let go. I find myself walking
around with a dog attached to my leg. I have tried distracting him with other
toys but it doesn't work. Do you think it's just a sign that he needs more
exercise? Yesterday he was very good in the day but by the evening he
became very excitable and snappy. He's got to be trained out of that because
strangers won't like it.

Any advice will be very much appreciated! Thank you.


REPLY

Advices may or may not be suitable for your dog as each situation varies.

TOILET TRAINING

1. 6-week-old Cocker Spaniel. Best time to train him as he is very receptive to training compared to a 26-week-old puppy.

2. It is an advantage to know his feeding and toilet-training schedule at the home breeder but it may not be possible to get the information.

3. If your apartment is small, confine the puppy in a playpen or small room.

In Singapore, the playpen is made up of 4 fences, 3 feet x3 feet. Newspapers are placed 100% on the floor. In your case, it is litter. The puppy is put in till it is paper trained if the owner has no time to supervise or train it. If you have no time to train him, using praises, rewards and commands, it will take much longer. There are 41 cases in the toilet research training blog at http://www.toapayohvets.com. Case No. 41 may be applicable to your situation if you have space and money.

4. Crate training is the alternative method. The puppy is housed in the crate with sufficient space to sit and stand only. Every hour, on the hour, take the puppy to the playpen with newspapers and say "pee here."

5. Spanking the puppy as part of toilet-training is a common advice in Singapore too. The younger couples believe in positive reinforcement (command, praise and treats) rather than making the puppy frightened of the owner through physical punishment. There are successes in both methods.


BITING PEOPLE.
You will be surprised that this is a common complaint amongst first-time puppy owners in Singapore.

Basically, the puppy wants to communicate with people and they mouth people instead of shaking hands like human beings. The previous owner's child must have played tug-of-war games (chew ropes, for example) with this puppy encouraging aggression through fun play. The puppy is also teething and needs to chew on things to relieve its itchy gums. Some cocker spaniel puppies are more aggressive than other breeds. Yours may be a dominant type and not afraid of you. Some puppies growl when they dislike being handled. It is up to the owners to assert the human top-dog relationship by being firm and training well to elimiinate misbehaviour.

If you have a exercise cum feeding schedule, it will be great for this puppy as it likes fixed times. Some owners just can't stick to schedules because they work or can't get up in the morning or night. All puppies need exercise but at this age, not to be more than 10 minutes per hour. Also, avoid dog areas as this puppy has not been protected by 2 or 3 vaccinations against the killer parvovirus.

QUESTIONS.
1. Please let us know how you find this blog.
2. Follow-up on your success. You have 41 cases to see what the other Singaporeans are doing in the blog.
3. How many times you feed this puppy and is it at fixed times?
4. What type of litter you are using? Can you e-mail a picture of the litter (in a litter tray) to judy@toapayohvets.com? This will be much appreciated for our case studies.

5. Neutralise all urine smells using commercial products from the pet shops. Or use vinegar:water 1 part to 3 parts. Put in a spray bottle. Spray tiles to neutralise the ammonia smell of urine which greatly attracts the puppy. Then clean with water. I presume you do not have carpets as these will require different ways of cleaning.


SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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41. The tea-cup Shih Tzu was paper-trained in 4 days

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore


"She is very intelligent," the man said. "On the first day of purchase, I saw her sniffing to pass urine and put her on the newspapers. By the 4th day, she knows that the 2 pieces of newspapers in her playpen is her toilet."



Though 3 months old, this Shih Tzu is as small as an adult chihuahua. Big bulging eyes are her asset and her weak points. The owner was looking for such a small "miniature" Shih Tzu and they are very rare. Her bulging eyes are prone to injury if not well cared for. She did have a healing eye corneal ulcer.

"She ought to wear an Elizabeth collar to stop her from scratching," I said. "But the smallest one for the adult cat is too big for her." The owner would trim to adjust the collar for her. The Elizabeth collar is shown in the picture.

"So, how did you paper-train her?" I asked. 4 days in successfully paper-training is possible but not common if the puppy had not been paper-trained before. I knew this puppy was kept in a wire-floored cage with a pee tray below as I had given her the first vaccination.

The set up was the most ideal for toilet-training but it costs more. A playpen confines the puppy to a small area. Inside the playpen, the owner puts 2 pieces of newspapers on the top half. On the left lower corner, the carrier crate is much loved by this puppy as a safe haven. A den. "The crate door is always left open so that the puppy can go in when she feels cold," the owner said. "There is a soft towel inside."

Another towel is placed outside the crate. I was surprised that the puppy did not pee on it and chose the newspapers. On the right fence, a water bottle is attached. The puppy was fed 2x per day as recommended by the breeder.

"She is very thin," I said. Her full coat hid her low weight gain. "You may need to feed 3X/day." In toilet-training, the owner did the right thing. He permitted the puppy to eat within 10 minutes and took away the feed bowl. After eating, the puppy will normally pass stools. Apparently there is the "gastro-colic" reflex I read somewhere in a medical book. In this reflex, after eating, the stomach feels full and there is an urge to empty the bowels in most people.

If food is left the whole day, the puppy eats a little at a time and the gastro-colic reflex will not work since the stomach is never full. Most owners say the puppy will pass stools within 1 hour of eating all the food.

The carrier crate is her den as well as for transport to the veterinarian. It is best not to carry puppies on hands as they may fall and many taxi-drivers suffer the need to clean up after a puppy vomits in their taxis. Some puppies have car motion sickness and vomits when travelling in a car.

It was good to know that the puppy was paper-trained so early. At least the bonding of the puppy-owner is much closer as a clean companion is always a pleasure to the puppy owner.


SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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40. A RZ (restricted zone) for a new Miniature Pinscher

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Written: Sep 9, 2005

"Barricade the new puppy in the backyard," the owner of a pretty daughter drew a floor plan when I asked how she paper-trained a new puppy when she has an older one for over a year. "Shut the sliding door to the kitchen."

The backyard was rectangular. At one end, there is the washing machine cum dryer. 2 dog's beds were placed side by side across the width of the backyard in front of the washing machine.

The other end of the backyard - put newspapers to cover 80% of the floor. Around 20% is taken up by the 2 dog beds and washing machine cum dryer.

Take the urine-stained newspapers of the new puppy and put them on the floor. It took 3 weeks before the Miniature Pinscher became paper-trained.



Now, the puppy is 4 months old. He learnt paper-training from the older dog. However, the owner mentioned, "Still pees on the floor tiles 1-2 x per day."

So, was paper-training 100% successful? The owner was satisfied. In this case, the floor tiles must have the strong urine smell or the puppy was distracted. A commercial urine odour removal or vinegar:water 1:3 sprayed onto the floor tiles and wiped off may neutralise the strong attractive smell and resolve her problem.

The secret of success is a restricted zone. In this case, the lady owner was experienced with keeping dogs. I was thinking that pet shop operators would go out of business if she did not buy any playpens for the new puppies. She did have dog beds with cushions. Some business for the pet shop operators I hope.



This owner's toilet-training procedures somehow reminded of Singapore's Restricted Zones for motorists. Under the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) Scheme, certain areas are defined as Restricted Zones (RZ). Motorists pay a toll electronically everytime they drive into the RZ. The purpose was to prevent traffic jams. Now, there are more ERP toll gates to tax the motorists going home from the central business districts as well. In the central business districts near the Cathay cinemas, a new ERP toll gate has been built just within a 30 seconds' drive from another one at the Istana (Presidential Palace).

Fortunately, no bureaucrats have thought of a restricted zone and ERP toll gates for new puppies to prevent them from peeing elsewhere in the residence.



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39. The single lady and her Shih Tzu

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

What is in the best interest of the Shih Tzu may not be in the best interest of the veterinarian. But the interest of the Shih Tzu must come first rather than the generation of income from sick Shih Tzus.

Wood shavings were used by a new owner of the Shih Tzu as bedding but a piece of wood shavings stuck on the right eye. The next day, the Shih Tzu had corneal ulcer and a fever. The owner could treat this eye problem at home and saved on veterinary costs. But she did not have a draught-free and dark place to house this Shih Tzu. I visited her condo and it was one of those breezy types in a green wooded area. So, I had to ward this Shih Tzu.

The owners decided to sell her, on my advice as they do not know how to take care of her. There will be further eye injuries and grooming and veterinary costs if the Shih Tzu is not properly cared for. The lady owner phoned me of the decision to sell.

An adult lady with a male Shih Tzu puppy came in for vaccination. "How do you toilet train your Shih Tzu?" I asked this confident young lady. "Lots of time and patience," she said. She explained her procedure. It took 3 weeks of messing the kitchen floor before her male Shih Tzu got the idea. Spanking and putting the nose of her Shih Tzu to smell the urine on the newspapers before putting it done on the kitchen floor were her methods.

"Do you not give a command when you showed your puppy the soiled newspapers?" I asked. This was the part she left out.

"Yes," she said. "I say 'Pee here'". That was a necessary part of toilet training.

"Would you like to buy a female Shih Tzu?" I asked as I assessed she could care for the Shih Tzus.

She was shown the Shih Tzu in my Surgery. She was interested and was in the process of finding a Shih Tzu companion. I connected both parties.

"I bought mine for $400," she said when the owner wanted to sell hers for near to $900 which was the purchase price of the gold and white Shih Tzu.

"Go to the internet like Yahoo," the confident lady advised. "There will be buyers for your Shih Tzu." Maybe she bought hers from the world wide web.

I asked both parties to negotiate directly. Selling Shih Tzus is not my core competence. I really had to rush to the breeding farm to vaccinate puppies and kittens and it was late.

What is in the best interest of the gold and white Shih Tzu may not be in the best interest of the re-seller. Well, it is hard to sell damaged goods and now there is a buyer, the price is slashed too low.



"In my opinion," I said to the re-seller, "It is better to sell to somebody who knows how to care for your puppy rather than recover the money. Shih Tzu puppies grow and may not be so attractive to buyers." It is hard to lose over 50% of the purchase price but sometimes, cut losses prevent further expenses. It is hard to do it.


SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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38. The Shih Tzu had wood shavings in her eyes.

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

"A very painful right eye. Not eating."
Some wood shavings from the litter put on the Aluminium tray and playpen had fallen on this Shih Tzu.

I went to visit the condo to see the toilet-training layout. It was located in a wooded area. The playpen was kept in the balcony. A curtain shields the puppy from the breezes. No space in the kitchen which was also breezy. A small space in the living area. But the stools smell. So, the puppy could not go home to rest.

This breezy location was not ideal for the puppy. At night, it could be very cold especially if there is rain. During the day-time, it could be hot. Temperature stresses affect this puppy. She was strong but how much temperature variations can a 3-month-old puppy take? The breeze swept a piece of wood shaving onto her right eye. The owner assumed that tears would have dislodged this foreign body. In any case, the puppy must have rubbed off the shaving and injured her cornea.

So, I saw the puppy again. She was not eating because she had a fever. Barking loudly for attention vibrated from her crate. Strong loud sounds but she stopped when nobody paid any attention to her.

"The ideal owner for this puppy is a young lady, preferably single," I said to the owner as I showed her the dirt on the edges of this puppy and the tearing below her lower eyelids. All these grooming would need to be done by her. If not, a professional groomer needs to be engaged and that involves cost.

She has 3 pre-teen children to look after and has had no experience in caring for a high maintenance breed. I advised selling. "Mum can't care for this puppy," she said to her primary school daughter. "We need to find her another owner." The little girl's tears flowed from her red eyes. It was a difficult situation. But is there such an owner and where to find her?

SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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37. The Corgi pees at corners and edges of the newspapers. Why?

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

The Corgi peed at the edges and corners of the newspapers. It is possible that the paper area is insufficient.

She is paper-trained as long as she is confined to the kitchen. Could she be paper-trained if outside the kitchen or is it still too early to let her go to the rest of the apartment?

Basically, some time needs to be spent with the Corgi.
Increase size of newspapers.
Give treats when she performs, not just praises.
Outside the kitchen, the owner may need to put the 2nd sheet of the soiled newspapers to let her know that is the toilet location and also to neutralise all urine smell as the dog is more attracted by urine smell in the tiles outside the kitchen area.




P.S The Corgi was reported to walk sideways. Was there a hip dysplasia? It is too early to X-ray. The puppy yelped when the right hip joint was palpated by me.

Was the lameness present during purchase? It is already 4 weeks after purchase. The puppy could have injured its right hip due to vigorous playing.

"You play tug-of-war with the Corgi?" I asked the owner. The Corgi had growled, unprovoked, at Nurse Ann when put on the floor of the consultation room. Why? Did the owner encourage aggression inadvertently? That was why I asked whether he played tug-of-war.

He did. According to him, some dog books encouraged tug-of-wars. If the owner wins all the time, the puppy will acknowledge him as the master.

"Does it really work?" I asked him. "This is an alpha female."

"What's an alpha female?" the wife asked.

"A leadership personality type. Does not get cowed easily even if she loses in the tug-of-war. She is growing and soon will be dominant over you."

Are Corgis so fierce? No. Some may be aggressive due to the owner's training. There is still hope as she is only 4 months old.

SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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36. Toilet training 2 puppies bought at different times.

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

First-time puppy owner. She bought an older Shih Tzu from a professional breeder a month after buying one from another breeder.



She seems quite satisfied in her method of toilet-training. Both puppies are housed in separate playpens and do not get to meet each other for the time being. The younger Shih Tzu was paper-trained in 2 weeks. The older one was paper-trained in 3 weeks. It has a lot of skin rashes and will consult a vet when she is free.

SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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35. The whippet does not pee on newspapers

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Probably let out of the playpen + newspapers too early. The whippet was let out at the end of week 1.

May need at least 2 weeks of confinement and training inside the playpen.
Give treats to motivate the puppy.
Spend more time observing its behaviour like sniffing, circling to pee.



Maybe, every 2 hourly, put onto the playpen and give command "Pee here." Then, give treats.

SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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34. The Miniature Schnauzer does not pee on the newspapers

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

To me, it seems that the extremely strong urine smell on the floor tiles in the living area attracts this puppy to use the tiles as toilet area. The use of brand new newspapers does not help.

Neutralise all smells using vinegar:water 1:3 or commercial products.
Use the 2nd sheet of the soiled newspapers.



As for bedding, enclose the crate. Puppies usually feel more secure sleeping inside an enclosed crate. Put towel and feed inside. Since she finishes all food in 10 minutes, she may associate the crate with good vibrations and sleep there. Some privacy too as the puppy may need some rest from the children.

SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

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33. Treats motivate the Shih Tzu to pee spot on

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

The owner of a beautiful gold/white female Shih Tzu said, "After giving treats, the Shih Tzu is more accurate in peeing inside the newspaper area."

Previous praises did not seem to achieve what the owner wants. This is really interesting and useful tip.



Another useful tip is the use of a foldable playpen. By week 2, the Shih Tzu can access the playpen toilet area when the hinge in the particular fence is undone, opening up the playpen with the newspapers inside.

I hope the owner e-mail me a picture for readers to see what I mean.

SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS:
READERS e-mail to me your problems or solutions. Your queries may be included in the book to help all puppy owners all over the world. E-mail to judy@toapayohvets.com

SPONSORS NEEDED:
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