230. Position of toilet area important. 2 months only 70% paper-trained.

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

The owner bought 4 panels of fences to confine his male Shih Tzu, 4 months old in a playpen. He was only 70% successful in paper training him after 2 months.

In the playpen, the bed with towel is located on upper right corner. The water bottle is on lower left corner. The feedbowl is placed in the middle but taken away within 15 minutes after eating. Fed 2x/day at 7 am and 7 pm. He poops 2x per day, after eating but pees a lot. The puppy pees on the upper left corner and on the lower right corner around the bed.

Since the owner is not at home, the number of times is unknown. The puppy shred newspapers when the owner is at home. He likes clean newspapers.

The complaint is that the Shih Tzu would not consistently pee or poop on newspapers when let out of the playpen. Why? Possible reasons:

1. Distracted.

2. When taken out, owner should confine him to the papers till he pees. Watch for signs of sniffing, turning and squating. Carry him to the papers and say "Pee here." Praises and rewards.

3. Position of water bottle may be incorrect. Place it to the right corner.
This gives the left side of the playpen sufficient area for peeing.

4. Feed the puppy outside the cage or put the feedbowl in the lower right corner.

In other words, the puppy will want its sleeping and eating area to be clean. So, make this area the right half of the playpen.

5. Use vinegar:water 1:3 to neutralise all urine small inside the playpen and the floors outside. Start all over again.

6. Take out one soiled newspapers when puppy let out of playpen. Confine the puppy to the area with this soiled newspapers (on top of other papers) and make sure he pees. Or wait 15 minutes and repeat. Watch for signs and do as in Point No. 2.

I hope this recommendation works.