toilet training, house training puppies

465. Midnight-barking of new puppy

2009-10-29T05:02:00.000+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
1. Two-month-old puppy and working husband
Oct 28, 2009

Case study:
Miniature Dachshund, Male, 2 months, bought from the pet shop 3 days ago. I was consulted on blood appearing in the evening stools 3 evenings but not in the day stools. The puppy was fed 2 times a day as advised by the pet shop.

This case has two common complaints amongst new puppy owners, viz.:

1. Blood in stools. For the past 3 evenings, the puppy poops loose stools with blood seen but was otherwise healthy and active.

2. Barking at around 2 am - 3 am and then at 6 am.
"He is seeking attention," the young lady owner said. "We just ignored him and he would stop barking. Then at 6 am, he would bark. He wants to come out of his playpen to play.

Reality & Solutions
1. Blood in the stool. Usually due to stress (change of environment and feeding).

2. Feeding 2x a day is common recommendation by pet shop puppy sellers in Singapore. Less eating, less pooping as the puppy eats all food usually and then poops 2x/day, after eating, instead of many times. This puppy poops 2x/day.

3. "Seeking attention past midnight". Few puppy books mention about this behaviour. Actually, the puppy barks to ask the owner to change the soiled newspapers. In this case, the puppy was now restricted to a one-page width of the newspapers. He pees around every 2 hourly. He does not want to step on soiled papers but being confined in the playpen, he could only communicate with people by barking: "Please change soiled newspapers."

Solutions: I propose that the owner spread 75% of the playpen flooring with newspapers at night, thus giving the puppy more clean papers and therefore no barking at 2am to 3am. 25% of the floor space is his bed towel space. The 2-month-old puppy has a weak bladder at this age and pees every 2 hourly approximately. Will this work in practice? She will let me know when the puppy comes for his 3rd vaccination in Nov 5, 2009.

464. Adult dog paper training

2009-10-26T05:35:00.005+08:00

Toilet Training an adult dog in Singapore

--- On Sun, 10/25/09, ...@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: ...@hotmail.com>
Subject: Paper Training 9 month-old whippet
To: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 1:14 PM

Dear Dr Sing,

i have a 9 month-old whippet puppy that stubbornly refuses to relieve and poo on newspaper, so it appears.

She has been previously trained to relieve and poo on 2 sheets of newspaper while she was staying at another caregiver's home. The newspapers were placed in the kitchen area. Due to some reasons, the family is unable to care for her anymore. So, she is currently at my home. I have a 7 year-old dog myself.

When she came over to my place, we laid out the newspaper in the kitchen area and showed her where it was placed. She looked, then ran away. In the very next instance, she peed elsewhere in the flat. we picked her up, chided her and showed her the right place to go, but to no avail. however, she has only peed and pooed at the right place the most 4 times over these past 3 weeks. on one occasion, she copied my dog

She was praised each time she relieved herself at the right place and chided when she did it at any other spot in the flat. She tends to relieve herself wherever she walks, when she feels the urge or when she is excited. She sniffs around a little, then walk away to another spot to pee or poo. I have walked her to the newspaper and pointed it out to her many times over. But she would walk away and relieve herself somewhere else moments later. only when i confine her that she would poo or pee, never both.

Can you advise me how I could retrain her to go on paper? I am at my wits' end, because I have tried every method that worked on my previous dogs but failed on her.

By the way, we bought her from the petshop when she was close to 7 months old.

With regards,
Name of owner

Re: Paper Training 9 month-old whippet
Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:33 PM
From:
This sender is DomainKeys verified
"David Sing"
View contact details
To: <...@hotmail.com>

Adult dogs are harder to paper train. In your case, I suspect that the other dog is a factor affecting her paper training as the urine scent from the other dog (despite you putting newspapers on the floor) had, based on your description, caused her to "urine mark" or seek new areas to pee and poop. No normal dogs like to eliminate on another dog's soiled area (although you have covered with newspapers).

I need to know more about her management.

How long is she with you since you took over from the care giver?
How many times you feed her?
Is water freely available?
What is her exercise routine? Does she go out?
How many times and when does she pee and when does she poo?
Is she doing urine-marking?
Does she pee when excited?
Is she on heat?
Is she having urinary tract infection or other infections?

In the meantime, try this:
1. Tether the whippet in an area with newspapers covering 100% of the area.
2. Use white vinegar at 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water to wipe the floor of the leashed area neutralise the urine smells of the other dog and this dog.
3. Keep the other dog away from her for the next 2-4 weeks (I don't know how you can do it).
4. Change soiled newspapers promptly.
5. Give firm commands: "Pee here" when you see possible signs of elimination if possible. Use your positive training of food treats rewards and praises on successful performance.
6. You need to tether for at least 2-4 weeks. Persevere and be consistent in your training. 7. A fixed feeding and exercise time table for the next 2-4 weeks.

Let me know if this helps.

--- On Mon, 10/26/09,

Subject: RE: Paper Training 9 month-old whippet
To: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009, 9:37 AM

thank you for your prompt reply. really appreciate it.

my other dog pees and poo in the kitchen toilet while i am training her to go in the master bedroom toilet after the kitchen floor failed. the interesting point was once she copied the other dog and peed in the kitchen toilet straight after he did his. then she repeated it there once other. she was praised when we saw her go in the toilet. then she forgot.

Questions:

How long is she with you since you took over from the care giver?
- i have her for about 3 weeks now.

How many times you feed her?
- i feed her once in the morning

Is water freely available?
- yes

What is her exercise routine? Does she go out?
- once about 2 days or so. she does not pee much when she's out.

How many times and when does she pee and when does she poo?
- Peeing : 1x after waking, 1x halfway or after eating, 1x in the evening when i get home, sometimes out of the blue
- Pooing: 1x after waking, mostly again after eating

Is she doing urine-marking?
- no, she doesn't

Does she pee when excited?
- yes, most of the time. she only pees and poos when i get home, even though there are other people in the house throughout the day.
- poos when excited too. when she goes out, she will poo once she gets out of the house or car.

Is she on heat?
- no

Is she having urinary tract infection or other infections?
- not that i am aware of

As for your advice, do i keep her tethered the whole day? should feeding be done in the area as well?

REPLY Oct 27, 2009

Thank you for more information on the management of the Whippet.
1. It seems that your Whippet has this excitation or submissive urination behaviour. This is a difficult problem to resolve. Try not to greet her when you go home from work and let her gain self-confidence. This will take time.

2. As most dogs go to urine-scented area to eliminate, it is possible that your residence is full of urine smells. Therefore, your new Whippet pees here and there, puzzling you. You need to neutralise all areas promptly. This is one reason why pet owners who use pee pans so as not to soil the floor. The puppy then uses the pee pan to eliminate.

3. Tethering is a form of confinement and must be done 24 hours for the next 2-4 weeks. Feeding and water bowls are within that area. Newspapers cover the whole area and get reduced to the area where the dog eliminates. This takes time.

E-MAIL OCT 27, 2009
From: ...@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Paper Training 9 month-old whippet
To: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 9:47 AM
Prior to my other dog, we had my brother's Sheltie. But both dogs only eliminate in the bathroom. We also mop the floor with vinegar once every week.

Now, when I get home from work, I try my best to ignore her and pet my other dog, though not excessively. This is when she gets jealous and will also pee or poo wherever. Another point is she follows me wherever I go in the house. She is very attention-seeking in this aspect. Should I ignore her when she craves for my attention?

As I am rather busy this period, I plan to start the tethering only later next month. In the meantime, I have taken to putting her in the bathroom first thing in the morning, immediately after feeding, when i get home, after she drinks or eat. i hope it would do for now.

E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING, Oct 28, 2009
Tethering or confinement to a room, both with newspapers on the floor give the same outcome for paper training. Therefore it is OK. For attention-seeking dogs, my opinion is that you should not provoke jealousy by paying special attention to one dog. Sounds like "sibling rivalry" to me. You may need to be "assertive" and "authoritative" in your treatment of both dogs. I hope you know what I mean. Firm voice commands and actions. Easier said than done. It is hard to change one's personality but dogs look to you as the leader of the pack.

Updates are at www.toapayohvets.com

Le me know if you need more info

463. Mum learns to love the dog

2009-10-04T08:02:00.002+08:00

Sunday, Oct 4, 2009

Last day of the moon cake festival today. No more moon cakes on sale tomorrow. My wife's junior college classmate and her husband invited us for dinner. 5 couples and one lady separated from her husband sat comfortably in the round table chatting noisily about family and life.

32 years had passed. All the children are now young adults and are educated in the U.S or Australia. One of them is a spendthrift but money is not a scarce commodity in his family. 3 couples live in bungalows in prime districts 9, 10 and 11. Such bungalows now cost at least S$10-20 million.

Dog, Spitz, 2 years, neutered has been permitted to go upstairs and started pooping on the carpet. After dry cleaning, the dog continued to eliminate. What to do?

Mum had never wanted dogs. But the grown up children persuaded her to just visit a pet shop in Pasir Ris. The $2,500 Spitz puppy was so cute. The children wanted him. So, mum had to be flexible.

Too many advices from friends. Spray something onto the carpet. Remove the carpet.

My advice would be to supervise the dog closely and catch him before his elimination. Teach him not to do it. Give food treat rewards. "My son could do it," she complained about the husband who would be busy using computers. The dog would then eliminate on the carpet. Mum had to get the maid to get the carpet cleaned. The dog would do it again!

Just don't allow the dog upstairs for some time (Time-Out Methd) if he eliminates. In the end, I doubted she would find peace of mind.

462. Adult dog re-training to indoor elimination

2009-09-28T03:37:00.002+08:00

DRAFT

Suggestions may or may not work in your case.
1. You need many days to confine him in the bathroom for the whole day and night. Feeding and drinking inside this confined area or big crate but sleeping and eating areas are far from the elimination area. .
2. Put newspapers with his urine smell present in the newspapers at one corner. Or newspapers with the pieces of grass and soil in which he had peed.
3. Praise him when you see him eliminating on the papers. Give food treats.
4. It will take patience and perseverance on your part. It may take 14 days.
5. Pl let me know your success.

--- On Sun, 9/27/09, ...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Subject: RE: Toilet Training a 3 year-old Shih Tzu
To: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Cc: david@asiahomes.com
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009, 12:14 PM

1 & 2. his water were freely available and he drinks about 200-300ml,and max. to 500ml per day.
3. We're staying in an apartment, like i said we used to trained him to pee & poo outside (meaning outside of our unit but still in that compound). Sometimes when we brought him out to somewhere with grass, he will sniff & eliminate more than usual.

Btw, i cant see any suggestion fm yr previous email nor other separated email as mentioned below. Pls resend if there's some error occurs.
Thanks.

Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:49:55 -0700
From: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Toilet Training a 3 year-old Shih Tzu

1. How many ml of water he drinks? Can you measure?
2. Is water freely available?
Here are my suggestions which may or may not work in your situation:
3. Does he eliminate on a certain outdoor area with grass?

--- On Sat, 9/26/09, ...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Subject: RE: Toilet Training a 3 year-old Shih Tzu
To: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009, 4:01 PM

Thanks Dr. Sing fr yr reply.

Yes, he's totally used to pee & poo outdoors. We've tried several ways to change his habit but eventually he refused to it.
We initially used to bring him out to poo & pee during morning before we go out to work and every evening after his meal (we only feed him once per day 6-8pm)
Please let me know if u wish to know any further of his habits.

Thanks heaps.

Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:11:10 -0700
From: drsing_98@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Toilet Training a 3 year-old Shih Tzu

Your adult dog is used to peeing and pooping outdoors. You need to change his habit to eliminate indoors gradually. Please let me know his routine of feeding, drinking and exercise and also:
1. When he goes outdoors to eliminate?

--- On Fri, 9/25/09, ...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Subject: Toilet Training a 3 year-old Shih Tzu
To: drsing@toapayohvets.com, judy@toapayohvets.com
Date: Friday, September 25, 2009, 5:45 AM

Hi Dr. sing,

Ive came across your website to know about Toa Payoh Vets but unfortunately i was staying in Malaysia.
There's few questions that i would like to ask about my pet - a 3 year-old male Shih Tzu.

Initially my dog was trained to pee n poo outside of our apartment but due to some reasons we decided to re-train him to eliminate in the toilet. We'd tried to cover newspaper 100% inside the toilet, place another 2nd piece of paper (with urinate) and also some products like house breaking spray to be used. But my dog refused to pee or poo after meal (we only feed once per day). We tried to cover with baby gate as well so that he wasn't afraid of being alone inside the toilet. And it's more than 48 hours he dont pee or poo.

Btw, my dog has a very good temper. He does not bark even if we kept him inside the toilet for more than 6 hours. So my questions are, how long we should take him out again to pee and poo if he insist not to do his business inside the toilet? And how long the duration takes to train a 3 year-old dog? Is there any other options or tips of training him to pee inside the toilet?

Thanks alot in advance and looking fwd to hear fm you soon.

461. Two-hourly toilet training - pup

2009-09-18T07:20:00.004+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

--- On Thu, 9/17/09, ...@gmail.com> wrote:

Subject: Toilet Training our New Pup
To: judy@toapayohvets.com
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 3:30 AM

Dear Dr Sing

I read with great interest your website and your wealth of knowledge around toilet training pups - thanks so much for sharing.

We are getting a PWD Pup next week from Australia. He is 12 weeks old and one of our first priorities is to toilet train him, as we live in a condo. We are personally not in favor of the pee tray and wanted to know if there is any problem with taking the pup down to pee every 2 hours or so? We realise this will be hard on us initially, but feel that it might be worthwhile to invest in this time upfront, so that he learns to eliminate outside the house, over time. I would love to have your opinion on this.

Secondly, can you advise on where we can purchase the wire pup pens that you have shown on your web site? I feel it's a better option that gating as we can move the pen wherever we want.

Look forward to hearing from you and thanks again!

Name of owner

E-MAIL REPLY

Thank you for email. In reply, taking out the pup 2 hourly is in theory, a good idea. But can you really wake up past midnight to do it for 7 nights or more? This is when most owners can't wake up. If you can, it may work. No water after 8 pm is a tip. Sleep next to the pup (pup in playpen) for the 7 nights and bring the pup to the toilet when you observe signs of elimination. In this way, you will note when the pup needs to eliminate. It may not be exactly 2 hourly. Using the guide of N-1 where N-months in age of the pup, a 3-month old
is, in theory, going to need to pee 2 hourly. This is just a guide and not a scientific formula.

Playpens can be bought at most pet shops selling pups in Singapore. Tel 62543326 and leave your tel with Mr Saw so that we can phone you regarding the name of pet shop we vaccinate the pups if you want to buy a particular type of playpen.

P.S What is a "PWP" pup

--- On Thu, 9/17/09, ...@gmail.com> wrote:

Subject: Re: Toilet Training our New Pup
To: "David Sing"
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 11:34 PM

Thank you Mr Sing for your reply. We were not sure of the confusion we might cause the pup with paper training and taking him every two hours!

A PWD is a Portuguese Water Dog.

Thanks again for your help - much appreciated.

E-MAIL REPLY

Once you have a routine of feeding, exercise and going out for elimination every 2-3 hours,, the normal average pup of 3-4 months of age learns very fast (7-14 days). Of course you need to provide positive reinforcement training, using oral command, food treats and lots of praises on success. And knowing the signs of elimination.

460. Draft - puppy toilet training emails.

2009-04-25T07:32:00.003+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

DRAFT
Common problems encountered by puppy owners.
The case of whining at night is resolved by giving the puppy more space to sleep, far away from the pee and poop area. In this way, the puppy needs not bother the owner to wake up to change her confined playpen area (soiled by pee). Puppies naturally want a clean place to sleep and some do make a lot of noises after midnight to "call" the owner to come and change the soiled papers or wash the pee pan. Some owners do not know that is the reason but scolds the puppy.

Apr 30, 2009
To: "David Sing"

Hi David,

Thank you for your help so far.
I modified your suggestions :)
At night, we shifted the puppy to the kitchen with a bigger area (using the makeshift play pen).
After the second night, she knew where to pee and poo at the pee pan without whining and disturbing our sleep :)
We also tried to feed her earlier like 8 plus at night to minimise her poo in the middle of the night.
Once again, thank you for your help.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Sing
To: Owner
Sent: Saturday, 25 April 2009 7:14:19
Subject: Re: paper training. After midnight whine

1. In most cases, if the puppy whines after midnight e.g. 2-4 am, she wants the soiled pee pan to be cleaned. Many owners think the puppy is seeking attention and scolds her.
2. The only solution I can think of is to get up and do it for the first few nights.
3. The other solution I was telling you is to place the puppy in a small room e.g. bathroom and open one side of the playpen. Cover the floor of the bathroom with newspapers. The puppy can then go to the newspapers to pee.

In addition, no more drinking after 8 pm so as to help the puppy in toilet-training past midnight.

4. Pl confirm that you use a pee pan + grill (grate) which is placed inside the playpen. Can you e-mail to me 3 pictures of the housing and pee pan + grill for your puppy?

Reply from Dr Sing Apr 25, 2009

1. In most cases, if the puppy whines after midnight e.g. 2-4 am, she wants the soiled pee pan to be cleaned. Many owners think the puppy is seeking attention and scolds her.
2. The only solution I can think of is to get up and do it for the first few nights.
3. The other solution I was telling you is to place the puppy in a small room e.g. bathroom and open one side of the playpen. Cover the floor of the bathroom with newspapers. The puppy can then go to the newspapers to pee.

In addition, no more drinking after 8 pm so as to help the puppy in toilet-training past midnight.

4. Pl confirm that you use a pee pan + grill (grate) which is placed inside the playpen. Can you e-mail to me 3 pictures of the housing and pee pan + grill for your puppy?

Subject: Re: paper training
To: "David Sing"
Date: Friday, April 24, 2009, 12:19 AM

Hi David,

The puppy is able to go to the pee pan with grill to pee successfully.
No, we keep the puppy in the play pen at night. We let her out to play in the evening time though.
However, the puppy will whine and whine at night for us to clear her grill after she poo.
These few nights she was also very whiny at night.
Even after clearing the poo, she demanded our attention.
Is there a way from preventing the puppy from disrupting our sleep?
We thought we already solved the problem after the initial few nights of whining.
Bella (puppy) started the whining again........

Rgds,
XXX

From: David Sing
To: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, 22 April 2009 7:22:33
Subject: Re: paper training

1. Yes, it is possible for the puppy to pee on the pee pan if it will do it.
2. If you feel it is dirty, you may need to buy a pee pan with grate and train the puppy to step onto the grate and pee on it.
3. Did you put the puppy in the toiilet. Then you open the playpen at night and let the puppy come out to pee?

From: XXX
Subject: Re: paper training
To: "David Sing"
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 2:24 AM

Hi David,

Thank you for your suggestion.
The puppy learnt pretty fast.
Now it is pretty ok at night except in the morning, when she demands to be let out.
It's pretty understandable since she is in the play pen for hours at night.
We think it's prety dirty for her to step on the newspapers overnight though.
Can we put a pee tray on top the newspapers area?
Is it possible for the puppy to pee on the pee tray?

Rgds,
XXX

From: David Sing
To: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, 15 April 2009 8:12:35
Subject: Re: paper training

Your puppy makes a lot of noises after midnight to tell you to change soiled newspapers as he has a very clean personality. You are correct in understanding what he wants. This is quite a common situation encountered by other puppy owners.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Get up and change the papers for the next few nights and thereby paper-training the puppy faster.

2. Don't get up. The puppy will stop after some nights. But you may see the puppy's foot with stools and urine

3. My advices which may of use to you and which may not, depending on the puppy's personality:

Give the puppy a bigger space (not being confined in the playpen) past midnight. For example, a bathroom with newspapers all over the floor for the first 7-14 days and a baby gate.

The playpen with newspapers (and puppy urine smell, place 2nd piece of soiled newspaper) is left open (3 sides standing, one panel taken off). Some puppies are smart enough to go inside the playpen to pee and poop and sleep outside (esp. if there is a towel or bed and if they don't chew them).

3.1 No water after 8 p.m. Get the puppy to pee by command before your bedtime (I presume it will be 11 pm). Say "Pee here". If successful, give praise and food treat. Clear up the soiled papers.

Let me know if this method works. Persevere. Don't expect instant results.

From: XXX
Subject: Re: paper training
To: "David Sing"
Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 2:08 AM

Hi David,

I am following the advice from the website.

1) Setting up a playpen with newspapers all over it. Trying to keep her there for 2 weeks to paper train her. But we let her out to play when we can monitor all her movements. She will always attempt to pee and poo outside the playpen.
2) The puppy is with us for 2 nights only at the moment. We are trying to feed her three times a day but timing is not fixed yet.
3) Supposed to be 6 weeks old but based on description from book, it should be only 5 weeks old.

Rgds,
XXX

From: David Sing
To: XXX
Sent: Monday, 13 April 2009 7:20:25
Subject: Re: paper training

Thank you for email.
1. Which method of paper training are you using. Pl describe.
2. What is your routine time for feeding and drinking?
3. How old is the puppy?

--- On Sun, 4/12/09, Darren Lee wrote:

From: XXX Dog Owner
Subject: paper training
To: judy@toapayohvets.com
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 5:07 PM

Hi Judy,

I am currently using your method to paper train my puppy. However, the puppy will make lots of noise in the middle of the night for us to clear the soiled papers. However, as we are holding day jobs, can we only clean the soiled papers in the morning? As the puppy tend to whine a few times in the night.

Rgds,
XXX

459. Toilet-training OLDER DOGS - a 2-year-old Maltese

2009-04-25T07:26:00.004+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

DRAFT
Common problems faced by any dog owner WITH an adult non-neutered male and solutions
A real-case study.

Saturday, May 9, 2009 10:32 PM
From:
This sender is DomainKeys verified
"David Sing"
View contact details
To: XXX

Thank you for your email. You are very patient with the grown up dog and takes a lot of time to train him with lots of love and positive reinforcement training.

Yes, your male dog is urine-marking. This is a natural behaviour. He should have been neutered at 6 months of age to prevent this behaviour. Neutering now will help but the success rate is not as high, according to some of my dog owners.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO URINE MARKING PROBLEMS:
1. Confine to crate at all times for 2-4 weeks except when you are able to supervise him at all times (see paragraph 4).
2. Neuter him.
3. Allow him to come out of the crate before breakfast, lunch and dinner. But bring him outdoors to pee and urine mark.
4. Neutralise "urination" areas with white vinegar:water 1:3 with piece of cloth a few times esp. vertical areas with urine marking.
5. Allow him out of the crate when you are at home and able to supervise him closely in case he wants to urine-mark.
6. This routine gives him a chance to urine-mark outdoors e.g. tree trunks and not make your apartment smelly. It is not a good community advice from me. It is best to neuter the dog to reduce the anti-social behaviour of urine-marking although it is not a guarantee. In most cases, with my suggested routine mentioned above, the dog stops urine-marking inside the apartment.

7. So far, I have one case. The owner of a male 1.5-year-old Miniature Schnauzer with a similar challenge as yours. Her teenaged daughter was against neutering and therefore the male dog urine-marked all over the apartment, causing considerable distress to the mum.

The modern Singapore mum does pamper the progeny and therefore the maid has to clean up everytime the male Schnauzer urine-marks. He even did it on the carpet. The dog came in for vaccination and I got to know that the mum was living with this problem for the past 1 year. The teenaged daughter seemed to understand the mum's distress during our discussion. She reluctantly agreed to neutering which she considered as "cruel" and did some research on the internet as regards vasectomy and phoned me. I told her that vasectomy would not resolve this urine-marking problem.

The dog was neutered. I kept the dog in Toa Payoh Vets for 10 days while she got her maid to neutralise the apartment. At Toa Payoh Vets, we took the dog outdoors 3 times a day, after meals. He controlled his bladder till he was outdoors. The owner continued the same routine of outdoor exercise 3x/day and confinement in a crate (or balcony) when not supervised. For the past month, there has been no urine-marking inside the apartment. The mum was so happy. It is very difficult to remove urine smells from carpets and that was what was distressing her so much.

I hope the info helps.

From: XXX
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 6:08 PM
To: 'drsing@toapayohvets.com'
Cc: 'judy@toapayohvets.com'
Subject: 459. Toilet-training OLDER DOGS - a 2-year-old Maltese (http://puppytoilettraining.blogspot.com/2009/04/459-toilet-training-older-dogs-2-year.html)

Dear Dr. Kong,

If you remember, I wrote to you some time back on April 24 about certain issues with regards to toilet-training my 2 year old newly adopted maltese. You very kindly gave me some advice! Thanx for that ! :)

Meanwhile, there are some developments that I wanted to update you about & ask for further advice.
I have also attached some images to this e-mail so that you can see our current kitchen that we are placing DDD, our maltese in.

In my previous e-mail, I indicated that he seemed to know how to go to pee on the newspaper that I've placed in the kitchen toilet.
At times, there were 3-4 accidents when we let him outside the kitchen area into the living room or dining areas whereby we were not observant enough to catch him in time to bring him to the kitchen toilet area. But surprisingly, there were also 2-3 other times whereby he actually walked into the kitchen toilet from wherever else he was in the house to pee on the paper! So, it seemed like things were improving.

However, in the last 4 days, things suddenly seem to have taken for the worse.
Previously, when we leave him in the kitchen during our working hours 8a.m. - 6.30p.m. & at night when we sleep between 10.30p.m. - 6.30a.m.; he will always pee on the kitchen toilet newspaper. As of Tuesday , 5 May 2009, he started peeing at 4 different spots around the kitchen! Near the wall ledges & even the fridge corner. What's causing this behaviour? Is it because he is not fully toilet-trained or is he doing it on purpose? He is currently not sterilized. Is this causing him to "mark territory" as some people call it?

Given this situation, does it mean that I should go back to your initial instructions of teaching him from scratch?
i.e. confining him in just the small kitchen toilet area.

As of now, during DDD's time alone, we place him in Kitchen areas II & III. When we are home, we will extend the space to Kitchen area I & then from 8p.m. - 10.30p.m., he's allowed to roam the living room & my study room.

My parents & I have actually been using negative reinforcement upon advice from other dog owners.
i.e. whenever he peed in a wrong spot, we'll bring him there, let him smell the area & spank his backside with our hands 2x, saying no at the same time. But immediately after, we'll then guide him to the kitchen toilet newspaper & say "pee here" & "good boy", cuddling him a little there at the same time.

RE: Newly Adopted 2- year old Maltese
Friday, April 24, 2009 11:24 PM
From:
"David Sing"
View contact details
To: Owner XXX

See reply below.

--- On Thu, 4/23/09, XXX wrote:

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 2:56 AM

Dear Dr. Kong,

Appreciate your e-mail.

Can I get your advice based on my schedule & how things have been for the last week.

Date of Adoption: 11th April 2009
Age: 2 year old Maltese, Male, Not Neutered

I've been keeping DDD in the kitchen with the newspaper on a pee pad nearer the other end just outside the toilet. I'm usually away from home from 8a.m. - 7.30p.m. Afterwhich I'll let him out to roam the house & follow me. At night I'll put him away in the kitchen again from 11.30p.m. - 7.15a.m. Between 7.15 - 8a.m. before I leave house, I'll play & cuddle him a little whilst preparing myself for work. He's been great so far!!! Knows how to pee on the newspaper but because he's left alone during the day without any change in newspapers, there was one time he accidentally stepped on his poo poo. Other times, he mis-aimed & poo poo is either on the floor right next to the pee pad, or there's a small puddle of pee on the floor instead. How do I handle & prevent this situation?

HE WANTS TO AVOID THE SOILED PAPERS WHICH ARE NOT REPLACED DUE TO YOUR ABSENCE FROM HOME (YOU ARE WORKING). TO YOU HE HAS "MIS-AIMED".

SOLUTIONS:
1. A friend comes to your house to replace the soiled papers with new ones at e.g. lunch-time.
2. PLACE NEWSPAPERS IN 3 OR 4 SPOTS IN THE KITCHEN SO THAT HE HAS A NEW TOILET-AREA. SOME OWNERS DO THAT. ARE YOU DOING IT?
3. JUST COVER THE KITCHEN FLOOR WITH NEWSPAPERS EXCEPT HIS SLEEPING AND EATING AREA.

Another enquiry is that ever since he's been staying with me, every night when he's placed in the kitchen, he whines & scratches the kitchen door. I have yet to get a baby gate.

PUPPY MAY BE SUFFERING FROM SEPARATION ANXIETY AS HE CAN SEE YOU. THEREFORE SCRATCHES DOOR TILL IT IS DAMAGED. BEST YOU GET A BABY GATE OR PUT A HIGH FENCING USING PLAYPEN PANELS. THE PUPPY IS A SOCIAL ANIMAL AND SHOULD BE HAPPY JUST TO SEE YOU BEHIND THE BABY GATE.

Things got worse last night when my parents came back. Bailey had to re-adjust to new-comers in the house & he refused to go into the kitchen. Even my usual method of throwing treats to one corner of the kitchen to distract him to go & stay in the kitchen didn't work this time. I had to chase him round the house for a while before being able to carry him into the kitchen.
NO OTHER WAY THAN TO CATCH HIM AND CARRY HIM TO THE KITCHEN. HE JUST DOES NOT WANT TO BE FENCED UP OR LOCKED UP. THAT IS WHY HE REFUSES TO GO TO THE KITCHEN DESPITE FOOD TREATS ETC. HE IS GROWING UP AND BECOMING WISER TO YOUR 'MANIPULATIONS'.

NO, I DOUBT HE WILL BE SCARED SINCE YOU DON'T PHYSICALLY HIT HIM LIKE SOME PUPPY OWNERS. YOU MAY NEED TO BE MORE COMMANDING TO GAIN HIS RESPECT. I GUESS YOU ARE MORE A FRIEND THAN A PACK LEADER TO HIM. SO HE BEHAVES BY NOT LISTENING TO YOUR GENTLE FRIENDLY TONES.

Is this the right way? Is he scared of me unduly? Cos i dont' want that to be the case :( :(

Please advice.
Thanx!!!!!!

Warm Regards,

XXX

-----Original Message-----
From: Kong Yuen Sing [mailto:99pups@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 7:23 PM
To: XXX
Subject: Re: Newly Adopted 2- year old Maltese

Thank you for your email.

As each dog behaves differently, I can only propose the following which may be suitable as your dog is mature and almost paper-trained:

1. Keep dog in toilet for 2-4 weeks but with a baby gate so that he can see you.
2. Place newspapers 100% on floor.
3. Place dog's urine smell on newspapers (use 2nd piece of newspaper with urine).
4. Observe the location where the dog pees and poops (usually away from sleeping area).
5. Reduce the papered area by 50% gradually over 1-2 weeks such that his toilet location is the newspaper.
6. Say "pee here" (on newspapers) and give food treats on success (if you are around). Persevere.
7. Change soiled papers promptly.
8. Open the baby gate but not to give the dog excessive area. Increase the area of freedom by a room and monitor. If dog goes to paper by himself, you give praise and food treats. Persevere.
9. Neutralise "accident" areas of peeing with white vinegar:water 1:3
8. Let me know how long you will take to succeed.

On 4/13/09, Dog Owner XXX wrote:

Dear Dr. Kong Sing,

I came across your blog http://puppytoilettraining.blogspot.com/ through google & was wondering whether I can e-mail you for some advice.

I've just adopted a 2-year old Maltese on Saturday afternoon & he's been with me for 2 nights.
Previous owner caged him up for almost a year with hardly any run-around play time because of certain circumstances. He's kinda paper-trained. But what I would like to do is to get him used to his new environment whereby he does it in the toilet instead, but still on paper.

Is it the right way to train him if I were to confine him in just the toilet area with the paper within? Food & water to place on another side.

Warm Regards,

XXX

458. How to stop the male dog from urine-marking inside the apartment?

2009-04-21T13:45:00.005+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

HOW TO STOP YOUR ADULT MALE DOG FROM URINE-MARKING INSIDE THE APARTMENT
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

On March 31, 2009, the 1.5-year-old Miniature Schnauzer was neutered. He stayed 10 days at Toa Payoh Vets so that we could condition and train him to pee and poop outdoors as he had vigorously urine-marked the apartment at home. The mother was at a loss as to what to do. So I proposed re-training him to eliminate outdoors by confinement in the crate while not being exercised 3 times/day.

In the meantime, the mother would neutralise all the urine smells at home. At the end of 10 days, the dog would go home but be crated for 1 month while being exercised outdoors 3 times/day as at Toa Payoh Vets.

Picture is at: http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporerealty/0607hunting_bigdining.htm

The mum came today to get the neuter and the microchip certificates to renew his dog licence at the Post Office.

"How's the dog nowadays?" I asked the mum.

"He is doing well and does not pee indoors anymore as he is outdoors 3x/day," the mum said. "I needed to ask where he vomited yesterday and on the day he came home. On the day he came home, the cause could be due to the car ride, but last week he vomited once again."

"Did your daughter bring him downstairs?" I asked.

"No," the mother said. "She's busy at school. The maid did it."

"Most likely the dog had eaten grass or something in the grass outdoors," I guessed. "Ask the maid."

The mother nodded her head.

"He is a lucky dog," I said. "Usually other dogs go outdoors 2x/day or less."

The mum was happy anyway. I continued, "After one month, let the dog wander around the house in between his outings per day and see what happens. If he does not urine-mark inside the apartment, it will be considered a great success."

457. Puppy cries for clean newspaper after midnight

2009-04-15T08:14:00.003+08:00

From: Subject: paper training
To: judy@toapayohvets.com
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 5:07 PM

Hi Judy,

I am currently using your method to paper train my puppy. However, the puppy will make lots of noise in the middle of the night for us to clear the soiled papers. However, as we are holding day jobs, can we only clean the soiled papers in the morning? As the puppy tend to whine a few times in the night.

Rgds,
Name of Owner

From: David Sing
Sent: Monday, 13 April 2009 7:20:25
Subject: Re: paper training

Thank you for email.
1. Which method of paper training are you using. Pl describe.
2. What is your routine time for feeding and drinking?
3. How old is the puppy?

--- On Mon, 4/13/09, Darren Lee wrote:

From: Dog Owner
Subject: Re: paper training
To: "David Sing"
Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 2:08 AM

Hi David,

I am following the advice from the website.

1) Setting up a playpen with newspapers all over it. Trying to keep her there for 2 weeks to paper train her. But we let her out to play when we can monitor all her movements. She will always attempt to pee and poo outside the playpen.
2) The puppy is with us for 2 nights only at the moment. We are trying to feed her three times a day but timing is not fixed yet.
3) Supposed to be 6 weeks old but based on description from book, it should be only 5 weeks old.

Rgds,
Name of Owner

4/15/2009 reply

Your puppy makes a lot of noises after midnight to tell you to change soiled newspapers as he has a very clean personality. You are correct in understanding what he wants. This is quite a common situation encountered by other puppy owners.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Get up and change the papers for the next few nights and thereby paper-training the puppy faster.

2. Don't get up. The puppy will stop after some nights. But you may see the puppy's foot with stools and urine

3. My advices which may of use to you and which may not, depending on the puppy's personality:

Give the puppy a bigger space (not being confined in the playpen) past midnight. For example, a bathroom with newspapers all over the floor for the first 7-14 days and a baby gate.

The playpen with newspapers (and puppy urine smell, place 2nd piece of soiled newspaper) is left open (3 sides standing, one panel taken off). Some puppies are smart enough to go inside the playpen to pee and poop and sleep outside (esp. if there is a towel or bed and if they don't chew them).

3.1 No water after 8 p.m. Get the puppy to pee by command before your bedtime (I presume it will be 11 pm). Say "Pee here". If successful, give praise and food treat. Clear up the soiled papers.

Let me know if this method works. Persevere. Don't expect instant results.

456. Paper-training inside toilet for 2-year-old Maltese

2009-04-15T07:57:00.002+08:00

On 4/13/09, e-mail from dog owner:

Dear Dr. Kong Sing,

I came across your blog http://puppytoilettraining.blogspot.com/ through google & was wondering whether I can e-mail you for some advice.

I've just adopted a 2-year old Maltese on Saturday afternoon & he's been with me for 2 nights.
Previous owner caged him up for almost a year with hardly any run-around play time because of certain circumstances. He's kinda paper-trained. But what I would like to do is to get him used to his new environment whereby he does it in the toilet instead, but still on paper.

Is it the right way to train him if I were to confine him in just the toilet area with the paper within? Food & water to place on another side.

Warm Regards,
Name of Owner

E-mail reply

Newly Adopted 2- year old Maltese
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:23 AM

Thank you for your email.

As each dog behaves differently, I can only propose the following which may be suitable as your dog is mature and almost paper-trained:

1. Keep dog in toilet for 2-4 weeks but with a baby gate so that he can see you.
2. Place newspapers 100% on floor.
3. Place dog's urine smell on newspapers (use 2nd piece of newspaper with urine).
4. Observe the location where the dog pees and poops (usually away from sleeping area).
5. Reduce the papered area by 50% gradually over 1-2 weeks such that his toilet location is the newspaper.
6. Say "pee here" (on newspapers) and give food treats on success (if you are around). Persevere.
7. Change soiled papers promptly.
8. Open the baby gate but not to give the dog excessive area. Increase the area of freedom by a room and monitor. If dog goes to paper by himself, you give praise and food treats. Persevere.
9. Neutralise "accident" areas of peeing with white vinegar:water 1:3
8. Let me know how long you will take to succeed.

455. Pet Shop Operator Advices 2 weeks indoor - landed property

2009-04-01T06:57:00.001+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Toilet Training American Cocker in a landed propertyThursday, March 26, 2009 6:57 AM
From: This sender is DomainKeys verified"Kong Yuen Sing" <99pups@gmail.com>Add sender to ContactsTo: david@asiahomes.com, david@toapayohvets.comPet shop seller advised strictly to keep the American Cocker puppy inside the house till 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination. Husband was not too happy with the puppy eliminating all over the living and dining room.

"Did the pet shop advise buying a crate to confine the puppy?" I asked.
"Yes," the wife said. "But we don't want to cage the puppy. We want the puppy to eliminate in the garden. That was what our previous dogs did."

"The reason is that the pet shop seller does not want the puppy to die from parvoviral infections as the shop gets the blame. In the garden your dog may meet other stray dogs at the gate or other dogs." I explained the rationale.

It was already 2 weeks. The commercial liquid sprayed onto the newspapers to entice the puppy to pee on the papers did not work. The puppy just shred the papers.

"You are anti-dog", the wife remarked.
"No, I am not," the husband replied, shaking his grey-haired head.

"Please understand that some spouses can't stand the smell of dogs, especially pee and poop," I explained. "Some wives of vets I know don't even want to go near a pig farm as it is so smelly to their noses. There are such wives who prohibit keeping of dogs in the apartment."

"Why do they marry vets?" the wife has the stereotypical veterinarian's spouse who must love animals to marry one.

"I guess it is fate," I said. "Just like why you marry your husband who is not so happy with this puppy."

To change the topic quickly so as not to pour oil onto fire, I said, "The puppy can be permitted to go to the garden as the other dog is vaccinated yearly and there are no stray dogs around. In that way, this puppy can learn from the older one and will eliminate naturally in the garden."

This puppy came for the 3rd vaccination as it had a free vaccination voucher from the pet shop. Well, his ear edges are scaly but there were no crusts as in scabies. His neck is reddened due to scratching. I advised an anti-fungal cleaning shampoo for a week and clipping of the long ear hairs. Wait and see for one week. If no more scratching, there would not be a need for a review.

455. Pet Shop Advice to keep puppy indoors when there is a garden

2009-03-27T06:42:00.003+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Pet shop seller advised strictly to keep the American Cocker puppy inside the house till 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination. Husband was not too happy with the puppy eliminating all over the living and dining room.

"Did the pet shop advise buying a crate to confine the puppy?" I asked.
"Yes," the wife said. "But we don't want to cage the puppy. We want the puppy to eliminate in the garden. That was what our previous dogs did."

"The reason is that the pet shop seller does not want the puppy to die from parvoviral infections as the shop gets the blame. In the garden your dog may meet other stray dogs at the gate or other dogs." I explained the rationale.

It was already 2 weeks. The commercial liquid sprayed onto the newspapers to entice the puppy to pee on the papers did not work. The puppy just shred the papers.

"You are anti-dog", the wife remarked.
"No, I am not," the husband replied, shaking his grey-haired head.

"Please understand that some spouses can't stand the smell of dogs, especially pee and poop," I explained. "Some wives of vets I know don't even want to go near a pig farm as it is so smelly to their noses. There are such wives who prohibit keeping of dogs in the apartment."

"Why do they marry vets?" the wife has the stereotypical veterinarian's spouse who must love animals to marry one.

"I guess it is fate," I said. "Just like why you marry your husband who is not so happy with this puppy."

To change the topic quickly so as not to pour oil onto fire, I said, "The puppy can be permitted to go to the garden as the other dog is vaccinated yearly and there are no stray dogs around. In that way, this puppy can learn from the older one and will eliminate naturally in the garden."

This puppy came for the 3rd vaccination as it had a free vaccination voucher from the pet shop. Well, his ear edges are scaly but there were no crusts as in scabies. His neck is reddened due to scratching. I advised an anti-fungal cleaning shampoo for a week and clipping of the long ear hairs. Wait and see for one week. If no more scratching, there would not be a need for a review.

454. Mar 2009 Draft. New puppy toilet training queries

2009-03-24T07:23:00.002+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

MAR 2009. DRAFT COPY. TO REVISE LATER TO SUMMARISE. E-mail has questions most new puppy owners encounter. Many of the over 500 owners in my survey mention that their puppies take at least 2 months or longer before they know where they are supposed to pee and poop. Others mention 7 days in paper-training success. There is much variation as methods and tools used vary widely

Re: Re: Maltese misses the tray
Sunday, March 22, 2009 2:50 AM
From: XXX

To:
"David Sing"
Thank you Dr Sing. He still misses pees on the edge so not quite on the pee tray. We will be taking him out this week for the first. He has had his 3 jabs already. Pretty soon we will be neutering him what is a good age for that? he is 4 months now.I appreciate all the advice. Dogs can be lots of work but they are a joy to have around.
cheers
XXX

From: David Sing
To: XXX
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:19:40 AM
Subject: Maltese misses the tray

Thank you for email.
1. I presume your Maltese did not miss the tray for the last few days. Pl let me know if I am incorrect.
2. However, you changed his routine by bringing him to the groomers. Therefore, he did not do what you want.
3. Persevere in your training. It is not so easy for some dogs.
4. Privacy. Yes, some owners report that their dogs don't like being seen to pee or poop.
5. If the problem is not submission or excitation urination, you are progressing to your goals. You just need to persevere. I don't think that your puppy is suffering from ADD but then I can be mistaken.
6. You may pick up some tips from this case. See:
http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/20090321Toilet_Training_Paper_Two_Dogs_ToaPayohVets.htm

Best wishes

Subject: Re: Re: Maltese misses the tray
To: "David Sing"
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 2:46 AM

Thanks Dr Sing, we have tried getting him to pee on the tray by guiding him there. we also tell him that its bad to pee on the side. both of us are rather strong personalities. he seems okay for the last few days with no new changes in our behavior or routine. he did pee on the floor in his toilet after we brought him back from the groomers.
he seems to only do his business after we shut the gate and we are not looking. usually doesn't do it when the gate is open even when we are not looking -- guess he is just too eager to get out.
so what can we do about his ADD?

From: David Sing
To: XXX
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 8:47:53 AM
Subject: RE: Re: Maltese misses the tray

You may be right about distraction or ADD.
Try:
1. Put the puppy onto the pee tray and give command "pee here".
2. When you put him in after playing, give the command "pee here." It may work after some time. Praise and food treat on success. Persevere as first few X may not work.
3. Can it be "submissive urination or excitation urination"? That may explain why he "pees" off target. Is one of you or both quite "forceful" in your personality?

Subject: RE: Re: Maltese misses the tray
To: "David Sing"
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 1:27 AM

Thanks dr sing. You are right the puppy is clean. We clean the tray daily and replace the pee pad. After which we wipe the floor clean with the blue odor removal that is offered at the pet stores. I wonder if the puppy has ADD and he really cant focus or he is too eager to come out. Back to cleanliness though, the puppy resumes peeing correctly after he is in his room for a while. what else can we try. He made the same mistake again last night after we let him out and played with him. Thanks a bunch. XXX

David Sing wrote:
> Hi 1. Thank you for your info and pictures. Pl correct me if I misunderstand. What you are interested is that the Maltese "misses the tray" after being let out to play. I will focus on this aspect in my reply. I suspect you have a very clean puppy. Most likely reason is that the puppy "smells" the tray and finds it to be "not clean". How often do you wash your tray and the surrounding area? Some puppies are so clean that they will try to avoid "soiled" tray later in the day, as apparently, in your case. Try white vinegar:water at 1:3 to wash the tray and toilet floor the next 7 days before putting the puppy in and let me know. If this is successful, other owners will benefit. Best wishes.

From: XXX Subject: Re: Maltese misses the tray To: "David Sing"
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 11:37 PM

Dr Sing, The puppy generally sleeps thru the morning. when I wake up, I clean up his poo if there is any. he poos quite a bit and it is usually on target in the tray -- usually once after breakfast (around 1030 ~11) and then in the after noon or in the evening. Mostly after dinner. he poos around 4 ~ 5 times a day. he pees alot more and I am not surprised since he drinks a lot of water. he is usually on target about
> 60% of the time when he pees but when we take him out of the toilet (he is caged in as you can see in the pictures) and plays out for about 1 ~ 2 hours he tends to make mistakes when we take him in. the toilet is at the back of the kitchen. meal routine -- breakfast 10.30 ~ 11.00 / dinner 6.30~ 7.00 night time -- he
> is let into the cage at 9pm. he won't be let out until 10.30 the next day for breakfast. play time (out time from the cage) 6~9 pm. rest of the time he is in the toilet. he gets let out for a short time during breakfast. but since I work and my wife works from home. we try not to disturb him during the day and keep to the routine. eventually we want him to have free roam of the house but we need to ensure that he can go on his own. thanks for your help XXX

From: David Sing To: XXX
Hi
1. If your concern is that the Maltese pees "off target" - not directly onto the pee tray (or newspapers in the case of paper-training), this is one of the most common complaints. What type of pee tray are you using? Pl send me 3 pictures of the pee tray and the toilet location so that I can advise further. 2. What is the routine for this puppy every day as regards sleeping area, exercise, eating, drinking times?

Mon, 3/16/09, From: XXX Subject: Maltese misses the tray To: judy@toapayohvets.com Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 11:08 AM

Hi Judy, I have been reading your blog and have gotten some good pointers. We have a 4 month old maltese. he has been confine in the kitchen toilet for the last 5 weeks since we brought him home. initially he was doing well and peeing on the pee tray with the occasional mistake. with that in mind we let him out and trusted that he would go into his toilet on his own when needed. this he did for 3 days. after that he made some mistakes outside when we let him out. now we have resorted to taking him in to the toilet and let him pee. but he doesn't do it in front of
> us. once when we
> are out of sight he would pee just on the edge of the tray and onto the floor. we still confine him in the toilet and let him out after dinner for about
> 2~3hours. pees on the tray most of the time. he makes the mistakes mostly after we have taken him out and bring him back in. we want him to be able to roam the house freely, what can we do? Thanks for you help. cheers XXX

452. Paper-Training Queries from a Shih Tzu puppy owner

2009-03-16T05:02:00.005+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

From:
Subject: Shih Tzu Training
To: drsing@pacific.net.sg
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009, 1:08 PM

Hello Dr. Sing,

I have recently bought a Shih Tzu 4 months old name "Wang" from a pet farm and I am still trying hard toilet training Wang.
I put Wang inside the playpen with 2 pee trays and his toys.
Wang will pee and poo on his pee tray while in playpen but when I bring him out to play, with playpen open up one side, he still pee in the house.

SUGGESTED SOLUTION: You expect the Shih Tzu to go to the pee tray when he is taken out to play. But he does not do it. This is a very common complaint. The most likely reasons are:

1.Insufficient confinement time inside the playpen. I don't know how long your have the puppy from the pet farm before letting him loose in the house.
I advise 2-4 weeks confinement inside the playpen.

2. Extend the freedom area outside the playpen area by 2-3 x, not letting the puppy out to run around the whole living, dining, bedroom and kitchen area for the first 2-4 weeks. Let him out to play for 5-10 minutes/outing in a small area (e.g. kitchen) instead of running in the whole house/apartment. Give treats and praises if he goes to the pee tray. Give a command e.g "Pee here" when you place the puppy on the pee tray.

3. Watch for signs of elimination. It is easier said than done for some active puppies. When the puppy sniffs the floor or squats or turns around, quickly pick him up and put him onto the pee tray. Treats and praises for successful performance. Now, most owners do not monitor the puppy closely. Or the puppy has so much space to run around madly. Therefore, accidents happen and the owner gets angry. In any case, don't expect the puppy to learn within 1-2 days. Patience and perseverance are required in training any young dog.

Neutralise the urine smell of "accidents" with white vinegar:water 1:3 or with your floor cleaners.

4. FURTHER SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS TO YOUR QUESTIONS BELOW.
I wanted to train him outdoor but he doesn't want to walk with the leash on.

Some puppies resist the leash at the beginning. Give a motivation for him to be leashed. For example, before eating, give a command "Sit". Then leash him before allowing him to eat. Or give a treat (like going out to play or play) after he accepts the leash.

I can't train him on newspaper because he shred everything up.

A very common complaint amongst puppy owners. Taping the papers onto the pee tray may be one tedious solution. To paper-train the puppy, you need to put papers 100% inside the playpen and start reducing the papered area if your puppy pees in one corner. Even if he shreds the papers, do not make a fuss. Just change the papers quietly. Some owners have no patience and therefore it is not easy to paper-train some active paper-shredders. Some puppies shred papers out of fun and boredom.

Whenever I let him out to play, he will start running everywhere and biting cloths (eg. floor mats). He gets so excited running and biting.
How can I make him listen to commands?

Probably your voice is not "commanding" enough. The puppy just ignores you and does not accept you as an "alpha - pack leader". It is difficult for many ladies as they don't "shout" at puppies. So the puppy takes advantage and chases the owner, nips her ankles (she screams) and play catching.

Suggested solution: Some owners use a rolled up newspaper to hit the floor if the puppy misbehaves and give training commands in firm tones. Others give food treats and praises. Much depends on the personalities of the puppy.

How can I stop him from biting and running?
TIME OUT SOLUTION? Confine him inside the playpen and keep him isolated from the fun when he does not behave.

How can I stop him from shredding newspaper?
See answer above.

Please give some advise on these.
Thanks.

462. HIGH floor level crate + pee pan OK for Silkie Terrier

2009-01-27T16:38:00.003+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

[http://www.toapayohvets.com]
"Don't tell him," the pet shop girl said. "Otherwise he will record your experiences." I was vaccinating the puppies on this Wednesday and in between the lull period, spoke to one of the dog owners.

Thin lady studying in the polytechnic.
Silkie Terrier 3-4 monthss.

"Can he jump into the high crate when he was a 3-month old puppy?"

"Yes."

"How do you paper-train?" I asked.

"Put newspapers on top of the floor grate. Tell him to pee there. Soon the dog knew how to do.

"Any spanking?" I asked.

"Yes," the young lady said that it took many times to monitor and train the puppy to go to the paper which is placed on top of the floor grate. In many cases, the floor grate is not covered by newspapers as the puppy is supposed to pee through the grate and not dirty his paws. But this will not lead to paper-training.

She showed me a mobile phone clip of the crate with newspapers and the puppy escaping out of the open top of the crate by climbing over. Some owners put two ropes or poles across the top to prevent such escapes.

Paper-training will be considered a success if the lady puts the papers outside the crate and the puppy eliminates on it later. Presently, the Silkie climbs up into the crate to do it.

HIGH Floor Crate + Pee Pan. This particular crate has at least 6 inches of height from floor grate to pee pan level. It is meant for longer-legged dogs as small ones like the Yorkshire or Pom can't hop into it. It is one of the configurations sold at certain pet shops in Singapore. A ramp is sometimes used by owners who had bought this crate to enable the short-legged Chihuahua to climb into it. However the puppy may refuse to climb into it.

461. Crate & pee pan toilet training v. paper training

2009-01-10T10:41:00.004+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

A FEEDBACK FROM A NEW PUPPY OWNER
RECEIVED IN JAN 10, 2009

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Your Blog: Crate + Pee Pan bought by the puppy owner. Not possible to paper-train this way...
Friday, January 9, 2009 3:15 PM
From:
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To:
judy@toapayohvets.com

Dear Judy,

I just wanted to say "THANK YOU":-D

I came across your blog via google.com, I was so confused about training. I just purchased a puppy last Saturday as well as a crate with pee/poop tray. Then I had a dog trainer to come the following Tuesday.

It was a disaster! I had been advised by the pet farm that the puppy must be confided to his crate most of the times, but the trainer said to choose an area, put down newspapers, and leave the crate door open. In the end, the puppy only shredded the paper and relieved himself near my washing machine or dryer!

I decided to place the puppy back into his crate and take him out only 3x a day for 5-10 min plays, like the pet farm advised.

I just couldn't take the soiled, back balcony floor anymore. However, he is just happy to be back inside the apartment, with the rest of us instead of the back balcony.

Thanks again.

Sincerely yours,
L

COMMENTS BY DR SING

1. Confinement in a small space (e.g. crate + pee pan) for the first 14 days is necessary to train the puppy.

2. The dog trainer advised a bigger space using newspapers and leaving the crate door open. This is not good advice as the puppy is not so easily "paper-trained" by this way.

The new puppy is does not know that he is supposed to pee on the newspapers. Probably there is no urine smell on the newspapers. The puppy shreds the newspapers (common complaint in paper training). He eliminates near the washer and dryer and probably dislikes going back to the crate as he associates it with imprisonment.

3. Seller (pet farm) has trained the puppy to pee and poop inside the crate and pee pan. The puppy associates the feel of the crate with elimination. Therefore, the Buyer is wise to adopt the recommendations of the Seller. Take the puppy out 3X/day for 5-10 minutes to play and confine him. This sounds cruel but is important in the first 7-14 days.

4. Playing with the puppy prevents him sleeping too much during the daytime and helps in making the puppy used to people and the surroundings.

5. After 7-28 days and a set routine, the puppy may be taken out in a bigger space (increase area of freedom by 100%) and closely supervised. If he goes back to the crate to pee and poop, then, he has been "crate" trained.

Increase the area to roam over the next 4 weeks and in the end, this puppy will use the crate as its toilet and sleeps outside the crate.

6. As to paper-training the puppy, it will be another method. Definitely the crate and pee pan housing is not meant for paper-training.

P.S Some owners put papers on top of the floor grate, thereby paper-training the puppy. In such cases, a playpen will be most appropriate.

460. Paper-training a Chow Chow puppy

2008-09-18T06:52:00.001+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

TOILET TRAINING SOLUTIONS: Chow Chow, Female, 2.5 months, apartment

Complaint:
50% success as the Chow Chow pees on newspapers in the pee pan when confined in the kitchen. She sleeps there. However, she will not poo in the pee pan or in the kitchen for some time after eating. When released to the living room or a spare bedroom, she poops. Why can't she poop on the newspapers on the pee pan and in the kitchen? Mum had to follow the puppy with newspapers in an attempt to get her to poop on newspapers. If newspapers are put over the poop areas in the living room or spare bedroom, the puppy pees onto the papers only.

Discussion:
1. Insufficient toilet area. Pee pan was too small for the fast growing Chow Chow. Its width is twice the body width of the Chow Chow (observed from above).

2. The soiled newspapers were not promptly changed. So she did not poop onto the soiled papers and now is used to pooping on tiled floors.

3. The dry kitchen is small and the sleeping area and den for the growing Chow Chow appears to be small. So the Chow Chow does not want to poop on the floor since she sleeps there. She controls her bowel till being released by the owners out of the kitchen to the living room. The owners wait for over an hour and let her out. So she goes to the living area or spare bedroom to poop. Now she is conditioned and used to pooping on the floor tiles. Therefore, it is difficult to re-train her to poop onto newspapers. Carrying newspapers to catch her poop while she is passing stools will not train her to be paper-trained as she does not associate this act with what the mother wants.

4. Signs of elimination. Owners not around sometimes, so they did not carry the Chow Chow to the newspapers in the pee pan to poop. When the mum is around, she holds the newspapers to catch the poop. This is an incorrect way of paper-training.

Solutions:
For the next 2 - 4 weeks, confine the Chow Chow inside the spare bathroom with the fence barrier at the door entrance. Do not shut the door. Pee pan with newspapers at one corner. Chow Chow will have no choice but to poop on the tiled floor at one corner and sleep at the other end.

Try covering floor 100% with newspapers if you wish to try paper-training the Chow Chow to poop on papers. Reduce the papered area to the location where the Chow Chow poops. After 2-4 weeks, allow the puppy freedom when she is 100% paper-trained.

JAN 20, 2009
Chow Chow came onto heat. Refused to use the pee pan now, according to an e-mail from the owner.

459. Crate + Pee Pan bought by the puppy owner. Not possible to paper-train this way.

2008-09-15T05:40:00.001+08:00

Case study:
The first-time puppy owner is sold a Crate + Pee Pan but actually wants to paper-train the puppy. So, can he do it or not? The answer is No.

UPDATED INFO AT:
http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/
20080921Toilet_Training_Puppies_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm

E-mail to Dr Sing
Fri, 9/12/08, <...@singnet.com.sg> wrote:

Subject: Toilet train a dog
To: judy@toapayohvets.com

Dear Judy,

I bought a Cavalier King Charles for 10 days. I wish to toilet train my dog using newspaper. I wish to get a book in regards to toilet training my dog using newspaper.

I bought a cage that came with a plastic pan under it, I lay newspaper under it, on the pan. The dog eats, sleeps, drinks and eliminates inside the cage - it was recommended by the pet seller. However, quite a few books that I read did not recommend this.

These books indicate that we should not mix the dog's den, sleeping place with their pooping and urinating place. I wish to get the book and also need your advice.

E-mail reply from Dr Sing
Sep 14, 2008

As the book on toilet training for Singapore puppy owners by Dr Sing is out of print, the following is the reply:

1. To paper train your puppy, you need to confine him for the first 2-4 weeks.

2. History of his toilet habits. You ought to find out what the breeder has been doing to paper-train him. Has he been staying in the crate + pee pan? Or in a play pen?

If yes, is he successfully peeing and pooping in one area and sleeping in another? Did you observe him? If not, you will not know.

If he has just arrived at the puppy seller's place, he may not be doing what I describe. Some puppies just can't do it. But most will be able to pee and poop as far away from their crate as possible.

3. Assuming you have not observed his previous toilet habits, then you have to start new. There are 2 layouts commonly used by Singapore's puppy owners:

3.1 Playpen.

A Playpen is basically 4 panels of fencing to confine the puppy. Newspapers cover 100% of the flooring for the first week. You will see that the puppy will eliminate in one corner, usually the back half. Gradually reduce the paper cover till the puppy just eliminate onto the newspapers.

Around 2 weeks later, take away the play pen. Allow the puppy inside a confined area e.g. the kitchen for the next week or two. The kitchen entrance is shut by a baby-gate or panel of fences so that the puppy cannot run free to all over the apartment.

The puppy should run back to the papers to eliminate. After week 2-4, let the puppy out to the living room and observe that he goes to the papers to eliminate. If not, confine him back to the kitchen area and start again.
Confine him in a playpen with 4 panels of fences. That is my recommended advice for first-time puppy owners in Singapore.

Cover the floor with newspapers 100%. Put the water bottle at the left front. Feed bowl to be given to the puppy during feed times 2-3X per day. Let the puppy eat within 10 minutes and remove the feed bowl. Or feed the puppy in a confined area outside his playpen.

His sleeping area is the left half of the playpen. His toilet area will likely be the right half, in most cases.

Paper-shredding. Some puppies shred newspapers and step all over the stools on the first few days. You need to be patient and change the papers as frequently as you can, without shouting or beating the puppy. If nobody is at home, it cannot be done till after work. Some owners tape the edges of the papers.

3.2 Crate and Pee Pan. The following pictures show the crate and pee pan sets usually sold by various pet shops and breeders for first-time puppy owners in Singapore.

Not possible to shred newspapers and therefore dirty himself unlike the situation of being housed in a Playpen. In addition, the floor tiles of the apartment does not get stained by puppy's pee and poo as the Pee Pan catches the waste. The water bowl should be in the front left half in this Crate + Pee Pan set. Otherwise the puppy eliminates in the front half area and steps on the stools while greeting the owner.

Puppy stools may drop into the Pee Pan preventing some puppies from eating stools and their paws from soiled by stepping on stools. In this picture, the puppy will eliminate on the left half of the Crate and keep his drinking and eating and sleeping area clean.

Puppy's paws are much cleaner using the Crate + Pee Pan set as the puppy pees a lot of times and the urine flows down into the Pee Pan. Stools are removed by the owner immediately and the soiled floor area is cleaned up fast.
The same layout and general advices given for the Play pen applies to the Crate and Pee pan.

In this case, the puppy lies on the wire flooring (floor grate). He is likely to pee and poop far away from his sleeping and eating area. Now, some puppies are very active, e.g. Jack Russells.

Positioning of the water and feed bowls.
If you put his feed bowl or water bowl (assuming you don't use water bottle or feed him outside the crate) in the back half of the crate, you will expect the puppy to pee and poop on the front half. Therefore, the puppy steps on his stools when he runs to greet you.

The newspapers on the pee pan is meant to absorb the urine and therefore is of not much use in paper training the puppy using this method.

Various outcomes of toilet training from reports by Singapore puppy owners.

However, some puppies, after 2-4 weeks of inside the Crate and Pee pan, can just walk onto the newspapers (urine smell of puppy) now placed on the pee pan and just eliminate him there. The Crate is then kept away.

Other puppies happily run inside the Crate to eliminate. The owner just remove the stools and clean up the floor grate. Otherwise the puppy refuses to get inside to eliminate.

Yet there are puppies that sleep inside the Crate and will never eliminate there. There is such a variety of cleanliness personalities that it is hard to say how your Cavalier King Charles will react to the Crate + Pee Pan set.

The advantages of the Crate + Pee Pan is that the puppy's paws are dry and cleaner than using the Playpen type of housing. Many owners still have to wash the paws of the puppies at least once a day but they don't need to see dirtied paws smelling of stools. Some stools may drop into the Pee Pan through the floor grate but this is rare.

4. Remember: It takes 2-4 weeks of confinement to be successful. It is not possible to provide you the various scenarios as this takes a lot of time.

5. I have recorded real case studies of toilet training by Singapore owners in in: www.bekindtopets.com. Goto: Dr Sing's Toilet-Training Cases for first-time puppy owners.

About 600 cases of toilet training are in my blog and you may have to read through to find out which scenario is appropriate for your case. Many owners read through and discover for themselves what they have had missed doing by reading what others have or have not done during toilet-training. The blogs are:
Toilet-training your first Singapore puppy (introduction by Dr Sing)

First Toilet-training Research blog

Second Toilet-training Research Blog

Third Toilet-training Research blog

The Crate & Pee Pan set sold to you by the Puppy Seller is one of the two housing layouts frequently recommended by the Singapore pet shop and Puppy Sellers. Unless your crate (cage) is extremely small, it does work to train your Cavalier King Charles very well on the floor grate which is the wire flooring. Below the wire flooring is the pee pan. On the pee pan, the Puppy Seller recommended that you put the newspaper.
But what you want is to paper-train your puppy. Therefore, the set you purchased is not appropriate for paper-training as the puppy has no direct contact with newspapers.

The playpen, confinement to a small room, area fenced up or tethering your puppy to a small area are 4 of the methods you need to do paper-training. The Crate + Pee Pan set is not suitable.

More details are in the blogs mentioned above.

In addition, success depends on time spent, patience, perseverance and the use of food treats and praises as motivational factors. I have owners who tell me that their new puppies just go to the newspapers or grate + pee pan to eliminate on the first day. "Such intelligent puppies," the owners said.

Some owners shake their heads and after 2 months post-purchase, the puppy is still not toilet-trained. In such cases, the owners are usually both working couples with no time to confine or train the puppy during the most important first 2-4 weeks after purchase.

I hope this feedback helps. Let me know your progress and e-mail me judy@toapayohvets.com if you have more queries.

E-mail to Dr Sing
On Sun, 9/14/08, <...@singnet.com.sg> wrote:

Dear Dr Sing

Thank You! Very much. I appreciate the information given to you by me.

Thanks
Regards

Name of owner

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

UPDATED INFO AT:
http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/
20080921Toilet_Training_Puppies_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm

458. Still not toilet-trained by 1 month - Too much freedom

2007-07-18T13:09:00.000+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

"Is there somebody at home?" I asked the young man who came for the 2nd vaccination. He said that his black Maltese X puppy purchased one month ago still peed and pooped everywhere in his apartment while his previous dog a S$2,500 Shiba Inu puppy was paper trained in 2 days.

"No, I live alone," he said. "I let the puppy and an older dog run free in the apartment."

The Shiba Inu puppy had one problem. He chewed the marble table.

"I had to sell him," the young man said. "I advertise on e-fair.com.sg". A couple bought him for $500. The dog was rare and was around one year old."

457. Success in paper-training 4 pups by 10 weeks of age.

2007-07-18T13:04:00.002+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

ARTICLE POSTED ON BEKINDTOPETS.COM

Sunday July 15, 2007

As I had time, I record the experience of success in paper-training all 4 Shih Tzu pups. "They follow their mother to use the newspapers as toilet," the wife said.

A young couple in their 30s. One newborn baby. First-time home-breeder.
2 Shih Tzu, Male & Female around 2-3 years old.
10-week old Shih Tzus, 2M,2F, came for 2nd vaccination.
3 sold at $500/pup to screened customers as they are the wife's "babies".

Adults	Pups, 2M, 2F
2-3 years old	10 weeks old
7 p.m when owner home	Papers, unknown

"The Male Dog is a superclean dog!" the wife said. "At 2-3 am, he will bark to wake us up to cover up the soiled newspapers if he has had peed. The puppies are quite fussy about cleanliness as they grow up".

HOUSING - Kitchen only. Puppies are never allowed out of the kitchen or get into the bathroom near the kitchen. Wet bathroom floors dirty the puppy's feet too. So, kitchen is the only location.

1. During first 4 weeks. Puppies annd mum confined to the dam's playpen which consists of 2 panels of fences x 1 panel of fence. The sire's playpen is adjacent and has 1 x 1 panel of fence and towel.

2. Newspapers are to the left of the playpen in both cases. In the dam, the papers are spread out in 3 layers. The width of the papers will be 1.5 the paper width. That is, 1 paper's left half overlaps the other paper's right half. When soiled, simply cover up by folding the paper over the soiled area. Change when necessary.

2.1 2 toilet locations for puppies. Newspapers placed to the left of the dam's playpen and near the kitchen door which is barricaded by panel of playpen fences.

3. Wife has been full-time at home for last 10 weeks and able to train the puppies.
Initially puppies dirty the playpen but at 4 weeks, goto newspapers like mum. In first 2 weeks, mum cleaned them.

4. Feeding - mum 4-5X. Puppies 2X. Puppies weaned at 4th week onto milk powder, oats and dry puppy feed. Feeding bowl is taken away. It is kept near the right hand side (bed area).

5. Water bottle from front of playpen. No problem with water bowl too.

6. Elimination. Adult dogs wait till evening when husband come home. To eliminate on papers. If papers soiled, puppies rush to the 2nd toilet (newspapers near kitchen door). Eliminate overnight sometimes. Papers changed in the morning. Male will bark at 2-3 am to wake up owner to cover soiled papers.

6.1 Urine spraying by male dog. The owners "angled" the newspapers. One half is clipped to cover the side of the playpen fence (which separates the dam from the male pen. Cloth pegs tie up this partition so that the male dog can lift his leg and spray urine without dirtying the female bed (which is to the immediate left of the male playpen). This was a neat idea.

Adult dogs will eliminate only in the newspapers in the kitchen.

Yesterday, a buyer came. Puppy ran to newspaper under living area table to pee. This proves that it is successfully paper trained as puppies seek newspapers all the time.

Buyers will have NO problem. However, in my experience, when they bring the puppy home, buyers have their own housing floor plan, let puppy roam whole apartment as they deem it cruel to crate the puppy. Paper training and feed routine may not be explained to the buyer. So toilet training problems start for new owners in many cases.

Owner will e-mail me pictures. Need to follow up.

"The sire is a superclean dog," the wife who had just given birth to a baby said. "He would not dirty his paws by going into the playpen of the dam and puppies."
The puppies also are clean (by nature and instinct). In the morning, they rush to toilet location (B) as the papers have had been soiled in the playpen. Mum and Dad usually eliminate in the afternoon when they know that the papers would be changed immediately. Just cover one end over the soiled papers --- that would do.

Knowledge by reading on toilet training is also very important. This young couple had done lots of reading. Books such as "Puppy Parenting" were borrowed from the National Library and its branches. Is there such a book?

e-mail me!

456. The Golden Retriever has a "guilty conscience"

2007-07-18T12:54:00.001+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Golden Retriever, male, Gold.
Born April 4, 2007. Date of report: June 23, 2007
Lives in apartment.

lst week - Playpen + Newspapers. But he shreds NP overnight.
Buy grating with pee pan.
Put grating inside playpen.
Put soiled NP onto pee pan.
Crate him in the living area.

Used to grating. Remove from playpen.
Problem is the need to remove poop and clean grille 2x/day.

Accidents:
See puppy pooping on wrong place. Pick up poop. Put on top of grating.
"He knows he has done something wrong," the owner said. "He runs to hide. Imack him on the butt".

Grating is useful as some pups have had been conditioned to pooping on grates as they have been housed in pet shop crates.

The puppy is running away from being beaten up, rather than knowing that he did something wrong. To pet owners all over the world, the thinking is that the puppy has a "guilty conscience".

455. 1) She pees blood anywhere after coming back from the boarding kennel. 2) The USSR.

2007-07-02T17:14:00.000+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Monday Jul 2, 2007

Post-boarding infection in the bladder or a stone in the bladder or both?
A couple in their early thirties brought their one-year-old female Miniature Schnauzer that had passed blood in the urine by riding a scooter to the veterinary surgery on this sunny afternoon.

"The Schnauzer just squatted and took a long time to urinate," the wife said. "She had been boarded 2 weeks ago with her daughter and came home with this problem."

This case reminded me of Lynda's spayed Miniature Schnauzer who had a recurrent problem of passing blood in the urine during the fundraising for NANAS at a school in Jun 2007. Lynda's female dog was older, spayed and more plump. I did an examination at the school but could not feel any stone in the bladder.

This dog had a normal temperature of 38.1C and passed reddish urine in a large amount on the surgery floor. I could feel a hard lump of around 2 cm in diameter in her bladder.

"You feed dry dog food and your dog seldom drink water?" I asked the couple.

"Dry food is cleaner as her whiskers get dirtied by canned food," the wife said. "We have 3 dogs, so we don't know how much water this female drank. However, she did not have trouble passing urine before boarding."

"Could her daughter in the same kennel injure her during boarding?" I asked.

"No, she is bigger and usually jumps on her daughter" the wife said.

Two weeks of blood in the urine. Dysuria --- difficulty in passing urine. A mass in the bladder.

"I am quite sure she has a bladder stone. You will need an X-ray to confirm." I said. "In the meantime, antibiotics for 18 days and if the blood in the urine comes back, you will have to spend money for surgery."

As the couple did not say much about X-raying, I did not persist. The dog was put inside a red carrier bag. The wife clipped the dog's collar to the inside of the bag and held the dog close to her as she pillon rode.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The USSR

This was one rare moment I could find out how primary school students are motivated to read under the Singapore education system in 2007. Was there any new ideas under the teach less, learn more project?

"How do primary school teachers motivate the child to read?" I asked the couple who teaches English, Science and Physical Education in different neighbourhood primary school. I wanted to know if there is any new ideas applicable to toilet training the puppy besides the stars and sweets for motivating primary 1-4 students to perform well.

"There is the USSR system," the husband with tatooed forearms said. "Uninterrupted Silent Sustained Reading" during the assembly time at 7 a.m. The child brings out a book to read for around 30 minutes."

"Is this a new concept to promote reading?" I asked. I never had this USSR in the 1960s as a primary school student.

"No," the husband said. "I had this during my time." I guessed it was during the 1970s.

"How effective is the USSR? Do you mean there is a wide variety of books for the primary school student to read every morning?" I doubted neighbourhood schools have such a large number of books.

"Some children read their text books silently," the husband said, "Reading is not a priority for the lower income group in neighbourhood schools."

This is such a sad situation for poorer children. Reading improves vocabulary for the children. A strong vocabulary leads to a better performance of mathematics problem-solving situations in primary six or later. There is no national concerted effort to promote effective and fun reading for the young ones.

454. Coprophagia. -- Eating poop and pooping frequently --- 5-month-old female Miniature Schnauzer

2007-06-29T06:16:00.001+08:00

Draft copy Jun 30, 2007 7 a.m

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Coprophagia. The puppy or dog eats poop (faeces).
Causes: In 500 puppy owners interviewed for the Puppy Toilet Training Project, coprophagia affects around 5% of the cases. Usually the healthy puppy eats its own poop till adulthood. In Singapore, puppies seldom have chance to eat the cat's poop as most owners have only one species.

Causes
1. In most cases and my review of the literature, the causes are not known.

2. Attention-seeking. Puppy eats poop, gets attention by scolding by the owner. The owner is busy working and when he goes home, the puppy has had eaten his poop. Or his overnight poop has been eaten. He still gets attention. Puppy eats poop when sick or bored, gets scolding. So he eats poop.

Don't scold the puppy. Just pick up the poop regularly after the puppy has eaten. Will this work? I don't know as I don't think owners will not scold the puppy for eating poop.

3. Puppy is sick. Examples of medical conditions include exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatitis, intestinal infections, malabsorptive syndromes and over-feeding (especially high fat content diets. Other medical signs will be present if the puppy is sick.

4. Faeces taste good. So eat more. Puppies in Singapore are fed twice a day. Majority of them thrive. But some puppies may want to eat more --- so eat their stools as 3rd time.

Treatment

1. Meat tenderizer: Add the enzymes to tenderise the meat. Success not guaranteed.

2. A powder supplement added to a dog's food. Dog faeces passed out will taste bad. E.O.P (Eat Own Poop) powder is available at some Singapore pet shops. Success not guaranteed.

3. An anti-eating-poop pill is given to a dog with its food to make the feces distasteful. Not available at pet shops or vet clinics.

4. Bad taste on feces:
Yesterday evening, I attended the opening of the beautiful vet clinic at Vivo City. A cool evening with lion dances and time to catch up with old friends. I visited the beautiful pet shop looking at the crates at 9 p.m. A pet shop salesman came to see me.

He told me about how his groomer friend found the use of chilli padi sometimes successful. Wasabi, chilli sauce, tobasco sauce, pepper sprinkled on stools are also sometimes successful. So is eating the E.O.P powder.

"Will the puppy get diarrhoea if he eats chilli padi?" I asked him. Chilli powder is inserted in the centre of the stools and left for the puppy to eat.
"You need to take the risk," he said.

Is this method effective? I think most owners do NOT execute the procedure of adding something distasteful to the faeces every time. So, most owners find the method not effective.

5. Pick up the stools. This is the most effective method of control but not practical for time-pressed owners who work. Use the gastro-colic effect --- the puppy poops within 10 minutes of eating.

Now, not all puppies do that as many have had been distracted by the owner during feeding time to play. Some are given free feeding for the whole day.

6. Scolding/Punishment: Many owners think scolding or spanking will work. In some cases, it does but the puppy enjoy the attention, rather than no attention.

7. Ignoring the stool eating. No scolding. May work.

8. Positive reinforcement. Call the puppy to come for a food treat or play when he starts eating poop. Unfortunately, the owner may be too busy doing other housework. But this method may be better than scolding/punishment or ignoring the bad behaviour.

9. Pick up the stools during exercise or walks may be the solution to break the cycle rather than scolding/punishment.

10. A dog muzzle used whenever the owner is not free to pick up the stools. May be effective but the owner may feel that it is cruel to muzzle the puppy. If the puppy can take it, this may be the best method.

11. Chemicals: Pineapple is commonly recommended. Other chemicals. Success not guaranteed. Owners seldom persist in giving for over 2 weeks.

12. Puppy will stop eating poop when he is an adult. Not always true.ages.

13. Positive Reinforcement: This is the process of reinforcing another behavior making the puppy feel good instead of the coprophagia. Commands such as "Leave it", "come", "sit", can all be used. The puppy is distracted while the owner picks up the feces. A food treat is recommended.

14. Negative Reinforcement: Sudden noises when the puppy eats poop. A can with pebbles or coins suddenly thrown ont the floor or dropped from the top of the door. A water pistol to shoot at the puppy when he opens his mouth to eat the poop. These have been suggested at various dog magazine/book writers.

15. Combination of above treatments. Modify eating poop behaviour and other treatments may be needed.

Health Implications
1. Worms.
Puppy do have roundworms seen being passed out. Give the puppy deworming tablets every 2 weeks to get rid of worms, esp. for puppies eating poop. If the puppy eats cat poopy, you need to deworm too. During exercise, leash the puppy. Make sure he does not eat poop of other animals.

2. Viruses from stools of other dogs. Hepatitis and canine parvovirus are two important diseases. Vaccinated puppies for 3 vaccinations are usually protected. Singapore vets may advise no contact with other dogs till 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination. The vet regulators permit sale of puppies by pet shops only 2 weeks after their 2nd vaccination. If not, a fine is imposed.

Conclusion
In my opinion, owners seldom have time to stop the owner eating poop for practical or lack of time reasons.

1. No time to give positive reinforcement training to stop poop eating.
2. Not leaving the puppy alone during feeding time and let him poop first before releasing him out to play.
3. Not giving faeces covered with chemicals like chilli sauce 100% of the time.
So, the success rate is said to be poor when the procedure is not properly executed.

CASE STUDY
On Jun 29, 2007, the lady owner of the 5-month-old female miniature schnauzer said that the puppy eats stools for the past 2 months and poops 5-6 times per day when released from the playpen to the living room. "Seasame seed like worms had been passed out after deworming." She works from home. How to solve her problem?

Routine:
1. 9.30 am. Eat inside the playpen. At the lower right corner of the playpen there is a grate with pee pan.
2. 10 am. Puppy poops on the grate.
3. 10.30 am. Puppy taken out of the playpen and put in the living area.
4. Puppy goes to balcony to poop on the floor. Seldom goes back to the grate.
5. Puppy may poop 3 times in themorning. Afternoon, no poop. Sleeps.
6. 6 pm. Go out for walk.
7. 7 pm. Feed at garden. Usually poop during walk.
8. 9 pm. Back to playpen.

Poops from 3 - 5 X per day.

1. Now given a fish-based dry food at 30% to old puppy food. Diarrhoea. Saw vet today.

2. What to do with poop eating? E.O.P powder ( a pinch) given daily for the past 2 weeks. Supposed to make the puppy stop eating poop. But unsuccessful. However, the puppy does not poop as many times as before.

3. What are my advices?

1. Continue with E.O.P powder instead of other chemicals. Putting chilli padi powder definitely is not recommended for this puppy.
2. Back to old formula till puppy has no diarrhoea. Then add 10% of new feed to 90% of old feed for a week and increase gradually to new feed.
3. Do not scold the puppy for poop eating at the balcony.
4. When see poop eating, call the puppy "Come" and give food treat and praises. But the owner has to do this every time and be available. She has her work to do.
5. Squirt water at the puppy in the balcony before she eats poop? I had ever suggested such a method to a father with a 10-year-old boy. The boy was very interested but not the father!

Feedback from various owners will be useful.

453. Time Out - Mouthing and nipping at ankles of female owners

2007-06-26T18:55:00.000+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Recently, 3 owners complained in sequence --- corgi, silkie terrier and jack russell puppies persist in biting their ankles and fingers. Usually they are male puppies.

The puppy avoid the male (husband or father) who scolds or maybe spank its backside.

It is possible that the puppy is play biting to learn about its hiearchy in the pack. Its natureal instinct is to chase after running prey. In this case the ladies and girls run away and excite the puppies. The puppy is learning to hunt.

Growl back, hold its muzzle with a firm hand and say "no biting". But girls and mum seldom are firm with the naughty puppy. So, the painful bites go on.

I advise "time out" for the female owners. Whenever the puppy bites, put him back inside the playpen. Reward him if he does not bite.

Some tug of war rope toys also encourage aggressiveness in male puppies. Teething in puppies encourage chewing but not biting.

Encouraging mouthing may lead to real painful bites when the bigger breeds like German Shepherds grow up.

452. Peeing off target during paper training

2007-06-26T18:50:00.000+08:00

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

A common complaint from the puppy owners during my survey of the past 3 years is that the puppy does not pee directly onto the newspapers laid on the floor.

Reasons may be:
1. Papers are soiled. Some "cleanliness freaks" as one lady owner told me about her Silkie don't want to dirty their paws. As the soiled papers are not changed immediately, the puppy pees outside the paper edges.

2. The puppy steps onto the papers with its front paws. Well, he is on the papers but his back legs are outside.

3. The puppy urine smell or spray should be at the further end of the paper. But some owners spray the smell in the centre of the paper. When the puppy's nose smell the paper, his back half of the body may be outside the paper. So he is peeing "off target."

Puppies are not marksmen I guess.