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Recent 'Just Chat'
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If you need help, or have questions, comments or suggestions, please post in the Rat-Terrier.com Info and Help forum.
General Moderators:
Lance
Morgan
Tracey
Training Moderator:
Nora
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You're Not Alone
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Rat-Terrier.com
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/11/2007 12:56 PM |
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I need some help here. My 8 month old Terrier I have now had for a week is potting on the carpet while we are gone during the day. She barks if I baby gate her to the kitchen and hates the crate training and will whine the whole time? I have been trying the potty pads but she just plays with them. HELP? Oh and how do you know if they have been in heat yet? She hasn't been spayed yet which i'm planning this month but i want to do it before she going into heat. But we have to wait because monday she is getting a scope done on her ear. She walks with her head tilted and has some balance issues. We took her to the vet yesterday and they couldn't see the x-rays well enough to see what was going on in her ear? I have never owned a dog myself other then when i was young so this is a first for me? HELP PLEASE!! |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/11/2007 1:02 PM |
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| Welcome!! For starters I think you need to stick with the crate. No one is home with her to let her out or teach her where it is acceptable to go potty. She may whine in the crate but she will get used to it. Try to put her in it for short periods of time when you are home so she doesn't look at it as you will alwas leave if she is put in there. Also don't let her out when she is whining/barking, it will only reinforce her whining. Wait until she is quite and then let her out. How does she do when yyou are home? I would skip the pads if you want her to go outside, as it will only make it harder. Make sure the crate is small, just enough room for her to turn around and lie down in. Hopefully her ears are okay! We would love to see pics. I am sure Nora, our training moderator, will have some more good advice for you! Is she a rattie? How did you come about getting her? Welcome again, and with patience and persistance you should get through this! |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/11/2007 1:14 PM |
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| I actually found her on petfinder and got her from a pet rescue. I will get some pictures posted when i figure out how this all works. What do you mean by is she a rattie? |
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/11/2007 1:23 PM |
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I added a picture of my little Izzy to my profile i don't know if it will show when i post this picture but i guess we will see! |
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/11/2007 1:34 PM |
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| How do you add the picture to your screen name? |
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/11/2007 1:37 PM |
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Sorry i figured it out!! Thanks for the great advice by the way i will have to try putting her in the crate while we are home and see how that works. It is just hard for me to let her whine and not do anything for her. We grew up with our dog running the home while we were gone. And she actually has not been distructive at all.  |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/11/2007 1:41 PM |
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| I meant a rat terrier or "rattie". You had just said she was a terrier. She is a cutie!!! congrats on your new addition and thanks for rescuing her!!! |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/11/2007 1:44 PM |
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| Oh yeah i guess that would help if i would say she was a rat terrier huh! She is still very skinny though so we are working on getting her fatten up. When the rescue group got her about two weeks ago she only weighed 8lbs. They got her up to 10 now but you can still see her ribs. She eats like a pig so i'm sure it won't take her long to gain the weight. |
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Russ' Pal
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 05/11/2007 1:51 PM |
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Izzy's a real cutie. There are a bunch of good house training tips on the Training forum. If you click on Forums on the blue bar at the top of the page you should be able to find Training.
Welcome to the site, and thanks for rescuing a rattie in need! |
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-Sarah, pal to Russ & Peca |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 05/11/2007 2:30 PM |
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Welcome, Izzy's Mom! House training can be the most challenging part of owning a puppy. If you're lucky, you show your puppy where to “go” and he/she catches on immediately and the two of you live happily ever after. Unfortunately for most of us this never happens. House training continues to be a challenge for many new puppy owners. I think the best and easiest way to potty train is through crate training. It does work, but you need to have patience and work through the "whining" which comes with it initially.
Basically when you are not at home, sleeping, or otherwise involved, put Izzy in a crate. (Dog crates can be purchased at pet stores or on-line). They also come in many styles, much depends on how much you're willing to spend. The style doesn't matter so much as the size. Size does matter, because the crate should only be big enough for Izzy to stand up, turn around, and lay down -- no bigger. If the crate is too big, Izzy will be able to sleep in one spot and potty in another. Generally speaking a puppy will not potty where it sleeps.
The crate should be placed in an area of the house where the family spends a lot of time. A family room is a good spot. Dogs are naturally pack animals, they want to be where the pack is. Another good location would be your bedroom, that way the puppy is sleeping in the den with the rest of the pack.
When first introducing the crate don't "shove" Izzy in, let HER make the first move to go in the crate. Place something familiar inside, a t-shirt with your smell and some favorite toys. Start by placing it's favorite food or treats inside so she wants to go in for the treat, and leave the crate door open at this time. Slowly start to shut the door when Izzy is inside – just for a few seconds at first and then for longer periods of time when she is ready. The idea behind this is to make the crate a happy place and NOT a place where you put her when you want to punish her. Making the crate a good thing in Izzy's mind will make it easier for you to train; she won't fight to go in the crate and once she is used to the crate she won't cry when left alone. Feeding meals in the crate is a good idea too...she will think food and crate go together. Make sure you take her outside to potty before you leave and after she eats. A special toy she only gets in the crate is also a good idea, (a Kong filled with peanut butter is a good treat idea that keeps them busy). Take the special toy away when you get home, this toy is only for crate time.
Keep her crated while you are not at home – working, running errands, etc. Also crate at night when everyone is asleep. Izzy AND your furniture will be safer if she is crated than if left out. We all are well aware that puppies can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time and could get into a toxic substance or ingest something that becomes a foreign body. It's wise to crate puppies until they can be trusted. Bailey (my rat terrier) is 16 months old and I still crate him every day while I'm at work.
Many dogs are left all day and do okay. If Izzy is 8 months old, she should be fine for up to 8 hours (an hour for each month of age) ... more than that is too long. When potty training take her outside as often as possible when you are home with her and she's not crated.
She WILL whine at first, and I know that can be annoying. Be prepared. If you give in once she cries, trust me... the cries will be louder and longer the next time. The key is to ignore it.. and eventually the crying will stop.
Good luck with your potty training, and bless you for taking this little girl into your home. I would indeed have her spayed as soon as possible, because at 8 months of age she could definitely come into heat at any time.
I hope this helps you some! Please feel free to ask any questions. We're here to help you and make your transition as easy as possible! Welcome to our forum!
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/11/2007 5:06 PM |
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Hi, your Izzy is a really cutie patootie!!!! Nora has given you awesome advice and if you follow it, Izzy will be housetrained in no time  It's what I did with my Daisy - and I'd never raised a "new" puppy before. She is almost 16 mos. old and is still crated while we are at work/school. She was pretty reliably housetrained at about 6-7 mos. and now sleeps with us in one of our beds at night rather than using the crate, but the bathroom door and bedroom doors are shut and the rooms are puppy-proofed but she is content to bury under the covers and stay there until morning most nights.
Bless you for rescuing her and taking such good care of her You are in for a lifetime of devotion and love from one of the best breeds of dogs ever created 
P.S.: I'm sure she needs to put on a little more weight, but (as I'm sure your vet may have told you) this breed can run on the "thin" side but it's perfectly normal and healthy for them. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Sassy'sMama
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/12/2007 3:31 AM |
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Hi Izzy is adorable!!
My girl Sassy has been trained to puppy pads from the 2nd day she was with me at 8 weeks... she pee'd on the carpet and I took her to the pad and told her to pee there...
Some people have good luck with these and others don't...
I have been lucky... I work 60+ hours a week and the pads have saved my carpet...
Sassy is now over a year old... and I recently bought a house with a fenced yard, so now we don't use as many pads... Sassy uses them now, if I am not home or she just can't wait...
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~~Jan~~
Mama to Sassy
www.marykay.com/janetkimberlin
(free shipping) |
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Susan
Terrier Terror
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| 05/13/2007 1:01 AM |
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| Welcome! I have found the health and training forums to be lifesavers! I get to read about other's problems and I think wow that is just like what is happening with my dogs, and it helps. There is a lot of info about Rat Terriers here and some great training tips too. |
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ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH OVERDOING Mom of eight, only three left at home! Pack leader to ten ratties: Maggie, Mysty, Berry, Simon, Ceecee and five puppies, Star,Sari, Bluebelle, Double stuf,and Snortie. As well as Ginger the Border Collie and a herd of turkeys! |
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grammiej
Ratterific
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| 05/14/2007 5:22 PM |
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Oh Izzy I can relate. I have twin females about a year old and a female about 6-8 months old that I am housebreaking. Good luck. |
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