PAPER TRAINING A NEW PUPPY - E-MAIL ADVICES

From: E-mail to Dr Sing  from a new puppy owner
Subject: Shih Tzu Training
To: judy@toapayohvets.com
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009, 1:08 PM

Hello Dr. Sing,

I have recently bought a Shih Tzu 4 months old name "WW" from a pet farm and I am still trying hard toilet training WW. I put WW inside the playpen with 2 pee trays and his toys. WW 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 for 10-30 min and keep him isolated from the fun when he does not behave. When he is out, give firm commands "No" when he bites or runs (put a leash onto the puppy).

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