A recommendation for small dogs... - Paw Talk

#1 10-04-2002, 01:31 PM

Hi all,

I don't know about some of you, but I know that my bf and I enjoy sleeping with our pups on the bed. We have 2 small dachshunds and they love curling up with us. I love the feeling. Anyways, we have one of those high beds that have padding on each side, so the pups can never jump up and we always have to bend down and pick them up.

Well, I decided to go in search of a doggy ramp. I found one on eBay that I absolutely loved because it looked sturdy and something that my dogs wouldn't be afraid of. I can also take off the legs and slide the ramp under my bed or use the ramp later on if we ever have a truck.

We bought this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2058183379 from this person (seems they sell multiple of these) and we received it yesterday. We immediately built it and my dogs (who are big wimps) hesitated at first, then all they would do is run up and down the darn thing!

Not only that, but now my dogs can get up in the middle of the night and go off the bed to do their business in the dog litter box.

That's another thing I wanted to recommend! The dog litter box. It's made by Purina and it's called secondnature. My dogs basically taught themselves. It was seriously like second nature to them. Here's the link: http://www.doglitter.com/welcome.asp

Anyways, just wanted to share some recommendations with you all!

Chrisanne · #2 10-04-2002, 08:26 PM

Thanks for sharing those wonderful suggestions. They are useful. I have seen a lot of small breed dogs that litter box train. YAYYYY

I just wish I needed a ramp to share my bed with my doggies. Unfortunately they don't need a ramp.... I have 4 large dogs.

capnsweets · #3 10-04-2002, 10:41 PM

(Hi Jessica) I never heard of doggie litter! I am glad you joined!

#4 10-16-2002, 06:31 PM

I've heard of doggie boxes but just figured that's the type of thing you have to get them used to when their puppies. Was it hard to get your dogs to use it??

(my pomeranian isn't the smartest thing either)

Yay - my 1st post!!

o and hi jess and capn.

#5 10-16-2002, 08:32 PM

Hiya!

I almost didn't have to do anything. The girl is 100% accurate with the potty box. She learned within a week. When we saw her do her "I'm about to go potty" look, we immediately picked her up and placed her in the box. She then did her business. I'd say not even within a week, within a few days, she figured out that it's the place to go whenever she has to go. However, I think she's a smart girl...

Now on to my little boy, he's a little dumb, or he plays to be dumb as he is a true Rascal. He's been doing his business in the dining room. I decided to start getting firm with him recently and every morning when I wake up, I know he has to do something so I place him in the box and tell him "Go potty" and he does. Now for the past 2 weeks, I'd say he's 75% accurate. Which is a lot better than 0%. What helped a lot was taking him every morning when I woke up so he can give his scent in the box.

I think it's the greatest invention because they are inside dogs. We do take them out throughout the day to play in the grass and often they do their business there too. So when we are away or inside, they do it in the box and when we are home and take them outside, they do it there.

I think the potty box is true to their name "secondnature" because honestly, it was like second nature to them to go in it... especially for her.

Good luck!

capnsweets · #6 10-16-2002, 11:00 PM

Hi Bird!

Jessica, I am going to tell my Mom about the dog potty, she has 2 small dogs and has to go down to flight of steps to let them go outside to pee.

#7 10-17-2002, 09:02 AM

I'm glad I could enlighten the visitors here about this product.

I'm so happy that we got it and that our dogs do their business there. It makes life sooooo much easier. I hope your mom's dogs will be able to learn how to use it quickly.

Crittercall · #8 10-22-2002, 11:50 AM

Jessica - thanks for sharing the info about the dog litter boxes. I saw them at PetsMart the other day but just kind of though"Yeah, right" and went on about my business. But one (or all?) of my dogs have to christen my foyer just about every night - might be worth a shot to put one in there.

Having frou frou dogs, they also hate to get their feet wet when it is raining outside. Another bonus point!

The ramp is intriguing. I have a Rubbermaid two-step stool that my oldest Cavalier will use to get on and off the bed, but the younger Cav and the shih tzu are too stubborn to use it. I may look into that, too!

Thanks!!

Critter

And I, too, know the joy of snuggling with my little dogs at night. Ain't nothing like it! The shih tzu has just learned to crawl under the covers - so funny! My daughter's doxie used to like to sneak into the guest room where we had a water bed and get under the covers. She would sink down low enough that you couldn't even see her!

#9 10-22-2002, 12:08 PM

Quote:


	Jessica - thanks for sharing the info about the dog litter boxes. I saw them at PetsMart the other day but just kind of though"Yeah, right" and went on about my business. But one (or all?) of my dogs have to christen my foyer just about every night - might be worth a shot to put one in there.

Hahaha.. my boy dog likes to leave his business in the dining room. That's why I got sick of it and started training HIM in the litter box. The girl, she never misses. In fact, last night, she woke up at like 2 in the morning and ran down the ramp to where the dog litter box sits and did her business and then ran right back to our bedroom, up the ramp, and under the covers back to sleep. They both use the same one since I only have 2 dogs and they are small. If I had more, don't know if it will work the same or if I'd have to get a separate one.

Quote:


	Having frou frou dogs, they also hate to get their feet wet when it is raining outside. Another bonus point!

We usually take our dogs outside before we go to bed since they love being out. But, I noticed more than ever how my boy dog HATES when the grass has slight moisture on it and avoided it at all cost. lol. I know what you mean about the wetness outside. It is a great bonus point because if they don't go outside, they can go inside in a spot just for them!

Quote:


	The ramp is intriguing. I have a Rubbermaid two-step stool that my oldest Cavalier will use to get on and off the bed, but the younger Cav and the shih tzu are too stubborn to use it. I may look into that, too!

The reason I got my ramp is because the girl dog is very timid and doesn't like to try things that she can fall off from. If I were to put any two step mechanism, she probably would hesitate each time she would jump. Plus, doxies aren't good with their backs so I thought it would be worse for them. The ramp, the run up and down it now in a flash. They love being able to play around the house and come to our room to join us for night time sleep. (Otherwise, we keep the door closed and they don't get in the bedroom, they are only allowed in there when we are in there.) The ramp has a little rug on it that helps them not lose control and slide off, plus it has this little rail-like thing on the side and top so they feel more sense of security. That's why I think it's worked so well with my dogs.

Quote:


	And I, too, know the joy of snuggling with my little dogs at night. Ain't nothing like it! The shih tzu has just learned to crawl under the covers - so funny! My daughter's doxie used to like to sneak into the guest room where we had a water bed and get under the covers. She would sink down low enough that you couldn't even see her!

Don't you love it when they do this little digging action to try to pull back the covers and slip in?? My dogs do it all the time. Rascal loves to curl up in my arm and Dacky likes to go by my legs near my feet. If it gets to hot, they stick their heads out the cover sides.

I'm sure your dogs will love the ramp and the box, I don't know WHAT I would do without them... Let us know any progress if you do decide to use it!