UPDATE - peeing in bed - Paw Talk

Formula86 · #1 03-08-2004, 12:51 PM

well, here is an update on penny and chaquita:

i trained them to sleep on the floor throughout the entire night. they have been doing that since the 4th or 5th day after i started this. buuut, this has created a whole other problem.

now they are waking up earlier than i am (after sleeping only 6 hrs or so) and going to the bathroom on the floor.

penny can't hold her pee after sleeping and she never really woke up while sleeping in the bed. so now that she does wake up, she goes pee on the floor. i guess chaquita thinks that this gives her permission to go as well, and she did both on the floor today!! on top of that, they start growling (penny) and whining (chaquita) because i'm not up and they are. the NEVER happened when they slept on the bed, but i am not willing to let them up on the bed again because i'll just be dealing with the same old problem from the last thread.

my idea is to get a large enough crate for them to BOTH be in there to go to sleep. how would i go about introducing this? should i put it in the kitchen when i gate them in there (leaving the crate open with pillows, treats, etc.? how long should i do this? i have a feeling that as soon as i close the door on the crate they are going to hate it from then on.

thanks again guys. i am:

RSbunny · #2 03-08-2004, 05:00 PM

I'm not sure on the whole crate thing cause I don't know much about them but I would try and make them go in there but leave the door open even when you are home. Drag it into the loungeroom when you are watching tv and make them lie in it. Don't be forceful just speak nice and gently and give them a treat when they are in there. Make it a safe haven for them, then when it gets to shutting the door they should be fine!! Try getting them to go to the toilet last thing at night and pretend that they are puppies for a while and praise praise praise when they go to the toilet outside!! If they still go to the toilet in the middle of the night I would suggest that you set your alarm and take them out. I know that they can hold on but you just need to keep re-inforcing that they can't go to the toilet in the house. And with the whining thing...if you know that they don't need to go to the toilet then ignore them. Once they realise that whining gets them nowhere they will stop. It hasn't been very long so be strong and patient!! I know how frustrating it can be!! Have you talked to an animal behaviourist yet? They'd probably be able to give you heaps of great tips!

Becki · #3 03-09-2004, 03:15 AM

Here's an awesome article Deja wrote, all about crate training.

Formula86 · #4 03-09-2004, 04:39 AM

thanks guys!
about setting my alarm - there is one tiny problem. i take medication for a sleeping disorder at night so the dogs would be the only ones hearing the alarm.

only a major scream or something will wake me up in the middle of the night (just so you know...if one of the dogs were crying, i would get up. i have selective hearing at night on my meds). so i couldn't do that. and i shouldn't have to cause they CAN hold it all night. they always have. penny hasn't had that problem since she was 3 months old. and chaquita can hold it for sure.
and the whining/growling only lasts for about 1 minute tops. they are getting sooo much better. i can't believe how quickly they learned to stay on the floor, and they are doing so well with that. i just know that it's easier for them to wake up when on the floor cause they aren't all curled up under the covers and stuff and that's why they are having accidents (once they wake up, like their mother <me>, they can't hold it and just go).
i will buy a crate big enough for both of them and start using it in a couple of weeks. i can't start right now because i'm going to my parents for spring break (happen to live in south padre island, tx) all next week. but after that...IT'S ON!!!!!!!!!

YOU'RE GOIN DOWN DOGS! DOWN!

Formula86 · #5 03-09-2004, 04:43 AM

i realize now that i made it sound as if i go to the bathroom on myself when i wake up in the middle of the night. ("i wake up and just go") i go to the tooooooooilet people!!!!! hardy har har.

Formula86 · #6 03-09-2004, 05:31 AM

i read deja's crate training thread! good stuff. i really want to get a open wire crate (i think they will like that better). should i leave the top and front off for a while and put their pillows in there? then put the top on and leave it like that for a couple weeks...then put the last side on? let me know! i will do the treat thing, etc. thanks again!

RSbunny · #7 03-09-2004, 06:55 PM

lmbo Formula you crack me up!! I would do what you think...but you might not have to wait a couple of weeks to apply the extra sides. See how they go with it...if they are happy then do it sooner!!! Let us know how it goes!! If they pee in their crate you can always block it off with something so that they can only be on their bed and in a space only big enough for the two of them. They shouldn't go on their bed and if they do it might indicate an underlying problem!! Just a thought....if they can hold on all night they aren't going to be wanting to sleep in their pee!!

Formula86 · #8 03-10-2004, 11:03 AM

yah. i am totally going to buy one after spring break. i'll get one that is as big as their sleeping area now. about 2-3 feet by 2-3 feet. i think that will be good. plus, if i make the bottom all pillows, they won't want to pee on them! i hope... haha.
so hey carmen...since your winter is summer and your summer is winter, do you guys get a fall break as oppossed to our spring break??

RSbunny · #9 03-10-2004, 03:31 PM

Formula yep we get an autumn break! It starts just after Easter and goes for two weeks (I think uni gets longer...they usually always do) We still get our four holidays a year when you're studying but a long break is still in summer which means we get a nice big break over Christmas!! School kids get 6 weeks over Christmas, Tafe students get about 10 weeks and uni students get three months!

Pure14K · #10 03-10-2004, 03:44 PM

OMG No way!!!! You guys get 2 weeks off for spring break (or Autumn break)??? We only get 1!!! And we only get 2 weeks off for xmas too

RSbunny · #11 03-10-2004, 03:47 PM

Pure we get two weeks holidays every season.....but I think you guys get a longer Summer break from us which is what makes the difference (well in actual school anyway) I thought that you guys only got two off for xmas.....I would hate that!!! Xmas is awesome cause you do get such a long break!

Formula86 · #12 03-11-2004, 01:56 AM

i always got a 3 or 4 week break for christmas in high school. for college, it's the same. but we only get 1 week for spring break (march). but we have all summer off (june, july, august). so when you get 3 months off, is it cold or hot?

RSbunny · #13 03-11-2004, 02:27 AM

it's hot Formula!! Tafe ends round the first week or two of December and then we go back in the middle of February.

Formula86 · #14 03-11-2004, 11:57 PM

that's so weird that you guys' months are backwards. (or are ours?) i couldn't imagine it being freezing in july!

Deja · #15 03-12-2004, 12:05 AM

Formula, I am really glad you are making progress with the dogs on the bed!

You mention getting them a wire crate. My preference for small dogs is the "vari-kennel" type- molded plastic ones. They can't get their little feet stuck anywhere like they might in a wire crate. Plus - they "den" better when they are enclosed.

It's easier to introduce a molded plastic crate to them as older dogs too - because (as I mentioned in the article) you can take it apart and start offering them the bottom of the crate (lined with soft washable bedding - you want it to be cozy) with treats or special toys to entice them in and out, and even to lay down there.

Good luck! Sounds like you have a workable plan!!