Struggling with a schedule...long.

Roxy'sNewMom · #1 10-21-2005, 02:15 PM

Well, I guess I am going to have to post this now, because it is not getting any better. Payton is 14 weeks old today, and we are still struggling with her schedule and potty training since we work different shifts. Here is what we do:
When my husband gets home between 4-5 am he takes them out. They either play or come back and sleep with me until 6 am. They go out agian about 7 am. I leave for work and they are sleeping with hubby or playing until 4 pm. I get home at 4 pm and take them out and then they eat. DH leaves at 445. I take them out 20 min after they eat, then they play. They play until about 7 then they go out agian. They come back in and play until about 8, when they eat agian. They go out agian about 20 min after they eat. This is when I pick up all food and water for the night. They usually come in and sleep until about 930 or so when they wake up and we go out agian. They play until about 1030 and we go out agian. I then sleep on the couch until about 2 or 3 am and we go out agian. Then I go back to bed and it starts all over.

There are just a few problems in this whole schedule. It isnt working!! She gets hungry/thirsty during the day and crashes down the gate to get to the food and water that we have out for Roxy and the cats while DH is sleeping. She likes to poop behind my kitchen table and in my closet. Her fav pee spot is anywhere she happens to be. I am getting VERY frustrated. I cant walk her to tire her out cause she is too little. Our schedules for work don't make it any easier. We are both trying, but I don't think it is working. I could deal with the destruction if she would stop using my house for a toilet.

I put up bells, but Roxy is scared of them (cries when I try to get her to touch it with her paw) and Payton swats at it in a sitting position, and looks at me. She is trying I think, but man I don't know. What else is there to do?
Thanks
Shaunna

Dont forget....Payton has Urinary Incontinence, so she can't hold her urine for very long at all. That is why she usually only gets water from 4 pm until 8 pm, and DH gives them some water at 4 am.

JohnHigh · #2 10-21-2005, 02:27 PM

I have learned that a steady and consistent schedule, no matter what it is, will win out. You have the added challenge of multiple animals, but even then they should pick up the right habits as time goes by and they get older. The trick is owners staying the course while they learn, and employing patience necessary to get through the rough times. It's all worth it. Good luck, Shaunna.

Roxy'sNewMom · #3 10-21-2005, 02:40 PM

She is crated when we are not home. She is not crated when we are asleep though. The reason is becuase all our neighbors have complained, and we have already been fined for our animals. So we can't crate her cause she whines and whines. If we had our house she definatly would be crated........and the plot thickens...lol I feel like such a pain. Here you all are trying to help me and I find a problem with all the solutions. I appoligize, I am not trying to be hard to get along with

Shaunna

LuvMyLennox · #4 10-21-2005, 02:40 PM

Wow!

That sounds rough. I really have no real advice, but I agree with JohnHigh, consistency is very important espacially when they are still learning.

Lennox has his paws crossed for all of you! Good Luck and be patient!

Doja's Mommy · #5 10-21-2005, 03:35 PM

until she can be properly potty trained, this is a lose/lose situation. She really needs to be crated to be successful, or someone needs to watch her 24/7. She can't be expected not to potty in the house if shes not being trained not to. If no ones watching her, and she has to go potty, she will have to go where she can. Since you state you can't crate her, then you might try teaching her to potty on paper in the house so she at least has a place where she feels it is acceptable to potty. Once you have to break her of that, it will take work. But your not really leaving her any options as far as being successful in her potty training. So at this point, you guys are responsible for her inside accidents. Once she is set up to succeed, then, she can take the blame.

Potty training is not an easy thing, consistency is key. Make sure you don't give her any opportunities to potty inside..... set her up to succeed

Good Luck and let us know how it goes....

BTW sherri, the diapers thing is too cute, I was looking in your gallery for a pic, didn't see any, that would be just hilarious!!!!

Anna Begins · #6 10-21-2005, 03:51 PM

If you are consistant- and it sounds like you are doing everything well- the problem should correct itself in another month. I know it sounds like a long time from now, but at 4 months, it gets so much better, by 6 months, should be 90%.
I think you are doing good w/ putting the water and food up- maybe feed only twice? What are you feeding? Lower quality kibbles produce more waste. When Luka was 3 months old, I only fed him twice a day (AM and PM).
Does she whine when crated and you are not home? Is she quiet when crated when you are in the same room?
Whenever you can't watch her, put her in the crate. Let her know you are close. Luka's crate was/ is in between the front room, dining room and kitchen, so he can see all going ons.
You can also get her a kong to help with the whining in the crate. Luka wouldn't get by without his. It's a snowman shaped rubber cone that you can put treats inside and they spend time getting them out. Luka likes cottage cheese, bits of meat leftovers and old mother hubbart treats, but you can use banana's, peanut butter, etc.
Good luck, just hold out, it'll get better

Also wanted to add: if you haven't already, use a odor removing product like Nature's Miracle (found at Petco/ Petsmart) and heavily spray the areas she is using. Dogs usually return to the same places out of smelling the previous scent.

BULLDOG8871 · #7 10-21-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roxy'sNewMom

She is crated when we are not home. She is not crated when we are asleep though. The reason is becuase all our neighbors have complained, and we have already been fined for our animals. So we can't crate her cause she whines and whines.Shaunna

Have you tried putting an old piece of clothing or something with your scent while she is in the crate. This may calm her down knowing that your scent is still with her may put her at ease. I tried this with Rocco from the day he arrived at my home. I wore an old T-shirt around the house and then left it with him when I was not home. I also had a travel crate which I left in the bedroom at night. It was far enough from the bed that he could see me, and close enough that he could smell me. He seemed to be very calm and actually slept most of the night.

Greg
Bucks Co. PA
Rocco-10 month male; Fawn w/ blk mask

Laila/Cujo · #8 10-21-2005, 07:48 PM

I agree with Greg. Try a piece of old clothing with your scent on it. Even a towel and just wrap it around during the evening and put it in when she needs to go in her crate. I know this is what worked with Laila when we crate trained her. Also putting a blanket over the top of the crate may help too. Good Luck and keep up posted!!!

Roxy'sNewMom · #9 10-22-2005, 07:30 AM

Well she rang the bells on the door all by herself today, and we went out and peed and pooped! I never thought I would be so excited for something to go outside! Thank you for all your comments. We tried a towel in her crate today when we went out to eat. We sat here ad the only one that cried in her crate was Roxy!! Maybe Roxy is my instigator?! Well thank you soooooo much for all the helpful advice. I will def. keep everyone updated when we are getting somewhere.

I feed them Chicken Soup adult food. I mix in cottage cheese, yogurt, meat peices, wet food. I try to give them a variety of stuff mixed with thier kibble, and I feed her twice a day.

Thanks
Shaunna

Hazel · #10 10-22-2005, 09:41 AM

I think that when you have such a chaotic schedule, it just takes a little longer for the puppy to learn. The bf and I have very strange working schedules, I work mainly nights but sometimes days and all different days of the week (a student and a waitress) and the bf runs his own company and works really strange hours. Because we couldn't have a proper schedule for him to learn it definitely took easy longer to learn to hold his pee and not go in the house. But they get it in the end. We couldn't crate easy either so that was another problem, but honestly you will get there....don't give up