[munkygobananas]

Hello All,

I have a two and a half year old Chihuahua we adopted in March and he is housebroken. The problem is we live in an apartment and have to take him out on his leash to go potty. That isn't so bad, but I'm soon taking on a second job to make ends meet so both my partner and I will be out of the house for extended periods of time (possibly upward of 10 hours on some days). We love how well trained out little guy is, but we want to switch to litter box or pad training so that he doesn't feel like he has to hold it for 10 hours on a day.

We tried to start the pad training today but so far he hasn't been to the bathroom since 9:30 am and it's now 7:30 pm. I feel awful! Whenever he sniffs around or tries to tell us to take him out I put him on the pad and say "go pee" (which he usually understands quite well when we're outside) but he just sits there looking scared and eventually lays down. I feel like he's in pain but I don't want to disrupt the training on the very first day.

Any tips? And when should I give in and take him out? I don't want him holding it to do any damage! My mother said he's a dog and will eventually need to go bad enough that he will, but I'd hate for it to get to that point.

Help!

[german sheep]

a dog has a different metabolism to us humans.
It is metabolizing every six hours. So you will have a greater problem, when your dog is alone for quite a long time, than just the "pad challenge".

Studies have proven that a dog can stay alone for 6 hours per day without getting a serious organic and/or behavioural problem. After this time the dog is looking for its pack and food. If he stays alone for at least 10 hours, this means nearly double the time, I can promise you that does no good for your littlan.

Have you no chance to commit your dog to a neighbour or family's care during your time of work? This would be a better solution for everyone.

For a Chi hua hua could be an older person because it is not heavy to hold on the leash.

LG
gs

[CorkyMax]

As German Sheep said --THat is too long for the little guy to be alone. I had that problem when I was working. I know you can't have a fenced-in yard and a doggie door living in an apartment. That is what I did plus I got another dog for a companion. It worked well but you prob. don't want or aren't allowed more than one dog.

As far as the not going on the pads (newspapers would be cheaper)--If you can get a 'sample' of his pee when you take him outside and place it on the pee pad in the house he might get the idea better that he is allowed to go in the house. Maybe you could take a pad out with you when you take him out to pee--try steering him to go on it or at least try wiping some of his pee with it and place back in the house.