[Countrygirl84]

Hi everybody, my name is Heather. First off let me start off by saying that I am not new to dogs. I have owned labs, mix breeds and boxers. However, (the reason I came to this site) recently a little fellow by the name of Bear came into my life. My aunt had him, and unfortunally right know she is not able to care for him. Instead of allowing her to pernatly lose him I took him. He is a yorkie/winner dog mix. He's adorable and full of excitment, and himself at times, but that's another story. Anyways, being 2 1/2 years old I assumed (silly me) that he was house broke. I was wrong. I figured it would be no big deal. I could trian him, I trained everyother dog we had. Again I was wrong. I have tried everything I know to do! From when we catch him saying no and taking him outside, to taking him out everytime he starts sniffing. I praysed him, I treated him, I petted him, I done everything to make him feel like a good boy for peeing outside. And he gladly goes outside, he loves it out there, but them he comes in and uses the bathroom on the floor. He has been peeing outside, but not pooping. I have puppy pads down and he actually uses them. But he needs to be trained to go outside. I know he is a smart dog, he is just not getting it.
Okay another couple things and then I will get out of your hair. He isn't eating much. I mean he's happy, he's healthy, he is eating a little, but I'm not sure how much a little 10 lbs dog should eat. He is very high energy! But I figure I am over reacting because all of my dogs have been larger breeds. I just like them better. Don't misunderstand I love all breeds of dogs, but larger dogs just work better.
Okay one last thing, I have guinea pigs. So far so good. The guinea pigs are up and out of his way, he can't get to them ect. ect. ect. However, he has know figured out that if you rattle a bag they squeal. I keep their hay on the floor and guess what he does. He steps on the bag to make the squeal, because he likes the noise. Okay so that's really no big deal. He isn't hurting them I can live with the squealing. I just kind of found it funny.
Sorry for being such a motor mouth. I've been hanging around bear to long! I just feel like I need to bark at everything. lol

[Poohbear]

My friends had the same problem about pooping in the house. It is a matter of staying outside with him, until he actually does it. And of course, cleaning all the areas with a cleaner that kills the smell left behind, made especially to get rid of dog odors.
As to how much to feed, our JRT is 11 lbs. and she only eats 3/4 a cup of food a day. And yes, high energy also. Hope that I helped alittle, and the squealing thing would make me laugh also!

[Poohbear]

Wish I had thought to say everything that DD said!!! That is exactly right!!!

[Countrygirl84]

Thank you so much. I actually did talk to my aunt, and he hasn't been to a vet. That is first thing! As soon as I get the money. But I am treating him with flea provention, because it can be even more deadly to my piggys. He is doing a little better. I had never thought about keeping him with me when we are outside, he usually talks on a retractable lease and just leads me around. I didn't realize how strong the little bugger can me. I think you could be right about the uprooting thing. He was actually uprooted twice in the past 6 weeks. Ounce to go live with my aunt at a friends house (a long story that I would rather not discuss) where his primary caregiver was me and another woman, then when they put my aunt in the nursing home he came to live with me. I beleive, by the way he cowards down sometimes, the my aunts soon to be ex huspand could have abused him. He is using the puppy pads, so it will be okay. I will live him time, and keep trying. As for food, I didn't have the right kind. He is beneful boy, and I had ol'roy. I think it is mostly the size of the food. I just think he doesn't like the big peices. But so far he's doing okay. Even my dad is coming around to him. Although still hesitent (because he is legally blinde) he is beginning to see that having Bear is a good thing. Thank you agian.

[Bailey]

Hi Heather,
Other than getting Bear checked out at the vet, for now it sounds like you're doing everything right with trying to housebreak Bear, however, the root cause of his "mishaps" may be that he either feels seperation anxiety or if he is really THAT recent to you, he may be just adjusting. Sometimes it can take a while.

He is a smart little guys to figure out how the rattle of the bag can provide him with entertainment value.

Hope all goes well with your aunt, take care,

Mike Trainor
Montreal, Quebec

[Countrygirl84]

Thank you. You won't beleive it! He pooped out side! Yay! Okay, I know it sounds kind of silly to celebrate a dog pooping outside, however, it is a good sign. I will get him checked out soon, and I am just glade that I am doing everything right for the little guy. Like I said I am not new to dogs, but we have never had a small dog. I figured there wouldn't be much diffrence, but there is. All dogs take diffrent kinds of care, and it is a matter of learning how to care for them. For instance, I didn't know Terriors were good at hiding sickness. I new guinea pigs were, but I have owned them for over four years. I guess Bear and I will just have to learn from each other. He seems to get getting my schedual down. I get up at 6:30, take him, I'm out the door by 7:15, home about 11, then I might leave again about 4:30 or 5. But during the times that I'm not there one or both of my parents are. Usually both, because I have the only car. Surely between three adults we can take care of him! (by the way, I'm a college student which is why my schedual is so crazy)

[Poohbear]

Bear will be fine, as long as all 3 of you can be consistent with his care, just keep up the good work, and we are here for any questions that you have. And good luck with school also!!:-D

[Countrygirl84]

Thanks! Bear is being such a good boy, although he did poop on the puppy pad in my bedroom. But it was human error, we all had to leave and even though we let him out, he still couldn't wait. No big deal, these things happen. We are finding that he has to go out about every two hours or so. And he ALWAYS uses it while he is out there.