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7 months old Chow IMPOSSIBLE to potty train!!

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 1:31 am
by claw
Some behavior issues with my female chow makes me wonder if I can have a dog with me in my apartment. People say Chows are the cleanliest, the easiest to potty train/house break(I wonder the harder!). Mine isn't being like that, it is getting worse day by day. I've already put her in an isolated area of the apartment with some synthetic grass, place to sleep (she likes the floor), toys, and fresh water. She does pee and poop on the synthetic grass, sometimes misses the place but that's not the issue, the issue is when I let her to other areas of the Apartment, she does pee and poop wherever she wants, can it be the kitchen floor, the carpet or besides the entrance door. When I can take her to walk, she does pee and poop but it isn't enough. This night she just peed at the floor where she usually sleeps, which I can't understand why! I've being trying to potty train her for about 3 months. I bought dog repellents for the carpet and kitchen, didn't worked, sprayed lemon then vinegar neither worked too. Anyway besides this, she's very receptive with any stranger, caring with children and kids, playful with people and other pets, doesn't bark, but I can't keep her with this "little" potty problem, my apartment turns to a total smelly mess. I'm really out of moves here and don't know what else to do. I really need some advice for training her. If else fails I'll need to give her to some family that has a big yard and can care better of her, probably some relative...

Re: 7 months old Chow IMPOSSIBLE to potty train!!

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 7:14 pm
by Rory's Dad
Sounds like the dog is completely confused. 1st off the synthetice grass, you have essentially told the dog that it's ok to go inside.

If she is going in other areas once she is freed to roam, she isn't viewing the entire apartment as her home. 1st move when you free her from the confinement room should be outside. Walk her to a specific area and stay there until she goes. Set a schedule. 15 minutes to a 1/2 hour after breakfast in the morning and out she goes. Encourage behavior and reward when appropriate. Let her out and walk as soon as you get home...reward when she 'goes'. Feed dinner, wait 1/2 hour or so, and take her out. Same reward program. At her age, one final trip outside before bed. Reward for positive results.

Repellants will not work, particularly if you have carpet. The scent will remain and become an attraction. You need to enforce the regiment and reward program. Negative results are worse than ignoring the problem. Never punish a chow for mistakes.

You can't be lazy with potty training. You need to be consistent and provide the opportunity to do it right. A puppy can't be expected to go more than a couple hours. If your situation dictates a longer time, you need to research crate training for now.

Re: 7 months old Chow IMPOSSIBLE to potty train!!

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 11:57 am
by pookeye
this is strange, our chow chow learned at day 1 after we got him. he knew to pee at the pee pad area, we had the pee pad until he was about 1.5 years old. puppies need to pee a lot more and cannot hold it in as long, by the time he was about 1 year old he generally peed outside, on the rare occassion he peed in the pee pad.. but generally thats our fault cause he had to go and we werent home...