by Cortney R.
Member since:
August 28, 2006

New Puppy

June 11, 2008 01:13 PM EDT
views: 75 | rating: 9.6/10 (23 votes) | comments: 35
My husband and I got a new puppy about three months ago.  She is a  Chihuahua and weighs about 6 pounds.  I have posted a few pictures of her. 

She is a really cute dog, but doesn't listen very well.  I assume that's the puppy in her.  She is so fun to have around.  She loves to go for a ride in the car with us. 

I do have a question though.  Well, actually I have two questions.  The first question is what are the best tips for housetrainin.  We are having a lot of trouble getting her to do to the bathroom outside.

The next one is about spaying her.  She is an inside dog, except when we take her outside (on her leash) so she is not around other dogs.  I just don't know about puting her through an surgery that is not needed.  What do ya'll think?
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Comments: 35

Vic Needs Coffee Jun 11, 2008, 1:24pm EDT
Take the pup out frequently and reward her when she goes and praise her. I have all my animals fixed. If they get loose somehow I don't want to be responsible for any puppies. I also think it is easier on the females than going into heat is.
Susan S. Jun 11, 2008, 1:55pm EDT
congrats on the new puppy, my dog is fixed
Cortney R. Jun 11, 2008, 2:25pm EDT
Thanks Vic. I try to do all those things, but we are still having a difficult time. The kind of breed she is one of the more difficult breeds to train.
C A. Jun 11, 2008, 2:32pm EDT
Spaying your dog is a good idea. A dog in heat is messy and cantankerous. They are also more prone to certain illnesses. Discuss it with your vet, but I'm sure he/she will advise doing it as soon as she is old enough.
Cortney R. Jun 11, 2008, 3:33pm EDT
Thanks for the advice. I will probably talk to her vet soon.
donna h. Jun 11, 2008, 10:34pm EDT
a cutie
Carla B. Jun 12, 2008, 3:55am EDT
She is adorable! We have had a horrible time with our smaller dog getting her potty trained, too. What we had to do to get her even halfway potty trained, was to take her out every single hour and give her a treat when she went potty. It worked well, but she had setbacks everytime someone new came into the house (when we had our baby, when we got our cat, and when we got our third dog). We've about got her trained again now, and we've had Snoopie since February!
Carla B. Jun 12, 2008, 3:56am EDT
Oh, and all my pets are fixed. Even the cat, and she NEVER goes outside. The dogs are in the house except when they are out to potty as well. The vet said it was easier on them to go through the surgery once, rather than to go into heat over and over for the rest of their lives.
K D. Jun 12, 2008, 1:36pm EDT
Congratulations! She sounds like she's a free spirit!
Austin Cushing Jun 12, 2008, 8:57pm EDT
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Sarah (I want points) Jun 15, 2008, 1:10pm EDT
We had a female dog that we didn't spay and she actually bled on the furniture. Not fun...
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Jun 20, 2008, 3:51am EDT
My sister is a Wildlife Biologist (Ph.D.) She absolutely adores animals, (more than she does people), and she would recommend spaying for several reasons. It is generally more humane to the animal, unless you plan on breeding. If not, you would be doing the baby a favor.

Training takes time, patience, and REWARDS. There are no shortcuts. Since you didn't say her name, I'll just say "Puppy". Each time Puppy does something wrong the voice should be harsh, and Puppy shall understand. Each time Puppy does the correct thing the voice should be soft and sweet, followed with a reward, and Puppy shall know that this is a good thing, such as using the potty outside.
denise e Jun 22, 2008, 9:30pm EDT
good luck with the training. we crate trained jaxper. we also have all of our animals fixed. i do believe it is a healthier choice for them.
Marsha S. Jun 29, 2008, 9:40am EDT
I would think if she is going to be an indoor dog, I wouldn't put her through the surgery, but then again, you will have her in heat too, which they say isn't too nice either.
I've only had one indoor dog before, and we never did get him fully housebroken, always woke up to a mess in the hall rather than him waiting or waking us up to go out.
denise e Jul 9, 2008, 7:46pm EDT
Thank you for posting this to Family Pets
necee t. Jul 15, 2008, 9:07pm EDT
congrats on your new puppy... enjoy...
Donna T. Jul 20, 2008, 8:12pm EDT
There's nothing like a new puppy -- enjoy!
~~ Sarina ~~ Jul 20, 2008, 8:21pm EDT
I would definately get her spayed. Many times there are grants for people on low incomes to either pay for the entire procedure or at least a good chunk of it. Good luck with the training. Glad that I have cats!
Suze P. Jul 20, 2008, 8:29pm EDT
Training is almost always harder with small dogs.. I've never had any trouble with training any of mine, so I don't know how to help..although cratd training her might help..at least it will save your carpets and your furniture until you can get her trained to go outside. Little dogs are harder too and have to go out more often, because they have tiny little bladders. Definitely spay her if you're not going to breed. If you don't, it's just messy and nasty and a real pain in the butt, and it's healthier for her. Plus, if she accidentally gets out while she's in heat, you'll end up with puppies you don't want.
Randall C. Jul 20, 2008, 8:57pm EDT
get her fixed
Diane "stormyz" B. Jul 21, 2008, 1:31am EDT
I know a lot more about cats than dogs, but for all pets it's best to get them spayed/neutered for health reasons.
Jessie B. Aug 2, 2008, 12:49am EDT
I would have her spayed some dogs when they go into heat actually bleed like a woman on her period.

as for training you have to be consistent. If you are there when the dog has an "accident" you must reprimand immediately this may sound harsh but this is what I was told to do and it worked for me. After the dog goes to the bathroom inside bring them back over to the mess and stick their nose up close to it all the while saying "no". When the dog goes outside give it immediate praise letting it know it has done right.
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Aug 2, 2008, 11:12am EDT
I'd get her fixed. Newspaper trainning was always best for me.
Good Luck. Cute pup.
Rae M. Oct 7, 2008, 10:40pm EDT
It is best to get them fixed, you do not want to deal with it when the dog goes in to heat and that will happen a lot.
Rae M. Oct 7, 2008, 10:41pm EDT
Puppies learn a lot by being rewarded. Take the dog out frequently and reward and praise her heavily when she does go potty outside.
Rae M. Oct 7, 2008, 10:43pm EDT
Learn the dogs potty signal. If you keep a good watch the dog will do certain things when it is about to go to the bathroom. She may walk funny or look like she is searching out a spot, if you see this grab her up right away and take her outside. Do this enough times and use the reward system and she will definately get the point.
Rae M. Oct 7, 2008, 10:45pm EDT
Something else that works is having the puppy hang out with another older potty trained dog who is friendly. If you have a friend with a dog, ask if you can bring your dog over and let your puppy hang out with the other dog for a while. Puppies will usuall mimick the behavior of the older dog.
Bryan "That 80's Dude" B. Oct 11, 2008, 11:35pm EDT
I assume you have gotten her trained now but if not We took ours out every two hours except at night when she stayed in her pen. As far as spaying her, I have been told that it helps them to live healthier but I dont know that for a fact.
DIANE D. Nov 30, 2008, 4:22pm EST
Nothing like a new puppy~
Kimmie X. Dec 10, 2008, 1:39am EST
I have 2 puggies... love little dogs.
DJ B. Jan 8, 2009, 8:15pm EST
Please, Please, Pretty Please spay your dog? :o)

If you need help with the costs, contact your local chapter of the Humane Society---they will ALWAYS pay 50% of the usual vet fee (which should be around $100 for a dog that size) or they will point you to a totally free mobile spay/neuter clinic.
Sandra L. Jan 12, 2009, 10:53pm EST
unless you want to put diapers on your puppy when she is in heat, get her spayed. She is also safer that way, as she is less likely to run away.
wiaka's just ... curious Feb 5, 2009, 12:59am EST
We have had many Chihuahua's in the past and they aren't excatly the outdoor type especially if it is cold. Some can be downright stuborn though. We use paper at the door first and then it is outside, taking them for walks. If they puddle then it is quickly taken out and told to use outside not inside.

I would spay her unless you don't mind blood every where and males will come around when she comes in heat. I had one that I didn't spayed because she was so little; when she was full grown she only weighed three pounds.
wiaka's just ... curious Feb 5, 2009, 1:00am EST
Oh ... good luck with the potty training. well its been awhile since you first posted this so I hope she has learned to go out.

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