[amygims]

Hey!

I just adopted a puppy last Monday. She is 7 months old and was already house trained to go outside. We are going to be moving into an apartment together when I go to school and so I am trying to litter train her. I have gotten her to go potty in her box sometimes, but the problem is that she holds it for so long before she will go that I am worried it is unhealthy for her. She will usually hold is for I'd say 10-11 hours or more before she finally just cannot hold it anymore and starts going and I put her in her box and praise her and give her a treat. We have only been doing this for a few days so I don't expect her to understand that she is allowed to go in her box yet. I am sure she will catch on soon but just worry because she holds it for such extended periods of time and don't want her to develop a bladder infection or anything like that.

Have any of you had a similar experience? Is there something else I should do to make her understand that she can go in the box or should I just wait for her to catch on the way we are going? I have already tried putting grass in the box, putting the box in the yard and the commercial potty training sprays/pads and none of them seem to help.

[Barhund Canine]

Personally I do not understand what you are trying to do if the dog is already housebroken. I don't like litter training myself and wouldn't recomend it unless your going to get a cat.

[amygims]

Well that's nice that you don't like litter training, but it would be a great benefit to me because I live in a cold climate. My dog is part Italian Greyhound and she already won't go outside sometimes if there's a chilly wind at night, so housebroken or not we're going to have lots of issues pottying outside once winter comes. It will also be helpful because we will be in an apartment and she won't go if she's on her leash. I also don't want to worry about her if she has to go potty while I'm at class. So to be quite frank I don't really care whether you like litter training or not and if anyone else would like to offer something instructive that would be great.

[Durbkat]

Well greyhoundgirl has grey hounds and she lives in a places where it can get into the negatives during the winter and they are fine. Plus why would you want a dog that makes large amounts of poop, I'm guessing this since it will be a big dog, pooping in your house? I mean it would reek and you'd have to change it every time she goes. You can teach your dog the go potty command so when its cold your dog can run out back and go then come back inside. What do you mean your dog won't go outside when its cold out, does it sit at the door and refuse to move when you tug on the leash or call her name? It's going to be very hard to make the dog go in a litter box, which isn't natural for them since they aren't cats, espically when its been trained to go outside. So put on a coat and take her outside.

[amygims]

It is not a greyhound its an Italian Greyhound. There's a big difference.

[Durbkat]

I googled for images of both breeds and they look very similar to me except for size which makes no difference on the cold. For dogs that have little fur and fat you can get a coat for them on those cold days. Also you never answered my question about what does she do when you try to take her outside on a cold day.

[briteday]

I would definitely get a little coat for the dog in any case. And if the litter training doesn't work out, put the coat on the dog during the cold weather.

Also, just like a cat, you will need to keep the litter box or piddle pads cleaned up to have any chance at success. Dogs don't like doing business where there's already a mess. They don't like to step in it.

Perhaps you could also gate off a kitchen area or bathroom with the litter box / piddle pads in it so that the dog doesn't have the run of the apt. to start with.

I think Italian greyhounds are just the cutest breed!

[Barhund Canine]

Well what you are trying to do with the dog is very detrimental to the dog. Since she is already housebroken and does not want to go in the house all you are going to do is cause confusion and more problems than you already have.

Instead of thinking what is beneficial and more convenient for you. Maybe you should think about what is more beneficial for the dog. Thanks to people such as yourself I rescue and rehabilitate dogs that are screwed up.

I have over 20 years experience training and dealing with dog behavior problems.

Sounds like to me with your attitude and not willing to listen to sound advice from a professional it may be better if you found the dog a new home where someone would take into consideration what is beneficial to the dog and fulfill the dogs needs.

Is that instructional enough for you?