Try to take dog’s point of view when housebreaking it

Q: I purchased a puppy a couple of months ago that was 10 weeks old. I have been trying to housebreak her ever since then. She is a Chihuahua crossed with a Dachshund and weighs 5 pounds. I must take her outside at least 15 to 20 times a day. What happened recently makes me question if she will ever get trained: I noticed she peed in her bed. What is wrong with her? Will she ever get it? — Ann Conners, Orlando, Florida

A: You have a puppy that is about 17 weeks old, weighs 5 pounds and most likely has a bladder the size of a big grape, and in a 24-hour period she will only pee or poop one time in the house. I know a lot of dog owners who would cheerfully trade places with you.

Why did she pee in her bed? She is young and lost control; that is the only reason. Animals do not think about things like we do, they just happen. The whole reason we are able to teach dogs to use the bathroom is because dogs like to do it in the same area. It doesn’t matter if it is outdoors in your yard or indoors on a pad.

The key is to be proactive and watch the dog so it does not have the opportunity to go to the bathroom where you do not want it to. Scolding the dog when it does make a mistake does not do any good.

There are some dogs that figure out where to go faster than others and some dogs, such as larger ones with bigger bladders, have more self-control than others. Some dogs also have better spatial awareness skills and have a better grasp of where the preferred elimination area is at all times.

Q: I got a male guinea pig named Horatio and I want to know if I can teach him to come when I call him like my dog does? He is 18 weeks old now and seems to be very smart, but when I say his name he does not seem to pay attention to it. — Susan Smith, Chicago

A: Guinea pigs are actually a lot smarter than we give them credit for, but since they have so many enemies, it takes a while for them to relax and let their guard down.

Sit on the floor with him about 2 feet away with a piece of lettuce tied to a string. Say his name in a clear and loud voice so that it sounds different from the way you usually talk and then toss the lettuce to him. As he reaches for it just slowly tug it toward you so he has to follow it, all the while saying his name.

When he can do this from only 2 feet away, then move him 4 feet away and then until he is following the lettuce to you from across the room. Then try it while you are sitting down on the floor just calling his name holding the lettuce in your hand — most likely he will get the idea and soon every time he hears his name he will look up.