Small (toy size) dog owners

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I have a large breed dog, but don't know how to help DF who recently acquired a pom-mix. I can leave my big dog all day, but I suppose a little doggy can not hold it as long. How often does a small dog need to be left out to relieve itself - how long can you leave the dog unattended without access to the outdoors?


DF is having some trouble training her pup to not go potty in her crate. The crate is too big for the dog and I suggested she use the divider, which she is going to do. DF works full-time and her DD is in school all day, so if they are to break her of the crate they feel she could not last a whole day without being left outside to take care of business. The dog is fine when they are home, she's not making any messes that they are aware, but while they are away she is crated.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

We have a 7 lb. toy fox terrier/chi mix and she uses a pottybox. Its much like a kitty litter pan but instead of using litter, we use wood pellets that are used in woodstoves. Lucy uses it for both pee and poo.

 

[hiwaygal]

This is a puppy, correct?

The "rule of thumb" for pups is 30min/1hr for each month of age...that means an 8 week old puppy can really only go about 2 hours max. before needing to potty. Just like a human baby, their bladders are still developing and they don't have full control until they are about 6-8 months old.

Dogs with smaller bladders may need to go out more frequently, but a healthy adult dog should be able to hold it for 8 hours or so (again, max).

If the pup is allowed to go in the crate, you will have a VERY hard time breaking that habit later in life. Is there someone (neighbor, friend?) who can come over every couple of hours to let the pup go outside?

If the training is consistent, it won't take long to housebreak a pup. But the expectations must be reasonable. Asking a 3 month old pup to last more than a couple of hours is setting both the owner and the dog up for failure.

You might also find some tips here: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/housebreaking.htm

I always thought the easiest way to train a pup is to figure out what HIS schedule is...adjust your schedule to meet it (this is only temporary) and gradually adjust his schedule to meet your needs. Following all the other tips and tricks as well to keep this all a positive experience for both you and the pup.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I thought there was a "rule" to follow pertaining to the age of the dog. The pup is a few months old, not sure the exact age.

 

[EpcotSweetHrts0512]

We have a yorkie and she goes through the night without having to go potty, so I guess 6-8 hrs has been her max. She is crated during the day but we do go home at lunch and let her out and about for a while. This is our first small dog and I think I couldn't go back to big dogs again!

 

[cheermom1]

I have a yorkie too she is so sweet but yeah she needs to go out quite a bit but we don;t let her out side right now too cold (1 1/2 lbs) she is little and will only get about 3 lb max - anyway we use puppy pads and they seem to work ok she is still learning I don;t create her i'm too much of a softy i jsut clean it up and put her on the puppy pad but that's me good luck...

 

[Aimeedyan]

Mine can go full days - at rare times, 11 hours. They do fine.

Small breeds are typically full grown at 6 months or so and can stay a full 8-9 hour day by then. Before then, it's 1 hour for each month of life plus one.

A 4 month old can stay 5 hours.

 

[monkey68]

I have a shih tzu, and she does fine holding it in all day. She usually gets a walk at 6:30 am, and then nobody is home until 4 when she gets another walk, and she's fine holding it all day. She doesn't do much except sleep when nobody is home anyway. Once, she waited about 14 or 15 hours before she got walked (not our fault, we had to make a trip to the ER and nobody was home). We expected to find that she went on the carpet, but no, she was sleeping by the stairs waiting for us.

 

[java]

I have a 20 pound french bulldog- not so dainty but small compared to my lab. She is now at 1 year able to hold it for about 6 hours. once she held it for 10. But she REALLY had to go when we got home. Poor little thing.

 

[C.Ann]

Mine can go full days - at rare times, 11 hours. They do fine..

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That's the way our Pom was..