New mom to unexpected additions!

[Nella Stevens]

Hello everybody! I am new to this site, and have unexpectedly and unpreparedly become a new "mom" to two 15-month-old miniature short-hair daschunds. (This is in addition to the 2 daughters, 2 cats, a quaker parrot, and a mom-in-law with her own schi-zu that already are in my house--imagine my eye-opening experiences lately!!) Seriously, they're my dad's pups, but he got sick, and has tried to take care of them but they're just too much for him. They've not had alot of training, so it looks like I'm starting at square one with them. They're cute as they can be and really eager to please, but has anybody had any experience trying to train 2 puppies at the same time? My only experience with dogs has been with Labs, and they're temperament is way different from these little guys. We're set up for the puppy obedience class at PetSmart in May, but I need some sanity now! Plus, are they supposed to still be really hyper at this age? And peeing and pooping in the house, even after they've been outside and done their business?? Or is that just the daschund mindset? Guess I didn't think of them as still being puppies....
By the way, their names are Samson and Delilah, and they have been spayed and neutered, eat Science Diet once a day, and are used to a crate.

Major thanks to ANYONE with experience and advice!!
Nella

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Nella~


Thank you for taking these pups in. Here are few articles to get you started with your new pups.

http://www.doggiebagonline. com/articles/article.php?articlei d=15

http://www.doggiebagonline. com/articles/article.php?articlei d=36

http://www.doggiebagonline. com/articles/article.php?articlei d=15

If you have any other questions, please ask.


Hello everybody! I am new to this site, and have unexpectedly and unpreparedly become a new "mom" to two 15-month-old miniature short-hair daschunds. (This is in addition to the 2 daughters, 2 cats, a quaker parrot, and a mom-in-law with her own schi-zu that already are in my house--imagine my eye-opening experiences lately!!) Seriously, they're my dad's pups, but he got sick, and has tried to take care of them but they're just too much for him. They've not had alot of training, so it looks like I'm starting at square one with them. They're cute as they can be and really eager to please, but has anybody had any experience trying to train 2 puppies at the same time? My only experience with dogs has been with Labs, and they're temperament is way different from these little guys. We're set up for the puppy obedience class at PetSmart in May, but I need some sanity now! Plus, are they supposed to still be really hyper at this age? And peeing and pooping in the house, even after they've been outside and done their business?? Or is that just the daschund mindset? Guess I didn't think of them as still being puppies....
By the way, their names are Samson and Delilah, and they have been spayed and neutered, eat Science Diet once a day, and are used to a crate.

Major thanks to ANYONE with experience and advice!!
Nella

[heathea]

Wow! Good for you for helping your dad out, but you are in for a lot of work.
Lets isolate what it is you are looking to do.

1. get potty-training under control

2. Make sure they get along with the other dog in the house, a shih tzu.

3. Make sure they have polite manners (aka training)

4. They are crate trained.

5. Their diet.

Okay. First off, this is all just my opinion, so I will not be offended if anyone thinks my advice is wrong, etc. etc. etc.

Alright, 2 puppies at one time is tough. really tough, however it is do-able. and 15 months is almost out of puppi-hood, so that should help. I would start with NILIF as a training method. That stands for Nothing in Life is Free and it is in the articles section of this forum. That will make your life easier and teach the dogs what it is you want from them.

There are also articles regarding potty training in the articles section. They are great and the fact that the dogs are already used to crates can only help you. How often do you crate? Do they go the bathroom in the crate? are some questions you might want to answer if you have time.

Are all of the dogs and other animals getting along okay in the house?

Also, regarding food, I would split up the amount of food your small dogs get and feed them at least 2 times per day. Something you might want to think about later would be changing your dogs food. Science Diet is VERY expensive for the low quality of the food. For that price you could be getting a much higher quality food. Take a look at the food lists in the dog food forum when you get a chance and if you do change them over make sure you do it very slowly by mixing the new food in with the old food over the course of at least a week or so.

I don't know if I have been helpful at all, but I wanted you to have a responsse to your post as soon as possible.
Good luck!
Heather

[Jesse Cruz]

Welcome Nella, I think you will find a lot of valuable advice here. I think you should also post in the section for Two or more dogs (i think that's the name). Almost all have experience in training two dogs.

[Nella Stevens]

Thanks for the articles and the advice!

I had read about the NILIF method on a website called K9deb, and started with one small piece of their advice about a week ago--the affection-on-demand rule. My dad has these little guys on his lap most of the time, and they've grown to think that it's their right to be on mine. I had gotten to where I would holler "DOWN" until I was hoarse, but they were still getting attention that way. I started just ignoring them, putting them on the floor without a word, over and over (and over and over.....). They're doing better with this now, and I'll only love on them when I've called them to come to me. Baby steps, but still progress....

They get along OK with the shi-zu, but that little shi-zu gets along great with everybody, especially the parrot (I'll post that story somewhere else, once I find my way around the site...). They bark like mad at the cats, tho, and try to "play" with them. I think the female doxie has gotten her nose swiped a time or two, but she still chases them.

When I am home, the pups go outside about every 2 hours, for a half-hour or so. Someone told me that I should actually walk them out to a place in the yard and wait for them to do their business--True or False (I didn't do this with my lab)? Then, about once every 5 or 6 times, one of them will pee or poop about 15 minutes after coming inside. I don't scold, I just put them both back outside and clean up the mess. They have pooped in the crate once, and it was my fault (home late from work). I do try and clean up their messes very thoroughly with OxyClean and water. I've limited their access to the house to the kitchen and den with baby gates, and if someone is not in there with them, I crate them, even if it's for a few minutes. But when I open that crate door, they fly out like bullets, and ALWAYS in opposite directions. Then I'm worried that I won't get them outside in time. It's like trying to heard cats, I tell you!

I have no problem with changing foods, and I printed the list off and will see what I can find this weekend. And the 2x/day feeding is what my dad did with them, so I can try that again (their usual portion split in half, right?).

Thanks all, and I'll give you an update on Monday!

[heathea]

Sounds like you are really working hard at it. with 2 younger dogs it might be easier to allow one out of the crate and take them outside one at a time. Use a command (mine is hurryup, gopotty) and when they go, do the potty party thing (very excited high voice,they know they have done very good, treats, etc.) With both of them out at the same time it could be very distracting for them. It is just an idea, so try it and see what you like best.
It is an option to take a dog out on a leash to the area that you want them to use for a toilet. It won't take long until they figure out that is where you want them to go. If they don't go within a few minutes, take them back in and then return to that spot 10 minutes later. Only reward with attention and treats when they go.

I take it they are both in the same crate? You could look into getting another crate to put the other dog in which would give you slightly more control over the mass exodus.
I understand completely about that fear that they will not get out in time, in fact I always used to worry about that and run my dogs down the stairs even before I got to pee in the morning. Test out that theory, the worst thing that could happen is you clean up a little more. I found that I can actually take the time to make my dogs sit in an orderly fashion while I open the door, then I release them to let them out. It is all part of NILIF for me. And I get to pee first (in the bathroom of course)! :D

Enjoy your cat herding!

Honestly though, it sounds like you are doing a great job! Don't forget, if you decide to change foods do it as slowly as possible to avoid tummy upsets.

Have a great weekend!
Heather