Okay.. basically at 3 weeks when they were able to pee on thier own and mom was nudging to the front of the crate for potties I put a pee pad in there. Now they are in a puppy play area of about 5x5. I have a box in the corner for sleeping and the bedding is changed 3x a day. When they come out of the box they step right onto a crib pad with 2 pee pads on it so large potty area. Pee pads are changed with the most used one getting replaced and the less used one moving to the closer to the bed area that is most used. (potty area smells like potty and bedding smells like clean bedding is the theme here)
So far I am very pleased with this. They do use the pee pads. Not always, and its 'literally' hit or miss sometimes.. LOL But I have seen pups leave playing to go to the pads and the pads are used daily. If they wake they will go pee and then go back to the sleeping.
Question.. at this point i have been ignoring their pottying.. as in I do not comment on pee in the floor and I do not praise or anything if they pee on the pad. No obviously you would not scold a puppy for accidents and certainly not at an age where most dont even think you can housetrain them yet.. LOl But I'm wondering if I should be praising the pee pad use and if so at what age do I start that?? I havent been bc I dont feel like I'm really 'training' I'm just making things available for their natural instincts to stay in place. And I'm not sure I'd accomplish anything but distract them..
At what age do they understand praise for an accomplishment or behavior? At 5 weeks I am just pleasant and low key and happy with them all the time as the only goal I have right now is to let them see that while sure mom and littermates are awesome but us peeps in the house are pretty cool too! KWIM? Each puppy has been given individual time since 3 weeks of age and I spend a lot of time in the puppy area and the kitchen is puppy proofed so they get time in there everyday for a 'new area' explore as well now.
I am in touch with a chi breeder by phone and email that is out of state and a friend who has bred poms for years but I find the advice on some of things is just not helpful as their goal is to have well socialized pups that leave. I am trying to lay the foundation for 3 pups I can live with. lol And just to note I dont expect them to be 'house broken' at some crazy age .. I just want it to easy because they got a good start. My older two chis are pee pad trained and go outside. I have 2 pee pads in the house at all times so pee pad training is not something I will need to 'untrain' them of later either.
So far I am very pleased with this. They do use the pee pads. Not always, and its 'literally' hit or miss sometimes.. LOL But I have seen pups leave playing to go to the pads and the pads are used daily. If they wake they will go pee and then go back to the sleeping.
Question.. at this point i have been ignoring their pottying.. as in I do not comment on pee in the floor and I do not praise or anything if they pee on the pad. No obviously you would not scold a puppy for accidents and certainly not at an age where most dont even think you can housetrain them yet.. LOl But I'm wondering if I should be praising the pee pad use and if so at what age do I start that?? I havent been bc I dont feel like I'm really 'training' I'm just making things available for their natural instincts to stay in place. And I'm not sure I'd accomplish anything but distract them..
At what age do they understand praise for an accomplishment or behavior? At 5 weeks I am just pleasant and low key and happy with them all the time as the only goal I have right now is to let them see that while sure mom and littermates are awesome but us peeps in the house are pretty cool too! KWIM? Each puppy has been given individual time since 3 weeks of age and I spend a lot of time in the puppy area and the kitchen is puppy proofed so they get time in there everyday for a 'new area' explore as well now.
I am in touch with a chi breeder by phone and email that is out of state and a friend who has bred poms for years but I find the advice on some of things is just not helpful as their goal is to have well socialized pups that leave. I am trying to lay the foundation for 3 pups I can live with. lol And just to note I dont expect them to be 'house broken' at some crazy age .. I just want it to easy because they got a good start. My older two chis are pee pad trained and go outside. I have 2 pee pads in the house at all times so pee pad training is not something I will need to 'untrain' them of later either.