Is Patty normal?

[pattypoo]

Hello everybody. I have some questions about our toilet training trials. There are two methods I have heard of; one is the "Crate method" where the dog is kept in its travelling box for two to three hours, and then taken outside, or directed to the desirable "relieving place" upon release. This method works on the assumption that the dog will never defecate in its own sleeping area.
When my wife and I were deciding which method was best we cancelled out this one quite early, as our dog, "Patty" (two months at that stage, three and a half months now) often relieved herself in her bed, (she did this even though she had free reign in a much wider area, and access to a litter tray with the litter sheets inside it) that seems to go against the advice from the experts, so we never subjected her to the confinement of her box for long periods of time, if we figured she had no regrets about doing number ones and twos in her box to begin with. This is also a problem as we cannot give her anything soft to sleep on, we have tried numerous cushions and mats and I even gave her an old T-shirt, all of which had to removed and either thrown away or put in the washing machine after the first couple of days. Also, she sometimes sleeps in her litter tray, on the litter sheets, she doesn't mind if they are clean or dirty, it is all the same to her. There was even an incident where she soaked the quilt of my bed; we used to allow her to run around on our bed for a few minutes before we put her in her own area for the night, it was fine for a week, then suddenly, one night, she went on a rampage zeroing in on several spots within a manner of seconds, and before we realized what was happening.
Is this normal?
The other method I heard of for potty training was where the dog is kept in an enclosed area, like a pen or a bathroom, and the floor is covered with sheets. The sheets are then removed each time the dog "eliminates" on them, and are replaced by fresh ones. We figured we couldn't use this method either, because she really likes to dig. So we have opted for praising her when she does the right thing, and growling at her when she doesn't. The trick is catching her in the act I guess.
Please help.

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Patty - Corgis do not usually want to or like to soil their own beds, bedding, crates or other confined areas. All of the six Corgis I have had over a lengthy period of time opted not to poop in their own outside areas within our property once they reached into their fourth month of age.
I have used the newspaper method quite successully with Corgi pups I had years ago but didn't have to engage this method for my last two.
Your very last sentence is the method I recommend- timihg it right and taking the pup outdoors to designated toilet spots or any areas he/she can relieve themselves

[tandemgal]

I have to agree that timing is everything when first starting potty training. Usual times are soon as she wakes up, after meals, after play periods, b4 bed

usually 15 min to 1 hr after eatting Patty will need to potty depending on her system. as soon as she begings to sniff or wander off take her outside to the area you want to use. If you are having trouble keeping an eye on her (corgi puppys are quick!) maybe keep her on a lead next to you till she seems ready to go. Lots of praise and a treat when she goes outside. If you catch her in the act a loud AAAAH or other noise to startle her and then take her out! If you find out later then she wont understand the correction.

Also you may want to remove her water bowl after dinner for now. She is still very young and her bladder is still small.

After breakfast about 15/20 min. take a walk to releave her b4 going to work - walk for as long as it takes her to go. If you both work all day leave her in the crate or bathroom - she shouldn't have the run of the house till she is potty trained. During the day you will need to leave a puppy pad available for her. Use a cleaner that remove the pee smell so it wont triger her to go to that spot again.

It may take a few months to get her on a schedule... dont give up - soon she will be a well behaved little pup! Dont worry about giving her a soft sleeping area right now - all are different. My Emma prefers cold floor but Chloe loves the soft pillows... Patty must be more like Emma