I have a 5 month old toy poodle pup that weights in at about 3lbs and am having a little difficulty housetraining. I also have a mini poodle who weights 13lbs and I'm wondering do the same rules apply? My new puppy goes on a wee wee pad on most occasions as well as outside but because she's so small I'm wondering if I should allow her more time for her tiny bladder to grow. I keep her in a pen area with papers during the day(6hrs) and she is kenneled at night and stays dry. With my mini I kenneled her during the day(6hrs) and had no papers, mostly because she was a paper shredder. She's now fully trained(9mos old). I just am not sure it's too long to expect her to hold it for that amount of time or if I'm cutting her too much slack because she's tiny.

Thanks for any advise.
Lorna

Lorna,

Small dogs usually do take longer to develop full bladder control. However, I think six hours during the day is a long time to hold wee for a puppy of any size or breed. She is probably awake a lot of the time and excited by your other dog. It would not be reasonable to expect her to be dry.

Stacey

So it is the size of the puppy more than the age when their that tiny(I thought she was going to be a bit bigger but Oh well, shes so sweet). I didn't want to coddle her cause my other poodle (13lbs) seemed to go a little faster and can now hold it as long as she has to, not that I make her do so but she very rarely has to ask to go out. Most of the time my little one seems to get the paper/outside concept but then I find an puddle somewhere and think "what the heck am I doing wrong".

Thanks for the input Stacey(that's my daughters name;)

Hi again Lorna,

Yup, good idea not to coddle your little one. I would be extra vigilant with her to eliminate the accidents. Take her out more often, otherwise it will take longer for her to be fully housetrained.

Stacey