We recently bought a fabulous little Shih Tzu puppy who was 17 weeks old when we got him and reared in a kennel.
On the advice of a dog expert I crate trained him as he would NOT perform outside at all!
3 weeks into training he began to get more and more reliable and therefore didn't need to be in the crate very much.
He suddenly started (about 3 nights ago) to want to poo at about 4 or 5 in the morning and then not being able to! I gave him some cod liver oil with disastrous effects - he started doing poos in the house at quite a rate!
This morning I let him out as usual for his morning pee (he has always been completely dry all night) and he would or could not go. I crated him - put him in the garden again - no go! Eventually he did - but my problem is: he doesn't seem to need to go at the usual times ie after meals, sleep, play etc... Times are so erratic which makes it difficult to judge and also he is so easily distracted we sometimes stay in the garden or on walks in the park for hours waiting for him to need to go.
Any ideas and should I worry about his health? I mean, could he have some sort of blockage?
I was told with crate training it would take a week or so - I'm getting quite anxious that he'll ever be OK and it's really not for want of trying. I've been working very hard at it - obviously not in the right way.
He also doesn't drink much which is a problem - I mix alot of veggies and stock with his Nutro biscuits to get him to take in fluids.
Any good advice would be gratefully received!
Alison

Hi, it does sound like he is a bit constipated. It is not usually a good idea to add much to a complete feed, as it upsets the balance, which has been carefully worked out by the manufacturers. I would give him a dessert spoonful of plain live yoghurt on his Nutro meals which may help his tummy sort itself out. I would not use "human" stock (!) it is usually too salty, on his food. You could give a teaspoon of sunflower oil(used for cooking) twice a day too, to help smooth the way. How many meals a day is he having and how many poos on average in 24 hours.

Hi Westie lover! Thanks for getting back to me with helpful advice...
I don't use 'human' stock cubes but boil up some veggies (carrots, beans, spinach or whatever I find) and use that water with his Nutro biscuits.
The yoghurt is a good idea.. also the oil. I have used vegetable oil with a couple of meals a day.
In answer to your question - he has 3 meals a day and he poos on average about once - sometimes twice or more if he's had too much oil!

cod liver oil with disastrous effects
mix alot of veggies and stock with his Nutro biscuits to get him to take in fluids.
*************************
Poor puppy.
Did you consult with his breeder or a vet before feeding him these items? Cod liver oil can be toxic when overdosed. And young puppies need routine -- bland food included. Their systems are developing still. I'd think that mixing veggies and stock with biscuits in addition to puppy food would be a bit much for him :(

I think that it might be a good idea to check with a vet before doing anything else. S/he can check over your puppy to see if there are any health problems and consult with you about normal or abnormal behavior.

I"m not certain about "crate training as he would NOT perform outside at all." Crate training is good, but I'm still confused what you mean with his 'outside performance". This is why consulting with a vet might help you out a bit more. Conversing 2 ways + a physical exam can do much more than posting on a board :)
good luck,
toodles

Thanks, Toodles..
Of course I consulted - not his breeder because they were awful - but 2 very good breeders of Shih Tzus, also a dog specialist who is helping train him (in a class with other pups) and others!
I have talked to my vet about it but not in great detail so I think I'll take him back there and question him. He's such a busy vet though (we live in London and they have too many animals to look after!) so I'm not confident of getting much advice.
I do mix too many things probably but I don't give him biscuits AND puppy food. I guess I'm trying to give him variety and test what suits him best.
He has a little Naturediet (all natural products with no additives) OR Nutro biscuits with freshly cooked vegs and the water they've been cooked in. Sometimes I've given him little bits of chicken which he loves.
The breeders had told me to feed him on chicken and Puppy Science Diet - he hated the Science Diet biks.
I did stop giving him cod liver oil though I know so many people who give it to their animals which really helps their coats, skin etc... he used to scratch so much when we got him I was told to give him stuff like that to help. The vet couldn't find any fleas or mites and anyway I've treated him for those, so the scratching is not that.
The crate training was given to me by the dog trainer and this wonderful breeder of Shih Tzus in Wales. It worked very well for first 2 weeks but maybe I've disturbed his digestion with trying different things and that's partly led to very irregular bowel and bladder movements! I'm just probably trying too hard to get it right!
thanks again

Alison

Hello Alison,

Not sure if I am misunderstanding your Post, but here goes....

It would appear that you are wanting specific times for your dog to 'perform', i.e. after meals, rest, play, sleep etc. However, although this is a good guide line, it is mainly puppies that you need to watch closely during that time. At five months your dog will tend to go to the toilet when he feels the need to! - and because he is house-trained, he will want to convey this need to you! Therefore, are you watching him for certain indications that he wants to go outside? Most dogs develop their own way of attracting their Owner's attention to this requirement.

Equally, when your dog does 'perform' outside (whether a wee or pooh) do you praise him well and give a word or phrase such as "Good boy Be Clean" or "Good boy Do Business".

I just had the impression that you had perhaps not 'moved on' with your dog. As you say he now remains dry through the night, and you may still be expecting puppy type housetraining guidelines. If this is the case, start relaxing a bit, and observe your dog, and any indication of toileting or his need to go to the back door, go out with him and see what he does - and Praise him gently. You could even pop outside with him every hour or so to help encourage this, but just stay outside for five minutes! Just relax, be consistent, and observant, and - praise the little chap!

All the best,
Denise.

Denise hi! Thanks for your kind email.
You didn't quite understand my email! He ISN'T housetrained - hence the problem! He was 17 weeks when we got him and from a kennel where presumably he never got any regularity and training of any sort. So, in answer to your email, he can't let me know when of if he needs to go out cos he doesn't know himself!
I DO praise him alot when he does go outside and for a while he seemed to be getting better.
Since we got him, I've stayed with him in the garden and given him extra long walks to see that he does poo/pee etc!! He can keep going without doing either for hours and hours. It can't be natural for a small puppy to go for such long periods without doing even a pee. Other days he does 3 or 4 poos (one always now at about 4 or 5 in the morning) and loads of small pees. I can't judge any sort of pattern which is confusing. Makes trying to train him so much harder!
Anyway, thanks for your help
Alison

Hi Alison,
I can't help much with more ideas about housetraining but I would still just make sure you put him out regularly and after each meal etc. As to not peeing much I know about that :) I've got a Tibetan Terrier and sometimes he can go all day just peeing once :) :) I don't know where he stores it. He's fairly regular with poos. Does one or two a day. Lunchtime and evening but at first I panicked about the peeing, kept thinking I was doing something wrong but I kept letting him out regularly and now I've realised there's nothing wrong with him. It's just how he is and if it's raining or the ground is wet he'll only go out when I make him ;) :) :D
Funny, my last dog, a Golden Retriever could also hold onto it all day :) :) Maybe it's something about me.
As for getting him to make a noise when he wants out I saw another thread recently about toilet training and someone gave a really good idea of taking the pup to the door and trying to get it excited before you open the door to see if you could teach it to make a noise. I do have that problem with Toby in that he goes and stands at door, quiet as a mouse, so you've got to let him out regular and/or watch where he is.
Sorry I couldn't be more help but just keep being consistent. Maybe others wouldn't agree but I would also say be consistent with his feeding as well and don't keep trying all different foods because they soon learn and run rings round you. I know, I fell for it. I kept trying Toby on all different meals because he wasn't eating well. Eventually, I stopped messing about and kept feeding him the same meal and, guess what, he settled and started eating good!!
Who says dogs are daft?;) ;) :D :D
Anyway, sorry to go on. Good luck,
Dot

Hi Dot. Thanks so much - your email really comforted me! I just couldn't believe a pup would pee so rarely and now you say your TT pees less often than most and that helps a lot! I put Mikey out SOOOO often you wouldn't believe - also stay out for hours sometimes just to make sure he pees/poos and it is so frustrating because he'll likely come into the house eventually and do one in the house!
the crate training is brilliant up to a point but I HATE putting him in it so try to avoid it as much as I can.
About the food... you might well be right. My internet friends who both breed Shiddies told me they have always given their dogs and pups a variety. Especially veg, chicken, rice etc etc... and even raw chicken wing bones!!
I'll try just Nutro and water for next few days and see what happens.
Thanks for being so nice and understanding - one can get to feel a bit desperate sometimes and I get so nervous about illnesses or what I might be doing wrong!!
Funny you've got a TT - I very nearly got one till I decided a Shiddie was probably a better size for London!!
all the best
Alison