Hi, can anyone tell me whether puppy training pads are worth getting to help us housetrain our 11 week old westie. We are putting newspaper down at night which she kicks away and poos on floor. Please don't suggest crate training - I bought one and took it back next day. She has had diarrhea since we've had her (only 5 days) and pooed in crate and as she was so distressed got covered in it (not nice!!). Can anyone suggest a good book on how to housetrain a puppy. As anovice dog owner all advice welcome please.

Hi there!

Don't know how much help this will be, as I don't even have a dog yet! I just ordered a book from Amazon.co.uk called "How to Housebreak your Dog in Seven Days" by Shirlee Kalstone (£4.50). I ordered it because it had good reviews from customers who had used it. Might be worth a try. If you don't like the sound of that one, they have lots of other books to choose from. Good luck!

Fiona

Hiya
puppy training pads are a complete waste of money Im afraid. I wouldnt bother with them.
She's had diarrhoea since you got her? Where did you get her from? Also, what are you feeding her on? Have you changed her diet from what she is used to being fed on?
Have a look on the web as well for housetraing. Im sure there will be some old threads on here too, do a search to see what there is.
Make sure you take the pup out every morning first thing, and at fairly regular intervals throughout the day. Go out shortly after her meals into the garden and be patient.
When you see her circling in the house, it probably means she is about to go to the toilet...so whip her outised and then praise her when she does it.
Good luck and be patient with her.
steph
x

Sorry Steph would have to disagree, we used the training pads with DArcy and found them really helpful, she learnt to go on them almost immediately.

It did make it a bit harder to then get her to go outside but it saved our carpets a lot of aggro

Because my pup is left at home while Im at work, I cant always be there to take him out and like you, newspaper was being played with rather than pee'd on so I tried the training pads and they work well (although his aim is a little off sometimes!) I have wooden floorboards and with newspaper, I had one patch that has been stained with the ink - it seemed that when he pee'd, it would either sit on the top in a puddle or sink through to the floorboards.

But I agree, the diarrhoea is more urgent than the house training! :)

Thank you for all the advice will definitely try the books.

As for her diarrhoea she is eating what the breeder was giving her Royal Canine plus a spoonful of Naturediet. The other day I tried her on some mashed egg but she didn't seem to like it. She is in the garden ever such a lot as at the moment my back doors stay open and she seems to like being outside. We can't walk her just yet as she is having her second lot of injections tomorrow (have asked the vet if he will give her the "once over" when he sees her) he thinks that the change of home has just most probably unsettled her.

I know the housetraining doesn't happen overnight, but when your cleaning up diarrhoea at 5.30am you do get a bit downhearted!!

The best book you can get in your position is "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey. It will tell you how to housetrain your puppy without resorting to withholding water at night (which some wicked people do), as well as other basic training.

I would be concerned about your pup's diarrhoea - they often have slightly loose bowels for a day or so after moving home (the change in drinking water can be enough to upset them), but it shouldn't last long. What are you feeding her? Is it the same as she was eating before?

Can i ask why it is wicked to with hold water at night?
My older dog slept up stairs for 5 years and did not have water in my room, but now i with hold it as the pup would drink the nile if she could :-D

I too would be concerned if pup has had constant diahorrea (sp??) and would take to the vets straight away .
We used old towels instead of newspaper which feels better underfoot . As we got pup in winter time and he was a bit of a nancy and wasnt too keen on going outside in the cold we put the towels down outside too and he was really quick to train .
Just a thought ;)
Lesley

All animals should have access to clean drinking water at any time. It doesn't have to be in the same room as them, but they must be able to get to it if they want to. It's a basic animal husbandry requirement.

Besides, apart from the feeling of thirst being unpleasant, it is a signal that the body is starting to dehydrate. And regular slight dehydration can lead to kidney and other urinary troubles. Not what I would want to risk.

Personally I prefer to train my dogs go outside not inside on pads, paper or anything else. Remembering at the age your pup is they have little if any control of there eliminating functions so in the early stages it is you who needs the training. Take the pup out as soon as it wakes, is feeds, has a drink, finishes playing and every 45 min to 1 hour in between. Stay with the pup praise and treat when it goes and if possible leave a door open so the pup can go out if it should think it needs to go, follow it out and a big big praise.