Scolding the Transgressor
by MaryM
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
We got Sassy in June at the age of 10 weeks 5 days after our Silky Terrier died. We rescued Benji a couple of weeks ago because the breeder became very ill. He was 11 weeks. Because of the breeder's illness, both were very stringently paper trained when they came to live with us. I thought the breeder was a genius for having accomplished this feat. I've never used papers with puppies before except during the housebreaking stage. Because of the unrelenting Southwestern heat this summer, Sassy did not get house-broken. This little gal has an attitude and was keeping me outside most of the day on false alarms for a couple of 108 degree days with NO success. She had NO clue and though sometimes she'd accidentally pee outdoors and get praise, she'd never pooped outside til this week! I had finally just set up one paper area in her own bathroom and decided to wait til the weather broke. She had NO accidents after that. (On a trip a couple of weeks ago, she wet in the yard on leash the whole time, but refused to poop for over 2 days and then it was in a dark, remote corner of a little-used room). Enter Benji two weeks ago. After he had lived here about a week, I started finding surprises. But, because of volume, I know he was not the only culprit. When, late one night this week, in the dark hallway, I stomped one of these with my bare foot, I knew the time had come to get out the crates and begin the trips outside. Thankfully, we've finally had relief from the months of 100 plus temps. Tuesday this week, I took up all the papers and crated my precious babies. I only let them out to play after we've had full success in the yard and re-crate them in a couple of hours. Benji is doing great, but he's NOT totally innocent. Sassy's making progress. We occasionally find a surprise (like a puddle at the foot of our bed last night or the transgression in the breakfast room yesterday afternoon). So, who do we scold? I hate scolding the one who is not guilty, but this NOT acceptable. I know you need to keep them crated or at least leashed to you during this training period. And I have noticed they are becoming more obedient now that I've taken control. But these little guys are used to playing together all day and they deserve a relief. I felt like a Maltese abuser Tuesday when we started this and I only let them out to go out on leashes or to offer food or water which they refused. Now, three days later, the pattern seems set and I can pretty well time them. I'm trying to relax, take them outside without the leashes and let them have a period of play before re-crating them. I do realize there are going to be occasional accidents and that they basically need to be crated for a while. (Hubby became a believer in the crates last night after the wetting incident).

OK...so my question is...are we causing stress to the innocent by showing the transgression to both babies and scolding them? Also, does anyone have any suggestions when working with two furbabies at once? I feel another week will be about all it will take with Benji, as he gets very vocal in his crate when he needs to go outside; Sassy is not as predictable, as she's been quite frustrating in past attempts. But she doesn't like being crated when we come back in and Benji gets to stay out and play. These are my first Maltese, though I've always wanted one. Our Silky was 12 years old when he died in June and he'd been house-broken since he was 8 weeks old. So I'm treading in strange territory.Thanks for any suggestions. :}

DISCUSSION:

If you want to give them play periods together before putting them in their crates, could you gate off a kitchen or other area without carpet? Maybe a puppy john with papers, in that area too. Others here sing the praises of the puppy john.
Mary