Daily schedules...
I'm having a bit (understated) of a problem with Santini. The advice I was initially given by someone that called themselves a 'chi expert' was to do things like leave the food out all day, don't worry about training them to go outside - let them use the pads inside, don't crate them overnight because you could wake up with a dead chi in the morning, etc. Now, Santini is 6 months old, and a holy terror.
Specifically, he started marking (not peeing, but marking his scent) all over the house. We cannot leave doors to bedrooms open because anything at his level will be covered. He also marked every cabinet bottom, the baseboards on the walls, the corners of the air hockey table we have downstairs, etc. He still peed and pooped on the pads, but marked all over. To combat this, we decided to get a fabric folding pen, which we use to keep him in when we are out of the house and at night, and during the day, fold up to block the stairs so he stays down here with me.
It worked wonderfully, and he loved it for the first two nights and days. Last night, however, he decided for whatever reason that he did NOT want to be in there, and spent over 3 hours howling at unbelievable decibels until after midnight. He usually sleeps on the couch and then when we go upstairs he goes right to sleep in his bed, but last night that did not happen. It was unbelievably frustrating, along with all the other bad habits that are starting to show up.
So I know he needs training. I know he needs to be neutered, which will happen asap. But I'd just like to know from all of you, what your daily schedule is like with your chi(s). We've been trying to make the switch over to going outside and eliminating the pads all together (we're down to one now) but he seems only interested in marking when he goes out, unless you happen to catch him at the right time when he poops. My husband takes him out in the morning before leaving for work, then I do after I drop the kids off a few hours later, then more during the day, we go for a long walk after the kids get home from school, and then go out in attempts to get him to pee 2-3 more times before he stays in. What happens though, is he'll go out and do nothing, then sneak off when no one's looking to use the pad. I know it's going to take time, I'm just wondering if I'm going about things all wrong or what.
I've also just started taking his food away except at feeding times, rather than leaving it out all day. The only other things I'd really like to work on is his barking and jumping up on people when you come home, at least before we start into actual training commands.
I know this is long and rambly, and I apologize...really I'm just looking to see what you guys do each day so maybe I can see what might work with him to get into a better pattern. Thank you for any help...
Specifically, he started marking (not peeing, but marking his scent) all over the house. We cannot leave doors to bedrooms open because anything at his level will be covered. He also marked every cabinet bottom, the baseboards on the walls, the corners of the air hockey table we have downstairs, etc. He still peed and pooped on the pads, but marked all over. To combat this, we decided to get a fabric folding pen, which we use to keep him in when we are out of the house and at night, and during the day, fold up to block the stairs so he stays down here with me.
It worked wonderfully, and he loved it for the first two nights and days. Last night, however, he decided for whatever reason that he did NOT want to be in there, and spent over 3 hours howling at unbelievable decibels until after midnight. He usually sleeps on the couch and then when we go upstairs he goes right to sleep in his bed, but last night that did not happen. It was unbelievably frustrating, along with all the other bad habits that are starting to show up.
So I know he needs training. I know he needs to be neutered, which will happen asap. But I'd just like to know from all of you, what your daily schedule is like with your chi(s). We've been trying to make the switch over to going outside and eliminating the pads all together (we're down to one now) but he seems only interested in marking when he goes out, unless you happen to catch him at the right time when he poops. My husband takes him out in the morning before leaving for work, then I do after I drop the kids off a few hours later, then more during the day, we go for a long walk after the kids get home from school, and then go out in attempts to get him to pee 2-3 more times before he stays in. What happens though, is he'll go out and do nothing, then sneak off when no one's looking to use the pad. I know it's going to take time, I'm just wondering if I'm going about things all wrong or what.
I've also just started taking his food away except at feeding times, rather than leaving it out all day. The only other things I'd really like to work on is his barking and jumping up on people when you come home, at least before we start into actual training commands.
I know this is long and rambly, and I apologize...really I'm just looking to see what you guys do each day so maybe I can see what might work with him to get into a better pattern. Thank you for any help...