Introducing Murphy...
Murphy is my 8 week old chihuahua. I got her at 4 weeks old BUT BEFORE YOU START TYPING AWAY ABOUT HOW TOO YOUNG SHE WAS... I already know that. I didn't get her from a puppy mill, I didn't even get her from a breeder. I got her from my mom's eldery home health patient, her dog had puppies but the litter was too big for her and she started having seizures from a calcium deficiency and the patient couldn't take care of the puppies herself so enter me.
I've already been told the hardest thing to get a chihuahua trained in is housebreaking and we're doing okay as long as I take her out often enough but I don't think she associates the outside with "potty" I think she just associates the outside with wherever I put her she's going to potty because if I'm too late she just goes potty right where she is. I reward her with a treat when she goes potty outside, should I give it to her RIGHT after she finishes pooing or peeing outside, like while we're still outside? Is puppy development basically about instant gratification for doing something good? How long should I expect to see results?
I also got a crate which works for us at night but I could use some advice on how to use this throughout the day as well.
And she's TERRIBLE about biting. I know its usually her playing or teething but its getting old fast. I've tried the yelping thing and if I walk away she just follows me biting my feet. I've tried giving her a toy instead, I've tried giving her one of those healthy edibles bones, I've been trying to give her the hoof the petco trainer recommended, and spray bottles have no effect on her at all. I can't even pet her without her mouthing.
And also she doesn't really react when I praise her, her tail doesn't even wag, she sorta just looks at me and tries to do that play bite thing, maybe I'm doing it wrong? I'm not sure how you mess up praising but its not exactly working for me.
Thanks and sorry if all of this is pretty obvious, she's my first dog, I'm used to having cats.
I've already been told the hardest thing to get a chihuahua trained in is housebreaking and we're doing okay as long as I take her out often enough but I don't think she associates the outside with "potty" I think she just associates the outside with wherever I put her she's going to potty because if I'm too late she just goes potty right where she is. I reward her with a treat when she goes potty outside, should I give it to her RIGHT after she finishes pooing or peeing outside, like while we're still outside? Is puppy development basically about instant gratification for doing something good? How long should I expect to see results?
I also got a crate which works for us at night but I could use some advice on how to use this throughout the day as well.
And she's TERRIBLE about biting. I know its usually her playing or teething but its getting old fast. I've tried the yelping thing and if I walk away she just follows me biting my feet. I've tried giving her a toy instead, I've tried giving her one of those healthy edibles bones, I've been trying to give her the hoof the petco trainer recommended, and spray bottles have no effect on her at all. I can't even pet her without her mouthing.
And also she doesn't really react when I praise her, her tail doesn't even wag, she sorta just looks at me and tries to do that play bite thing, maybe I'm doing it wrong? I'm not sure how you mess up praising but its not exactly working for me.
Thanks and sorry if all of this is pretty obvious, she's my first dog, I'm used to having cats.