Hi All, Just got back from the vets and we are picking up our puppy Friday who has only had the first lot of jabs. Anyway I asked the vet if it was ok to start toilet training straight away in the garden when we got home. She said no as there are too many foxes in our area. She said is there any way he can use the patio very close to the house? The problem is I was putting aside one of the raised beds at the end of the garden to train him to use that. So, I have an idea of building a small bed out of wood with a base that I can place on the patio and fill with earth from the garden centre and train him to use that. Then when he is ok to go out, I could tip the earth onto the original bed and it will smell like his pee area and hope he uses that with gentle coaxing. Do you guys think this is a good idea as we are in the process of selling our house and I need to avoid any accidents in doors as much as I can? :
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat Sorry, I dont get your vet's reasoning about there being too many foxes...Is she worried he might get taken by a fox? Bitten? If thats the issue I would think you just being out there with him when he goes potty would solve that problem. I cant think of any circumstance where I wouldnt housetrain my dog right from the beginning. It seems absurd to keep a dog in the house when it should be peeing/pooping outside.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat She was concerned as he hasn't had his second lot of injections, that's the main reason. I assume that she is thinking that they are running around outside the garden picking up germs, disease and god knows what and walking them through our garden. Obviously it's no different to dogs walking across our grass I suppose.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat I had this issue in London - vet was concerned about disease spread by foxes. I took this seriously, after all he knew the local risks. It was difficult though. Local fox poo is everywhere - which meant we also had to have a "shoes off at the door" policy. For all my precautions, I did still take my puppy to puppy school. The puppies that had their second vaccs went outside for a pee. Then ran round on the same floor as my puppy. : To be honest, it's all very, very tricky. It's about risk, and practical advice is difficult to come by I think.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat Thanks Julie, I do feel the same and will follow the vets advice as there are loads of foxes in my area and in fact my cat used to play with the fox cubs in the garden. It's funny that she had no concern about our cat going in and out thought. Never mind, I'll just get Hubby to build the poo box and hope we can train him to use that until I spread in on the garden and hope he recognises the scent. Thought I might fill it with children's play sand instead of bagged earth, would this be ok?
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat I live in a fairly urban area and we definitely have foxes around but my vet never mentioned to be cautious about letting Penny in the garden. To be honest we stopped seeing them as much after we got the dog - I think the scent of the dog put them off coming into the garden.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat There is an article here that might help you weigh up the risks: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/new-puppy-is-it-safe-to-put-him-in-the-garden/ I don't think you need worry about the scent - once pups grow up a bit, they will pee anywhere, it won't matter that he hasn't peed in the garden, he'll get used to it no probs. The thing will be what he is going on now. If he is not used to a hard surface, then your patio will be strange to him (he'll still get used to it quickly though). If he is on grass now, astroturf might help for the first day or so (then just hose it off when dirty). If he is already used to peeing on a hard surface you won't have a problem. If you really want to keep him out of your garden, I'd wash down your patio and fence a bit off so he can sniff round freely. Like Boogie does for her guide dog pup. [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=7325.msg101496#msg101496 date=1407959399] I live in a fairly urban area and we definitely have foxes around but my vet never mentioned to be cautious about letting Penny in the garden. [/quote] It will depend on local risks. Foxes carry parvo and vets will know if there is a problem in the local fox population (although Montysmum could ask whether there is a known risk or she has just been given standard cautious advice). We have tons of foxes here. I have to pick up fox poo to keep the garden clean.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat I must say, I would go with advice from your vet as to local prevalence, though I am maybe generally less cautious than Julie. I THINK I am right in saying that puppies do get protection from maternal antibodies, so aren't completely unprotected, and I think that these maternal antibodies hang around until about 16 weeks or so (I am sure someone who knows better will correct me if that is wrong). So in some ways, the puppy vaccinations are like a booster to stimulate new antibody responses, and increase protection in the puppy in its own right. I would be cautious though. Particularly if there have definitely been foxes in your garden. Its a bit of a minefield isn't it? Sounds like your puppy toilet area would give you peace of mind.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat I think the puppy toilet area is a good idea. The dirt box would work fine I think. The only snag I forsee is the pup learning to pee/poo in the location of the dirt box, not on the surface of dirt. That might mean she still wants to pee in that location when the dirt is moved. Instead of the dirt you could use something you can gradually move further out into the garden, like AstroTurf. Def agree with Julie to also check on what the current peeing surface is
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat Once again, thanks everyone for your thoughts. Yes we do have a large fox population in our area. Our pup is booked in to see our favourite vet the day after we get home. I will ask him, whatever his opinion is I will take as I really trust him with our cats (one recently passed sadly). Also the pups are currently on sawdust so I'm thinking of filling a bag and putting that on top of about an inch of sand and hope that scent helps in the dirt box. Once the safety time is over I will tip the box onto one of the beds and take him there when he is bursting to go and if he does praise him loads and just hope it works. Fingers crossed.....all looks good in theory and I bet all you owners are laughing at me, knowing what you've been through!
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat It's definitely worth a try! I'd put a waterproof layer down under the Pee Box so nothing gets through to the patio surface. A rubber mat or something. You probably won't need the sand. Sawdust or wood shavings (I'd use the latter if you can as it's less dusty) will be very absorbent if you have a decent layer of it (few inches). Also, easier to move than sand is, once you no longer need this arrangement.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat No, I'm not laughing. I am impressed by someone who is trying to do the best for their pup.
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat Ooohh yeah Oberon, that's a fantastic idea. The pups are actually on shavings, sorry forgot their was a difference. That's so brilliant....I'll fill with a layer of shavings and mix in some that I'll get that his brothers and sisters have peed on, put a layer of plastic under the base and.....keep my fingers and toes crossed that he'll use it with the cue word. Hubby has this job for today while I dog proof the house tonight lol Will let you know what happens on Friday, thanks everyone!
Re: Just Been To The Vet With Our Cat Welcome to you! We have a 'spending area' on the patio for Gypsy (12 weeks) We went to visit a friend's pup and Gypsy used her spending area no problem. I think they are adaptable and you will soon re-train her I tried a bit of astra turf in the spending area, didn't work - she just laid down on it - hehe! But she wees and poos on the paving slabs no trouble at all.
