31. The 3rd Golden Retriever sibling is off-target Refer Blog 17 & 18.

Dec 16, 2006

Do Golden Retriever puppies all look alike?

This shy Golden Retriever was born on the same birth date (Aug 3, 2006) as the ones at Blog 17 and 18. Big-boned and big body. She was purchased from the same pet shop and from Australia. She was sociable at home but was nervous at the surgery. Whining to go home. But she was bought only 1 week ago.

TOILET TRAINING
Newspapers with the commercial urine spray in the middle of the papers. Papers were placed in the master bathroom, near the door. Effective. The puppy was accurate. However, she peed outside the edges of the newspapers which were also placed in the living room near a wall. Same sized newspapers. Why she was off-target? The papers also had urine spray.



Three possibilities:
1. The puppy has grown bigger. The newspapers were too small as a toilet area.
2. The commercial urine spray was put in the centre of the newspapers. Should be at the far left corner. As the puppy sniffs the centre of the newspapers, she would be standing outside the newspapers as she is a big breed. So, she pees outside the edge of the newspapers.
3. Facing the wall of the living room. Difficult for the puppy to pee with the head close to the wall of the living area. The newspapers were placed flushed against the wall. Either increase the coverage or put the newspapers further outside the wall.

In the bathroom, the newspapers were placed near the door but inside the bathroom. The commercial urine spray was also spotted onto the centre of the newspapers. But the puppy had some head space and peed onto the newspapers. The smell plays a part in toilet training. The only thing I can think of is that the puppy had not much space, facing the wall in the living room. In the bathroom, she had much more head room. Could this be the explanation as some owners do complain about the same problem.