Dog Litter

[mjpurple]

Has anyone tried the Purina Second Nature dog litter? I read about it when I registered for their puppy training guide. It sounds like a great idea, so I bought the pan and litter. Now of course Jazzy thinks it's something to eat and lay in! Any hints?

[Mandy]

We bougt the litter pan and a bag of litter a few years ago...thinking it would be good for when we have deep snow.

Jake did the same thing as your Jazzy! He thought the pellets were great fun, chewing them, tossing them in the air, tossing them all over the house!

Next we tried just placing newspaper in the pan. We had bought the "standard" size pan - thinking that would give more room for a dachshund's longer length. Henry checked it out once. The pans (at least then) weren't weighted quite right and the back end went up as Henry stepped in.

Good luck! We found the best way for us to use the pan is to put a pillow and blankets in it. It sits in our den by the computer and, the boys often snuggle in it when someone is on the computer.

[dutchman]

I had much the same experience as Mandy. I thought perhaps I just wan't willing to spend enough time with the boys but I don't think Mandy is a person to not make a good attempt at making things work. Perhaps I'll give it one omre try ths winter since it looks like Dexter may be a problem child come cold and snow. This morning it was about 36 and he was crying at the door less than a minute after being let out.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[Mandy]

Tom,

Dexter may just decide he likes the snow - our guys have. They even love bouncing through the really deep snow..bunny style of course. :) We have gotten some strange looks from people before. Half the time it looks like we are merely holding leashes. Then little dachshunds come popping up, ears flying, and disappear again.

Sometimes they will walk on the sidewalk, but you know it's so much more fun to bounce through the snow (as long as they know blankets are waiting for when they get back inside).

[dutchman]

Hi Mandy,

I hope Dexter won' hate snow but as it stands right now he hated wet feet he won't even walk on wet concrete and forget trying to get him onto wet grass. He also returns to the door wand cries to be let back in almost immedately when ever the temp drops below 40. Even if I am outside he returns to the door and cries. It's only if there is a distraction that gets him barking athe fence or gate that will keep him outside longer.

Frank is my snow bunny. He loves the stuff and looks for any snow left in a shardy area when it melts. Tanner tollerates the snow but is not too fond of it. Tanner and Frank are both LH. Tanner collects ice balls on his chest when he goes through the snow.

I have a sweater that I got from my sister that I would let Dexter try but it's not really cut well for a male dachshund to do all his business. She had made it for the first dog she had after she got married which was a female dachshund/terrier mix and then gave it to me when I had Aggie. It will fit the boys and yes their equipment is exposed but when they pee the lower part of teh chest of the sweater sometimes gets wet.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[saddiehawkins]

Hi
I just wanted to comment on litter training, rain, snow and water..my doxie Saddie also did not like to go out in the rain or snow to do her business or take a bath....or go near water for that matter..it took alot of bonding, constant disapline, and maturity in my dogs case ...I would take her out in the snow with another dog who loved the snow she learned that it can be alot of fun going after snowballs and toys and digging tunnels. The rain was a hard one....I would even stand out in the rain with my dog showing her its okay to get wet... but it was this past summer that got her mostly over the water and oh my god i can't get my feet wet...I was going over to a friends house that had a swimming pool...well, my friend had a doberman and rotwieller she stole the dobermans squicky ball she took it everwhere she went even to bed and out when she had to do her business... well she felt the same way about me....see i never hit my dog i always talked to her ..... anyway I was in the pool and had her favorite ball and all she knew was that she wanted her ball so i tempted her by let her first go on the first step to get the ball and encouraged that which eventually lead to jumping in the pool by herself to retreive the ball. She knew she could trust me and that I would not let anything bad happen to her...and for litter training in the beginning I tried that too...what a mistake all she did was to dig frantically in it making the biggest mess her face was covered in litter. But I thought it was worth all the laughs she gave me..I was trying to take the easy way out ...just thought i would share this with you. They can be a challenge but a fun one in my eyes....there hasent been an animal i could not train with alot of love and understanding....some take longer than others...:bounce: