Teething

[Max'smom]

We're new to the rottie scene. Maximus is 4 1/2 months old and has been through the first classes of obedience. Will be attending more classes in two week, also first agility training class. He listens rather well. We also have 3 cats, which he likes to chase, (although stops when he is told) and an 11 year Spitz. They get along well. Max is teething. Here's my problem. Does teething come along with peeing a lot? Like I said, new to the rottie scene. He went through obedience classes mostly with me and hate to say it but listens to me better than my husband. He seems to pee alot, which could be a whole other subject. But since starting to teeth, he doesn't go to the back door to go out, just stands where he is and starts peeing. Took sample to the vet today to check for infection, but all was well. He weighs almost 50 pounds. :) Last night, he stood by my husband, lifted his leg, which he has never done outside either, just squats, and peed on his leg and shoe. Took him outside, peed again. An only about 1/2 hour later, he peed on the living room floor. Thank goodness we have hardwood and not carpet. He also seems to be getting a little agressive while he's teething. He growls if you go to move him, especially when he is tired and ready for a nap. Does anyone have these problems or help for me. Would like to help him through the teething stage as much as possible. Thanks

[lengel]

If our Zooey did this, I would say that she was trying to tell us that she absolutely required something and wasn't getting it.

If you think that there's a connection between this behavior and teething, I would say that your Maximus needs relief from the pain of teething and is trying to communicate in the only way he knows how.

Try giving as many frozen treats as you can. Kongs stuffed with frozen chicken broth work well. People may tell you to wet down a washcloth and freeze it but one of ours snarfed down a dishtowel which required obstruction removal surgery (very unpleasant for everyone concerned) so just say no. Stick with any Kong toy that you can pour liquid into then freeze - and keep them coming.

[Max'smom]

Thanks for the frozen chicken broth idea. I have given him a frozen hand towel to chew on while watching him. Never thought of the obstruction hazard. So far he hasn't torn the hand towel at all, although he is a really powerful chewer. We've gone through so many toys. He chews most of them up, the soft ones that is. We have a puppy kong for him, he loves to roll it around, and some other "supposed" non destructible toys, we'll see. My vet said teething usually lasts to about six months old. Is this true?

[Lola B Marie]

Most pet stores carry a product for teething. It is in the shape of a bone. You soak it well then freeze it. It soothes the gums as they chew on it. Because it is bone shaped, they can't swallow it, although with Lola, I've learned to never say never. It can be refrozen as long as it lasts.

[Nishasmom]

Ice cubes and frozen (raw) bones were a Godsend for us !

Not sure about the peeing, does he have a bladder infection?

[rytek1]

That sounds exactly like my 4 month old Genghis. Growling and biting when he is tired or has to poop. Today he peed on the rug while me and the wife were having some heated debate. As if to say "knock it off" which is what I tell him all the time. He likes ice cubes better than the frozen chicken broth though.

[Max'smom]

Thanks Nishasmom. He doesn't have a bladder infection. That was one of the first things we checked out. Had a sample to the vet on Saturday and everything was normal. Max had a bowl of water today from Wendys with ice cubes in and literally stuck his whole snout in to pick out the icecubes. He really likes to chew them. Thanks again.

[Rocky68]

Sounds like my little one when he was that age lol. You have to remember that you pup is just like a real human baby they use the restroom all the time. You just have to know when to expect it so im here to tell you. You MUST take you pup out side 5 to 10 min after he eats, drinks, wakes up in the morning or a nap, playing and last any time he starts sniffing around the house. If you have to take your eye off of him for a min cuz you have to do something then put him in his crate until your done. When you take him out side do not play with him till he goes potty just ignore him till he goes. As soon as he goes give him a command like "good potty" while he is using it. When he is done praise him with love saying "good potty" a couple times. I also gave him a treat when he got done so he knows that its a good thing to go out side. After a couple of weeks you shouldn't have to clean up his potty in your house cuz your have a potty trained pup. Whats good is when I tell him 7month to "go potty" he runs out side and knows what to do... :) GOOD LUCK!

[Max'smom]

Rocky68, Max wasn't hard to potty train at all. When we got him at 8 weeks, he had never been outside till the night we brought him home. We only had him a few days, and he already went to the back door to be let out. We really didn't have any problems with him till he got a bit older. He has never been out to go to the potty off his leash. He goes out, does his business, and is ready to come back in. Hasn't been real nice too many days to let him play outside. Can't wait though. He hasn't been too bad lately. He does drip a few times in the house. He sleeps from approx. 11:00 at night, till we get up at 6:00 in the morning. He does very well at night. We crate him during the day, does wonderful. We don't put him in the crate unless we leave, my husband or I always have our eyes on him. And it does take both our eyes. Either he is chasing our other dog, or our 3 cats. I know he's just like a child in many ways. He has been, I will say, pretty easy to train. Obedience classes help. He does many things on command. He does get praised well and gets treats for going potty outside. No problems with that. Thanks Rocky68.

[Rocky68]

Sorry Max'smom I was under the impression that you were having a hard time potty training Maximus. Reading your post again the only thing I can think of is that your leaving your water out for im all day to drink. If you are try only giving him water three or four times a day so you have and idea whats in his bladder. If not make sure that the floor is really clean and that his sent is not there from were his went in the pass. If his sent is still there he might think its ok to go in the house. Ok on the agressive part Rocky did that too. If he had a toy and I tried to take it he was growl but it did last long. I would get down with him on all fours like a dog and push him away with my body against his body and took command of the toy. I made him sit nicely and wait till I gave it back. If he is sleeping or laying down, lay down with him at his level and put your arm around him. If he starts to growl correct him and say no, if he does good have a nice treat for him for being such a good boy. I put the treat in my hand and closed it so he couldn't see just smell it so he knows it there. Rocky knows now that if im laying down with him that a treat is coming and a good belly rubbing lol. Right now im only giving him a treat every other time cuz him trying to break him of thinking he's going to get a treat. I hope this helps you let me know how it goes :)

[Max'smom]

Hi Rocky68. Thanks for the advice. This weekend went pretty good. We were on vacation last week so we got to spend all day with our baby. Really missing him right now as I am back to work. He is normally crated during the day while we are at work. My husband leaves a little before 8. My mother lets Max out at noon. My husband goes home for lunch at approx 2. Max and Snowy (my 11 year old Spitz) go out and stay out of their crates while my husband is on lunch. Then I'm home a little before 5 to let them out again. He drinks while he is out. Never a problem, just once, with him peeing in his crate. So most of his drinking is done during the evening. Sleeps basically all through the night. As he is getting older, I'm letting him drink longer into the evening, depending on circumstances (how long we stay up before going to bed). Right now we go to bed about 11. I normally pick the water up between 8:30 and 9:00.

Last night we went for a walk at our campus (Penn State Campus) track, 4 times around is a mile. Went around twice, got home about 9 o'clock. Max fell asleep about 10 and didn't want to wake up for his potty break before bed. Came in, and fell right to sleep. Slept till we woke up at 6 for work. He's doing rather well, In my opinion, I must say. It's been quite awhile since I've potty trained a puppy, or had a puppy. But it is wonderfull.

Max doesn't growl when trying to take away his toys. The only time when he's been really agressive is once, when he had his first Ziggy for his kong. I held it while he chewed it, and when it got a bit to small to hold I gave it to him. He had it wrong in his mouth, (which was probably just me). I tried to grab it, not thinking and he growled and went after my hand. I took it from him and when I was ready, I gave it back to him. Since then he hasn't been too bad. My 5 year old nephew sits with him while eating and can reach in to his bowl and hand feed him. He is so good with kids. I was pleasantly surprised. Everything I have been reading leads me to the conclusion that basically everything he is doing is normal puppy rotti behavior. Thank you for all your advice and I'll let you know how everything goes.