wrote:
Hey all, I'm a college student and I've been assigned by my professor
to ask all of you in the group what your favorite place is to bring and
play with your Min Pin, or other dogs/puppies? I recently got a 9 week
old min pin and I could use some pottie training tips, so if anyone has
any useful remedies, please let me in on it, I'm sick of her peeing on
my carpet!!... let me know


Welcome to the world of Min Pins! After 20+ years of Doberman ownership
I have acquired a Min Pin and it's been a joy and an adjustment.

You have a tiny puppy of a toy breed (hint, my boy's breeder did not let
him go until he was almost 4 months old). Yes, she's going to pee on
your carpet. She has a teeny tiny bladder.

First, I'd recommend trying litter box training for your little girl.
Get a box from your pet store and some of the CAT litter that's
recycyled newspaper pellets. Good Mews is one brand, Yesterday's News is
another. There's some for dogs too but the pellets are too big for toy
dogs. There are special litter boxes for dogs that have a low lip for
them to get in. Ask at the store. That might help. Any time you are
unable to directly supervise her every moment, she should be confined in
an area with the box. A SMALL area with the box. Many toy breeds readily
litter train.

All that said, I will also tell you that housetraining a toy dog can be
very, very difficult. It requires time, energy, and patience. You must
take the dog out yourself, and stand with the dog and reward for going.
For a 9 week old pin, this going to be several times a day and at least
once or twice at night. Get a small crate for the night time and put it
right by your bed so you will wake up when she gets restless.

I went out with Zipper religiously, day and night (yes, at 3:00 a.m.,
yes, in freezing rain and snow, yes, when I might be late for an
appointment) and stood there and waited for him to go--for over 2
months. Yep. It took that long. Even though he was 4 months and litter
trained when I got him. Constant vigilance, constant monitoring,
constant praising and treating for the right behavior. Generally the
girls are easier than the boys. But if you really want a housebroken Min
Pin, you will have to WORK for it. A lot of people throw up their hands
and declare it impossible. I don't think it's impossible at all, it just
takes more work than some people want to put into the dog...