Female dog ****

[paulocesar]

My female dog has 9 ****. I'de like to know if that's normal, or should i take her to a vet.
Another question i don't know if this is the right place to ask, i can't find a way to get her to make her "needs" only outsite, she continues to do everything on the flour. I take her twice a day for a walk hooping she does everything outside, she does... But when see get's home, she doest it again anyway. Can i do anything about it?

Sorry my english...

[Krista L Gibson, D.V.M.]

Hi!

Thanks for the questions.  I'm afraid we need a little more information, though.  I think you mean your dog has nine nipples, is that right?  And when you say she won't make her needs outside, do you mean that she is still urinating in the house or she's having bowel movements inside?  Does she go out twice a day only (once in the morning, and once in the evening) or is that twice in the middle of the day?  If that's the case, that's probably not enough.  Young dogs during house training need to go out several times a day, sometimes even as often as every hour or two, until they get the picture that they're supposed to go outside.  

Let us know the extra info, and we'll get you a more complete answer soon.  Thanks!

[Krista L Gibson, D.V.M.]

Yes, that's enough information, thank you!  As for the nipples, don't worry about it.  Sometimes they don't come out even -- it's no big deal.  It's just how she is, and given that her history and breeding are uncertain, it could just be from her mixed heritage.  The bottom line is it doesn't hurt her in any way, so you can relax and not worry about that.

As for the housetraining, I don't have much to add to what Dr. Humphries said.  She really does need to go out more, and a crate will probably help you alot in teaching her to learn how to "hold it" until you get home and get her outside.  There's tons of information out there about this.

One thing I did with my dogs, too, when I was having some housetraining trouble, was I taught them to ring bells to go outside in addition to the crate training.  I hung a string of jingle bells to the doorknob at nose level, and every time before we went outside I said "ring the bells" and touched their nose to the bells to make noise.  In a few days they learned that ringing the bells with their nose got me to open the door for them, and in a week or so after that, they put together that ringing the bells got them out to go potty.  I like this method in addition to a crate because it gives them a way to "ask" to go outside without barking or scratching at the door just in case they need to go off the schedule.  

Good luck!

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

Sorry, that is simply not enough opportunity for a dog to eliminate.  I would say for a 1 year old at least 4 to 6 times.  

Every morning when waking, every evening before going to bed, after every meal, after vigorous playing or chewing.  

Crate training is very very helpful in establishing a dog's elimination schedule.  Find articles on-line or a good book and learn / begin crate training techniques to get this dog on SCHEDULE.  then she can begin to be trustworthy in the house unsupervised.  

[paulocesar]

Thank you very much for the answers.
Well, regarding to her needs, i'll have to simple do what i was told to do. Go outside more often, and learn more about it.
I was realy doing that, for her urination and "?poop?", twice a day (once in the morning, and once in the evening).
I don't have much more information, for example, she doesn't have a especific breed, she was a "?streat dog?", her mother died right after she and her brothers were born.
And yes, i ment "nipples", i didn't remmember that word sorry.she has nine insted of 8 or 10. I think she should have an even (6.8.10) number.
Is this information enough?



Once again... sorry my english