2 NEW PUPPIES, NEED HELP

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello, I have 2 American Pitbull Terriers, male and female. Both fixed, they are 17 weeks old. Here is my problem. My male is super sweet, very smart, listens very well, and loves to learn new tricks. My female is very, very stuborn!! She only comes, when she feels like it. She pees in her crate all the time, and cries allot too. I am doing all the same things with her as my male. They get lots of love, play time, etc. This is the first time I have ever had a female dog, do they require different training?

Thanks!

[Guest Anonymous]

Wow, that is hard trying to bring up 2 pups the same age at the same time :o
With your little female (and no females are no different to train than males) but, all dogs/pups have different personalities and take different training techniques. I would probably take some one on one time with your pups seperately. Perhaps enroll in obedience classes...one pup one night the other pup the other night. I have a male at home who is quite fearful and shy he requires training to boost his confidence and lots of uppity happy training...I only use positive training on all of my dogs. Where I own 8 dogs I try to give them each one on one training...especially where I compete in obedience trials with them.

The hardest thing when bringing up 2 pups the same age is at times they can become more attached to each other than to you the owner. The female may feel more secure with her bolder brother and perhaps cling to him.

[mouseatthebusstop]

17 Weeks is very young to expect her to be house trained. How long is she in the create? mine were both puppies together M and F they trained together OK

[imported_Cassie]

My male is super sweet, very smart, listens very well, and loves to learn new tricks. My female is very, very stuborn!! She only comes, when she feels like it.

All pup's have different personalities and some are a little more fearful than others. I would really try to socialize your little girl alot more and give her alot of positive experiences...play nice games with her while some one has your little boy out...a little one on one would be good for you and her and to help her bond to you rather than cling to her brother for support. Although K & mouse state they have never had any problems raising pups together...I tend to agree with doggylover...there are lots more people who have had many problems...one pup tending to become a little backwards etc. so not all people have great experiences bringing up 2 pups together. :wink: I also like doggylovers idea of when the pups get older to join seperate obedience classes. I am currently raising 7 pups...and they all have different personalities and they all learn at a different pace.

She pees in her crate all the time, and cries allot too. I am doing all the same things with her as my male. They get lots of love, play time, etc. This is the first time I have ever had a female dog, do they require different training?

First off, this may be just a different level of learning...she is still very young and pups have very small bladders and have to urinate frequentely. I would also just for my own peace of mind have a urinalysis done on the little girl just to be sure she doesnt have a bladder infection...I like to rule things like that out :wink:
How big is the crate you are potty training in? if its too big the pup can learn to be dirty...urinate in one corner and sleep in the other.
How often are they getting out? they should be taken out as soon as they wake up, 15-20 minutes after each meal...and about every 2 hours...pups need to go alot and until they learn to "hold" them selves you should be getting them to do their duties in the proper place. This is why people find crate training so great, it helps the pup learn that they can hold them selves and not to just let loose when they feel the urge to go.
I hope your not punishing her for making mistakes in her crate. If so she will come to associate you as being unpredicatable and scary...she will not be associating the punishment with a natural body function such as peeing.
When your pups do their business outdoors...praise them...make it the best thing the pups could have done...I still praise my dogs when they go outside...I adopted all of my dogs as adults and had to potty train them...and plus having 2 intact males and an intact female I have to be consistant so I don't have any indoor marking...praise and hikes works for me.

Good luck and have fun with your little bundles of joy.