[PixieMom]

Hi Chi-People! I would love some opinions...
I have recently brought a lovely chi into our home. She is now almost 11 weeks and doing pretty good. Our family has adjusted well to the new puppy and the kids are loving her. Potty training going ok - I am pee pad training with some outside as well. She goes on the pads mostly but occasionally goes beside them . We have to confine her though so she is in a puppy pen or penned off in the kitchen unless she has just pottied and we are playing with her. If she is left out she will pee/poo on the floor. Anyways, hopefully it's just a matter of consistency before she realizes where to run to go potty and we can start to trust her.
Now....I have a huge desire to help the local rescue groups and foster a chi. Selfishly I would love another chi but hubby says no. I hope to "add" to the family in awhile once the puppy phase is over and warm hubby up to the idea. In the meantime, I thought fostering may satisfy my urge for another plus offer awesome socialization for our pup. And my heart just aches for the very many rescues in our area needing fosters. We may also see what it's like to have two by fostering and know if it would work for our family.
Now my concerns are...
Regarding vaccines, I am very conservative with vaccinations. Willow (our pup) will be vaccinated in another week for Distemper and parvo. However I would not be getting Kennel cough. But...If I bring a foster in they recommend that all dogs have the kennel cough vaccine. I guess that makes me feel like I am risking Willows health by exposing her to possible kennel Cough. Grr...I just feel that we are severely overvaccinating our pets and do not want to add extra vaccines to Willow as I feel that in itself is a risk. So...do I vaccinate for Kennel Cough, or take a chance on kennel cough as it is treatable if she got it(All rescues are vaccinated for KC but that does not mean they are not still contagious), or not get involved in fostering at all?

So that is a whole lot of info for you but I wonder what your opinions are?

 

[~LS~]

Ask for the drops on the nose, I get them done instead of the vaccine
for Kennel cough. It takes 2 seconds and absolutely no side effects.

As for fostering, I think it is a brilliant idea, you'll be helping a dog in need and
at the same time you'll get a bit of an idea of what it's like with two dogs.

Now for pipi pads, I'm not a fan of those as they teach the dog that it is ok to
pee and poop indoors. So if you can I would train her to do her business outside
only. Whether you decide to stick to pads or switch to outdoors only, you must
stay on top of things and do a fantastic job at cleaning up her accidents,
otherwise the training won't work since many different areas will smell like pee,
sending her the message that it's ok to go there. After every meal, every nap,
every drink, you either put her on the pad or take her outside, on top of that
take her out as much as possible, if you decide on training her to go outside
then every 30 minutes take her out and encourage her to go.

 

[Chi Nation]

Fostering is an awesome idea, and great socialization for your pup. The bordatella vaccine, as LS just advised, can be given in drops in the nose with little to no side effects. Get the vaccine for your baby and enjoy the benefits of fostering. Its a great feeling knowing that you took part in changing the life of a deserving animal. There are quite a few members here that rescue and foster, they may have some great advice you.

 

[~LS~]

Just wanted to specify, both the injection and the intranasal option are
vaccines, I just prefer the nose drops because with all of my own dogs
and rescues I have never seen any side effects with it yet.

 

[PixieMom]

Thanks Ladies!
Good news, hubby has warmed up to the idea of a foster so yay! So, now I just need to get those boosters in a week or so and KC I guess and we should be good to go! And ofcourse wait for the right foster to come available. All good so I can focus on Miss Willows potty training in the meantime anyways!

My concerns with the pottying.....
she was already placed on pee pads when we got her so I worried she would already "know" to "go" inside and without a spot would choose anywhere she wants. So I started with pads and she does use them but...not consistently if given the chance. Today was a particularily bad potty day and I'm kinda frustrated actually. So I have minimized her pen so she has only bed space and potty space so no choice. However, now I am wondering if I should scratch the pads and start only outside. (Problem with that is sometimes it's minus 40 degrees celcius here and that is really tough for little paws. Oh I am just so unsure!!! Is she already screwed up?!!! Or should I try one of those UGODOG things. I do wonder if she likes an ultimately "Clean" spot but I really can't afford to change the pee pad EVERY pee!! She must pee 20 times a day!
Sheesh I forgot how much work potty training was!

 

[bayoumah]

hi so glad to hear you can foster another chih i think its a win win situation good luck

 

[~LS~]

Carmen, I'm in Canada too, so I know what the weather gets like.
It's not a problem, during colder days put a weather resistant coat
on her and put some vaseline or booties on her paws, that's it.

And no she's not "already screwed up", you can potty train a dog with
any background and of any age, as long as they don't have medical
issues preventing them from holding their bladder. If you rather stick
with the pads instead of outside, just be on top of it. It is not her fault
for having accidents, she does it because it isn't clear for her where she
can and can not go. Also I'm not a fan of the idea of putting her pipi pads
next to her bed. Dogs don't like going to the bathroom near their sleeping
area. When using pads I recommend putting them relatively far from her
food and bed. Her bladder is still very small, she can't hold much for very
long. To help, schedule her meals and walks, and stick to it. If you choose
pads, then as I said earlier put her on it after every drink, meal, nap or play
time, if one hour goes by put her back on the pad. Never punish her for peeing
where she is not supposed to, especially after the fact. If you catch her in
the act, say in a strong but not mean voice "NO". And every single time she
goes on the pad reinforce the positive behavior with high pitch "GOOD PIPI"
"GOOD PIPI". It's all up to you, it's really tough at first because you must
watch her at all times, but if you stick to it, she will learn very quickly.

Stay patient and consistent, I promise you it will pay off.