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Posted by iZ's mom on April 19, 2000 at 11:40:55:

In Reply to: Re: Any helpful tips on potty training my young Ig? posted by xta on April 19, 2000 at 06:35:23:

oh too kewl! 1st thing in the morning with my 1st can of diet coke and i get to ramble about poop! it's gonna be a *good* day!!!! *big grins*

like xta sez, routine is really important! helps them know what to expect + when ...

that's great the putting him in the tub works sometimes! take advantage of that and start teaching him some words ... everytime he goes poo, repeat the word over + over again in a happy, proud voice ... (i taught iZ that pooping is "go bathroom") ... as soon as Ziggy-Puff (love the name btw!) assumes the position + starts to poo, repeat the word, like a silly little chant ... he's gonna look at you like you've lost your mind! (*grin*) ... but in a while, he'll realize that the funny sounds you make have a meaning ...

the point to that is, then when you put him in the tub, you can tell him "Go Bathroom" + he *knows why* he's in there! *oooooooooh! ok! she's wants me to poop! i get it!*

then ... when he understands the connection, you can take him + set him in his "litter box" and tell him "go bathroom" and he'll get to where he understands that he can poop there too if he wants to ...

i wonder if he might be just a bit young tho ... i didn't meet iZ til he was about a yr old so i don't know ... but for the 1st 6-12 months iZ was here, he pooped multiple times a day and that makes 'training' more difficult ... as they get older, they don't have to go as often, but when they're so young, they should be eating *multiple* times a day and so they're gonna need to poop more ... plus, i'd think it's like any young animal (or human!), they might not be capable of holding if for any length of time yet ...

one thing tho ... before me, iZ was in a very small aquarium and so he was very good at picking one little corner of his enclosure to poop in ... usually ... and once he pooped in the tub, he really didn't like going in his enclosure *at all*! can't blame him, it stinks! (*grin*) ... so i wonder if maybe an enclosure wouldn't help for a while, just til he grows up a bit? (tho *not* a tiny one!!!!) (OMG, can't believe i just recommended putting an ig *IN* an enclosure ... aaackkkkkkk!)

igs are really smart + can learn *lots* of words and *lots* of things! we have one poster who has trained her igs to go (by themselves!) and use the toilet!!!! (no, they don't flush tho ... hehehe) ... iZ *loves* to line his vent up perfectly with the tub drain and poop straight down it ... the biggest key, is lots of time, patience, consistency + more patience ... and it's good that you realize, kids will be kids and there *will* be accidents! (*grin*)

(on a side note, it does worry me that Z-P is free roaming at such a young age ... just cuz i'm a mom + i worry alot! but when he's so small, you've got an even harder job of ig-proofing his environment ... and, not knowing where you live, i wonder if it's warm enough for him???? ... just a mom being paranoid is all .... *grin*)

best wishes to you + Ziggy-Puff!
iZ + mom

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: oh too kewl! 1st thing in the morning with my 1st can of diet coke and i get to ramble about poop! it's gonna be a *good* day!!!! *big grins* : : like xta sez, routine is really important! helps them know what to expect + when ... : that's great the putting him in the tub works sometimes! take advantage of that and start teaching him some words ... everytime he goes poo, repeat the word over + over again in a happy, proud voice ... (i taught iZ that pooping is "go bathroom") ... as soon as Ziggy-Puff (love the name btw!) assumes the position + starts to poo, repeat the word, like a silly little chant ... he's gonna look at you like you've lost your mind! (*grin*) ... but in a while, he'll realize that the funny sounds you make have a meaning ... : the point to that is, then when you put him in the tub, you can tell him "Go Bathroom" + he *knows why* he's in there! <i>*oooooooooh! ok! she's wants me to poop! i get it!*</i> : then ... when he understands the connection, you can take him + set him in his "litter box" and tell him "go bathroom" and he'll get to where he understands that he can poop there too if he wants to ... : i wonder if he might be just a bit young tho ... i didn't meet iZ til he was about a yr old so i don't know ... but for the 1st 6-12 months iZ was here, he pooped multiple times a day and that makes 'training' more difficult ... as they get older, they don't have to go as often, but when they're so young, they should be eating *multiple* times a day and so they're gonna need to poop more ... plus, i'd think it's like any young animal (or human!), they might not be capable of holding if for any length of time yet ... : one thing tho ... before me, iZ was in a very small aquarium and so he was very good at picking one little corner of his enclosure to poop in ... usually ... and once he pooped in the tub, he really didn't like going in his enclosure *at all*! can't blame him, it stinks! (*grin*) ... so i wonder if maybe an enclosure wouldn't help for a while, just til he grows up a bit? (tho *not* a tiny one!!!!) (OMG, can't believe i just recommended putting an ig *IN* an enclosure ... aaackkkkkkk!) : igs are really smart + can learn *lots* of words and *lots* of things! we have one poster who has trained her igs to go (by themselves!) and use the toilet!!!! (no, they don't flush tho ... hehehe) ... iZ *loves* to line his vent up perfectly with the tub drain and poop straight down it ... the biggest key, is lots of time, patience, consistency + more patience ... and it's good that you realize, kids will be kids and there *will* be accidents! (*grin*) : : (on a side note, it does worry me that Z-P is free roaming at such a young age ... just cuz i'm a mom + i worry alot! but when he's so small, you've got an even harder job of ig-proofing his environment ... and, not knowing where you live, i wonder if it's warm enough for him???? ... just a mom being paranoid is all .... *grin*) : best wishes to you + Ziggy-Puff! : iZ + mom

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