Ricco the Fruit Bat: Calm Down and Use the Cat Box

[Evo]

Last night I heard the sound of Ricco (the Fruit Bat) urinating on something in the distance, that unmistakable staccato sound of him letting the urine fly. Instinctively I screamed and ran toward the sound. He was using the cat's litter box. I scared him half to death and now he won't go near it. I've been kicking myself ever since.

I tried all night to calm him down, going to the cat box and praising him and feeding him pieces of my yummy garlic dill cheese that he loves every time I touched the cat box and told him what a good boy he was.

How can I undo the damage and get him to use the cat box again? The windchill outside is 5 degrees. I WANT HIM TO USE THE CAT BOX!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

wait, what? you trained a fruit bat to use a litter box?

 

[Evo]

wait, what? you trained a fruit bat to use a litter box?

He's a liitle Japanese Chin dog, smaller than a cat, he eats fruit and has been nicknamed "The Fruit Bat", he looks like a gremlin.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

He's a liitle Japanese Chin dog, smaller than a cat, he eats fruit and has been nicknamed "The Fruit Bat", he looks like a gremlin.

ahhhhh ok hehe, those dogs have beady eyes :)

 

[Evo]

The Fruit Bat

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

haha, did you just get him?

 

[Evo]

haha, did you just get him?

No, my older daughter gave him to me a few years ago.

 

[turbo]

Maybe you should wait until he really has to go really urgently, set him in the litter box and stick his front paws in some warm water... Then if he let's go, give him some NutriCal, a couple of sweet golden raisins, and a classic Lassie DVD as a reward.

 

[Evo]

Maybe you should wait until he really has to go really urgently, set him in the litter box and stick his front paws in some warm water... Then if he let's go, give him some NutriCal, a couple of sweet golden raisins, and a classic Lassie DVD as a reward.

:rofl:

 

[Math Is Hard]

That's really interesting that he did that. I wonder if he has ever done that before when you weren't around.

 

[Moonbear]

Were you actually training him to use the litterbox, or was it an accidental discovery?

Maybe you could put a litterbox in a new location, and see if he'll use it in the new location? He might just associate the location as bad, not the litterbox.

 

[Astronuc]

Perhaps try a different litter box - of his own, as opposed to the cat's. Different smell - different location.

Traumatic associations are difficult to change.


Or call Cesar Millan - the Dog Whisperer.
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

 

[BobG]

One 20 below zero morning in Omaha, a local radio show had a call-in contest to see whose dog could go pee and get back in the house the fastest. The caller had to be on the phone during the dog's potty run (to validate the feat, but mostly for entertainment). The funniest was the dog that peed all the way to the door as the owner dragged it by the collar, but it was disqualified since it didn't actually wait until it got outside.

In other words, instead of using a litter box, just train Fruit Bat to pee faster.

 

[Evo]

He learned it on his own, apparently from watching the cat. I think it was his first time, but now some of the patterns in the box make sense, so maybe he's done it before.

He hasn't gone near the cat box since last night.

 

[Astronuc]

Give him some time - perhaps a week. You might gently transport him to the litter box when he seems like he needs to go, and then reward him - not necessarily with food - but with some other positive response.

Remember you are the alpha female in the house.

 

[Evo]

The snow has crusted over with ice and the ground drops off to a ledge then down into the ravine. He just went out, started sliding down to the ravine edge and had a real problem trying to make his way back to the door. I'm going to have to find his leash so I don't lose him. If he goes over the edge, there's no way I can rescue him. I can certainly slide off into the ravine, but I'll never make it back out.

 

[Evo]

One 20 below zero morning in Omaha, a local radio show had a call-in contest to see whose dog could go pee and get back in the house the fastest. The caller had to be on the phone during the dog's potty run (to validate the feat, but mostly for entertainment). The funniest was the dog that peed all the way to the door as the owner dragged it by the collar, but it was disqualified since it didn't actually wait until it got outside.

In other words, instead of using a litter box, just train Fruit Bat to pee faster.

Oh he's peeing faster and shorter, we're going out about every 10 minutes to do a single squirt, then back inside. :grumpy:

 

[turbo]

The snow has crusted over with ice and the ground drops off to a ledge then down into the ravine. He just went out, started sliding down to the ravine edge and had a real problem trying to make his way back to the door. I'm going to have to find his leash so I don't lose him. If he goes over the edge, there's no way I can rescue him. I can certainly slide off into the ravine, but I'll never make it back out.

You don't need a leash for that little peanut! A shoe-string will do. Get a spool of nylon cord, tie it to his collar, and let the Fruit Bat out and stay warm and dry inside the house. If he drops out of sight, reel him back in. In fact, you could have even more fun if you got a a lively little fishing rod, hooked a sling-swivel to his collar and reeled him back in when necessary. Wheeeeeee!

 

[Moonbear]

Oh he's peeing faster and shorter, we're going out about every 10 minutes to do a single squirt, then back inside. :grumpy:

I know someone whose dog would do that, or flat out refuse to go out in the cold. She had to get him little boots and a jacket, and it solved the problem entirely.

You don't need a leash for that little peanut! A shoe-string will do. Get a spool of nylon cord, tie it to his collar, and let the Fruit Bat out and stay warm and dry inside the house. If he drops out of sight, reel him back in. In fact, you could have even more fun if you got a a lively little fishing rod, hooked a sling-swivel to his collar and reeled him back in when necessary. Wheeeeeee!

:rofl:

 

[russ_watters]

He's a liitle Japanese Chin dog, smaller than a cat, he eats fruit and has been nicknamed "The Fruit Bat", he looks like a gremlin.

Good thing you clarified, because I was going to suggest you try a large moustrap...

 

[Mk]

He's a liitle Japanese Chin dog.

It doesn't have much of a chin...

 

[Ivan Seeking]

We had a similar thing happen with Bun. She got it in her head that because she's not supposed to eat Einstein's food [at nearly 17 years of age he get special food], she wasn't supposed to eat in the house at all. Between that and her *****y sister she had literally been run off and was living in my office. But we were able to get her to return to the kitchen and the proper food bowls with treats and verbal encouragement.

 

[EnumaElish]

How can I undo the damage and get him to use the cat box again? The windchill outside is 5 degrees. I WANT HIM TO USE THE CAT BOX!

Pour him a little beer then place the vessel on the sand.

If it doesn't work at least he'd be a happy canine for an hour or so.

You know, it might work...

 

[turbo]

Pour him a little beer then place the vessel on the sand.

If it doesn't work at least he'd be a happy canine for an hour or so.

You know, it might work...

Dogs do love ethanol. This might work. My sister and brother in law had a golden retriever b.i.t.c.h (damned censor!) that would act clumsy and tip over beers for the chance to clean them up. She was the daughter of a Canadian Field Trials Champion, and she had a dozen healthy pups her first time out, so maybe a little beer helped. She was perhaps the most trainable dog I have ever known, letting me do more with little interactions with her than I could not have done with other dogs. Ochre was a dog that was so sensitive that it seemed like our interactions were complex, like talking. I never had to work to gain her attention - it was always eye-to-eye, and we established rules/language in minutes or seconds. Golden Retrievers smile and shake when they are happy (stay away from that tail!) and when they connect, they are the happiest dogs in the world.

 

[Evo]

Dogs do love ethanol. This might work. My sister and brother in law had a golden retriever b.i.t.c.h (damned censor!) that would act clumsy and tip over beers for the chance to clean them up. She was the daughter of a Canadian Field Trials Champion, and she had a dozen healthy pups her first time out, so maybe a little beer helped. She was perhaps the most trainable dog I have ever known, letting me do more with little interactions with her than I could not have done with other dogs. Ochre was a dog that was so sensitive that it seemed like our interactions were complex, like talking. I never had to work to gain her attention - it was always eye-to-eye, and we established rules/language in minutes or seconds. Golden Retrievers smile and shake when they are happy (stay away from that tail!) and when they connect, they are the happiest dogs in the world.

For having a peanut sized brain, this little dog is probably smarter than any dog I've owned. He definitely has a very strong personality and a very LONG memory.

The dogs were bred for emperors as a companion dog, but holy cow, talk about a feisty companion! He's already Lord of the Cats. He has a Rasputin like hold over any cat he meets. Get him drunk huh? That ought to be funny.

 

[Math Is Hard]

You don't need a leash for that little peanut! A shoe-string will do. Get a spool of nylon cord, tie it to his collar, and let the Fruit Bat out and stay warm and dry inside the house. If he drops out of sight, reel him back in. In fact, you could have even more fun if you got a a lively little fishing rod, hooked a sling-swivel to his collar and reeled him back in when necessary. Wheeeeeee!

:rofl: I can just see Evo fly-casting her little dog from the porch. :rofl:

 

[turbo]

:rofl: I can just see Evo fly-casting her little dog from the porch. :rofl:

Or maybe a very light spin-casting outfit...how do we set the drag if we want to retrieve the dog but not burn him out so he can be safely tossed back? :uhh:

 

[hypatia]

Awww poor little guy{he's just adorable}, he must be so confused now. I think with time and a few good treats, he will get over the fear. And yes Evo, your not to go anywhere near that ravine, even in good weather.

 

[G01]

Sorry to be the pedantic one, but aren't we technically talking about a "Dog Box" in this case?

 

[Contrapositive]

Use calm, assertive dominance. Be the pack leader.[/Spanish accent]

 

[Evo]

We had an ice storm last night, actually we are still having an ice storm and he went outside this morning and was slipping and sliding with every step. He finally managed to hike his leg and toppled over. I wish I had a video of it.

 

[EnumaElish]

We had an ice storm last night, actually we are still having an ice storm and he went outside this morning and was slipping and sliding with every step. He finally managed to hike his leg and toppled over. I wish I had a video of it.

Did you give him too much beer?

 

[Evo]

Did you give him too much beer?

Heheh, no beer yet. We might share some eggnog for Christmas.

 

[Astronuc]

Heheh, no beer yet. We might share some eggnog for Christmas.

With or without the rum? Is he old enough to drink responsibly?

 

[Evo]

With or without the rum? Is he old enough to drink responsibly?

No rum for him, he's fiesty enough sober. I'm afraid if he had any liquor in him the world would be his catbox.