Potty Training..changing from pad to outdoors, Advice!

[bellasmomok]

I need some advice on this one....

Recent events have made me want to change Bella from pottying on pads to going outdoors. Let me start by saying that she does pretty good pottying on her pads at home, but she has serious issues anywhere else but home....including THE CAR!! and friends' and relatives' homes. Originally, I decided to pad train so she wouldn't have to go out when it's raining (and then have to be blown dry each time) or when it's very cold. I know changing her over is going to be a long process, but I have some questions about a few of my hesitations before I decide to just go for it!

1) Do you think I should leave pads down during a sort of transitional period (while we work on taking her out instead) before taking them up entirely? I'm afraid we're going to have serious problems if I just take them up, but I also don't want it to be too confusing for her.....so I thought maybe I should transition the pads until they're gone (maybe I could make it smaller and smaller until it's gone altogether???)

2) I plan to stand at the glass door with a retractable leash first thing in the mornings and when it's yucky out (cold/wet) since I don't have a fenced yard. BUT, I was wondering if I could train her to go on pads on the covered porch OR the garage for when it's yucky out?? (I want to figure out how exactly I want to do this BEFORE I re-train her!) I have a friend that made a very shallow "box" with sod in it for her balcony for her dogs, and I wouldn't be opposed to having something like that instead of the outdoor/garage pads....but I'm not up for cleaning up wood chips, though!

3) Let's say training to go on the outdoor/garage pads doesn't work, or that I'm in a situation (visiting someone) where that isn't an option.....do all of you who have pups that go out to potty blow them dry every time they go out when it's raining??

4) I work full-time, though my bf is usually home some during the day (he's in school), so I'm wondering how long it's possible for her to hold it before she absolutely needs to go out....AFTER she's trained of course (until then, I know she'll need to go out much, much more often)?? Can she hold it for 8 hrs. eventually like most indoor dogs I know (different breeds), or does she need to go out more frequently because she's smaller?? Eventually, my bf won't be home during the day, and I may not be able to come home at lunch every day.

lastly, 5) If I want to bell train her, how do I do that? I'm assuming I ought to just go ahead and do it all at once rather than have to tackle that extra bit later.....

We have crate trained in the past, though we don't use the crate anymore, so I think we'll be able to do that to help with the training. I know that was a lot of questions, but I'm really hoping everyone can help me with this

[Ladym]

Hi,
I have a 2 yr old that I adopted in June. The very first thing I did was to walk him in the morning and at nite. I always praised him when he did pee and gave him a treat for the other. It did not take long at all for him to race to the back door first thing in the morning as well as first thing when I get home from work. I had a screen house in the backyard so even if it was raining we were dry. I was really concerned about winter.
He doesn't seem to mind the cold but doesn't want to go out if there is new snow. I got the puddle pads and he will use them when needed. He still prefers to go outside which is great. When the weather warms and he goes for longer and more frequent walks I plan to not use the pads. Fingers crossed that it works. As long as you know his bathroom schedule and are consistant with taking him out to do his business you have a good chance of getting him trained. Just remember to praise the deed.

[irishawk]

About two years ago I moved from a third floor apartment to a house with a yard and went through the process of training my dog to go from puppy pads to outdoors. It was a tough couple of weeks at first. He didn't have accidents but I think he was confused so he would hold it and hold it and hold it to the point where I would get concerned. I took him on a LOT of walks on the leash to get him accustomed to peeing outside. I would go out in our backyard with him whenever I thought he needed to go and would wait and wait and wait until he went. I would use the potty keywords I used to use when I originally trained him to reinforce that that's why we were outside. When he would finally go I would make a huge deal over it. Eventually it becomes routine for them. Just make sure you're doing everything consistently. Nowadays Howie goes like clock work and tells me when he has to go by walking to the back door and barking. Your dog will get the hang of it as long as you're patient and repetitive. And as for bad weather - have you thought about a rain jacket and maybe boots? Sounds easier than blow drying!! Good luck.

[SusieQ_61397]

Everyone has given good advice so far. I didn't like having the puppy pads and so I worked with Jack and eventually he picked up on going potty outside. Crate training works the best I have found. I would say " do you have to go pee pee?". He would cock his head and head for the door. Then I would praise him over and over again. If he needs to go at night when I'm asleep, he makes funny noises and gets right in my face to wake me up so I'll take him out . He will be a year old on the 27th of this month and I can honestly say he is completely potty trained to go outside. He has to stay in his crate while we're away at work (so he doesn't tear up the house LOL) and he has no problem holding it that long which is about 8 hrs. Sometimes he doesn't even go right away when we get home. Of course he is a larger yorkie (16 lbs) and can maybe hold it longer than the smaller yorkies.
Hope that helps. Good luck. Yorkies are very smart and can learn quick. A lot faster than any other breed I have owned in the past.

[bellasmomok]

Thanks guys for all the trainig tips, mostly for the good news that re-training IS possible...really, though, I'm looking for answers to my questions (I've already had great success with pad training and know HOW to train her to go outdoors...I just need some more specific advice about: )

Originally Posted by bellasmomok

1) Do you think I should leave pads down during a sort of transitional period (while we work on taking her out instead) before taking them up entirely?

2) I plan to stand at the glass door with a retractable leash first thing in the mornings and when it's yucky out (cold/wet) since I don't have a fenced yard. BUT, I was wondering if I could train her to go on pads on the covered porch OR the garage for when it's yucky out?

3) Let's say training to go on the outdoor/garage pads doesn't work, or that I'm in a situation (visiting someone) where that isn't an option.....do all of you who have pups that go out to potty blow them dry every time they go out when it's raining??

4) Will she be able to hold it for 8 hrs. eventually like most indoor dogs I know (different breeds), or does she need to go out more frequently because she's smaller (she's 4 lbs)??

I figured out the answer to #5, but I would love, LOVE to get some stories/advice about the others. (The raincoat/boots is not a bad idea...is that what others do?)

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by bellasmomok

I need some advice on this one....

Recent events have made me want to change Bella from pottying on pads to going outdoors. Let me start by saying that she does pretty good pottying on her pads at home, but she has serious issues anywhere else but home....including THE CAR!! and friends' and relatives' homes. Originally, I decided to pad train so she wouldn't have to go out when it's raining (and then have to be blown dry each time) or when it's very cold. I know changing her over is going to be a long process, but I have some questions about a few of my hesitations before I decide to just go for it!

1) Do you think I should leave pads down during a sort of transitional period (while we work on taking her out instead) before taking them up entirely? I'm afraid we're going to have serious problems if I just take them up, but I also don't want it to be too confusing for her.....so I thought maybe I should transition the pads until they're gone (maybe I could make it smaller and smaller until it's gone altogether???)

2) I plan to stand at the glass door with a retractable leash first thing in the mornings and when it's yucky out (cold/wet) since I don't have a fenced yard. BUT, I was wondering if I could train her to go on pads on the covered porch OR the garage for when it's yucky out?? (I want to figure out how exactly I want to do this BEFORE I re-train her!) I have a friend that made a very shallow "box" with sod in it for her balcony for her dogs, and I wouldn't be opposed to having something like that instead of the outdoor/garage pads....but I'm not up for cleaning up wood chips, though!

3) Let's say training to go on the outdoor/garage pads doesn't work, or that I'm in a situation (visiting someone) where that isn't an option.....do all of you who have pups that go out to potty blow them dry every time they go out when it's raining??

4) I work full-time, though my bf is usually home some during the day (he's in school), so I'm wondering how long it's possible for her to hold it before she absolutely needs to go out....AFTER she's trained of course (until then, I know she'll need to go out much, much more often)?? Can she hold it for 8 hrs. eventually like most indoor dogs I know (different breeds), or does she need to go out more frequently because she's smaller?? Eventually, my bf won't be home during the day, and I may not be able to come home at lunch every day.

lastly, 5) If I want to bell train her, how do I do that? I'm assuming I ought to just go ahead and do it all at once rather than have to tackle that extra bit later.....

We have crate trained in the past, though we don't use the crate anymore, so I think we'll be able to do that to help with the training. I know that was a lot of questions, but I'm really hoping everyone can help me with this

Im in the process of training Tucker from pee pads to outdoors so I will try and answer your questions the best I can..

1. I have been re-training Tucker (4 months) since the week after Christmas so we havent been at it too long and he is doing better. At the very beginning I did leave a pad down in the same spot for "just in case", however I did find that he started to have more accidents on my carpets then he was before, I dont know if he was confused going outside and having the pad out or what but once I took the pad away he is down to having about 1 accident a day. However I take him out every hour when he is awake, I praise him a ton and give him a small treat (cheerios) when he goes. Untill he shows signs that he can hold it longer while he is up I will continue to take him out that often. The key is to be consistant.
He isnt bell trained, but is starting to head to the door when he has to go, so he is catching on!! wanted to add that while we are outside Im constantly telling him to go potty, go potty. I think it helps them with getting accustomed to going outside.

2.) You need to pick how you want to train her and stick to it. If you want to her to go outside then train her to do so, if you want her to keep using the pads but just move them to a different area then do that, I think you will make it harder on her and you if you tried both.

3.) I live in upstate NY, where it snows most of the year and when its not snowing its raining. The weather sucks for the most part. I put sweaters/coats on my dogs and just go. If they are wet when they come in I dry them off with a towel, I dont blow dry them.

4.) How old is she? Tucker can hold it all night long from 9pm untill 5ish am, once in awhile he will wake up in the middle of the night to pee. If she is older she shouldnt have any trouble holding for 8 hours. My 4 pound 2 year old poodle can hold it for 12 to 16 hours sometimes (most mornings I have to pry her out of bed and make her go outside ) and she has been doing it since she was 6 months old, being little doesnt mean that cant hold it. She should be fine once she is trained.

Im not sure if these are the answers you are looking for but I wanted to wish you good luck.. potty training can be difficult.