Potty pad AND outside???

[Candy5198]

Upon getting our puppy I was determined he was not going to "go" in the house... Things are going fairly well.. He does not go in his kennel as far as I know (SIDE QUESTION: it would smell if he went on his pad and it dried up right??? Or if he pooped and ate it!!!) back to the point... After almost two solid weeks of rain... And the yard being flooded... AND Finding fire ants (dead) falling off him after bathing him just now) I think I'm ready to resort to putting down a pad...
I'm wondering if its possible to only keep a pad down when it's yucky outside... And expect him go go outside when its not... At this point in his training I'm the one who's more trained than he is... (We make alot of trips outside)... Or Will I just completly confuse him?

[Nancy1999]

You can usually see pee on a pad, no yellow, no pee, Joey never had strong smelling pee, but with Ralphie it's a different story! I use pads, but my two love to go outside, the pads are a convenience for me when I don't feel like getting up and opening the door. Ralphie goes during the night and he being able to accomplish this on his own, makes him more independent, which I think is good.

[Candy5198]

The question about if it would smell is because the bedding we have you would not be able to see it... And I'm not sure how quick it would dry but I imagine it would stink so I think it's safe to assume he is kennel trained...
At this moment it it storming outside and I've taken him out of his kennel 3 times already and he will not per on the pad ... I was hoping he would remember since they were used when he was very small but only at night and when we left. Can holding it hurt him? Or is it okay to keep trying... The fact that he had ants on him worries me... They are horrible where we live and float in puddles when the yard floods... I imagine if he stepped in a bunch of them they could really do damage.

[Candy5198]

It may help to say he is just shy of 4 months... I know can hold it for quite some time... We have left him for up to 5 hours and I've never come home to a wet or smelly puppy... He's going on 3 hours right now and still won't go on the pad.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Candy5198

The question about if it would smell is because the bedding we have you would not be able to see it... And I'm not sure how quick it would dry but I imagine it would stink so I think it's safe to assume he is kennel trained...
At this moment it it storming outside and I've taken him out of his kennel 3 times already and he will not per on the pad ... I was hoping he would remember since they were used when he was very small but only at night and when we left. Can holding it hurt him? Or is it okay to keep trying... The fact that he had ants on him worries me... They are horrible where we live and float in puddles when the yard floods... I imagine if he stepped in a bunch of them they could really do damage.

Oh dear those ants are horrible, I don't know, I think I'd try leaving for a bit and see if he pees, if he does, praise him and give him a treat. That's why I suggest people duo train, there are certain times that going inside is a real lifesaver and if they ever become old and incontinent, they won't feel bad going on a pee pad. It doesn't sound like he's peeing in his bedding, it would stay wet for a long time and you would probably notice an odor, if he's not going on his pee pads, I doubt if he's going on his bed. Another thought is to take him for a walk, you can guide him around the puddles, my dogs love their walks and will pee on everything about a million times! Regarding you question on holding it, I don’t think he will hold it long enough to do harm, but I have read that some dogs confined to crates might hold it too long and it can cause harm, for example, bladder infections.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Candy5198

It may help to say he is just shy of 4 months... I know can hold it for quite some time... We have left him for up to 5 hours and I've never come home to a wet or smelly puppy... He's going on 3 hours right now and still won't go on the pad.

That's unusual for that age, mine could hold it at night that long but not during the day, but its well within the normal range. I'd say, that you both are doing a pretty good job!

[yorkietalkjilly]

I think you could see the yellow and smell it if he goes in the house. I wish I could get Tibbe to use potty pads when I'm gone but he won't - he'll hold it until I get home, even if it's longer than 8 hours or something. When I was in the ER and then admitted to the hospital year before last, my son said Tibbe did use his potty pads and the subsequently went beside them. He wouldn't go more than once on any one pad and I had only left down 2, thinking I'd be home that night.

Tibbe goes outside even in the rain and snow, even if it is pouring and freezing cold. He went out when it was 7 degrees one year. He goes out even if it is pouring off the roof like a hose but not until he has to go. He'll hold it as long as he can and then he finally dashes out through the stream of water, into the rain and does his business. I wish he'd use a pad at times like that but he just will not do it. It's either or for him.

[Candy5198]

Going for a walk isn't an option... At all! It's pouring! And even when it stops dodging puddles is not an option... I'm guessing there is at Least an inch of standing water in my entire yard... Maybe more... The rain and muck does not stop him from going out... I think he likes puddles actually. I'm stopping him mainly because of the ants... After bathing him their were about 7 that I saw that fell off while I was drying them... They are fire ants or red ants whatever they bite! We all ways have ant piles in the yard in spite of treating they always come back... And I'm always careful to keep him away fom them but with all the water I'm assuming there spread everywhere... I have been putting on his harness and leash and taking him to the pad that way hoping he will get what im asking... I suppose if I can't get him to go by bedtime ill just let him run the house... A big no no cause he has no problem peeing on my floor! Then at least ill have pee to put on the pad.. It's supposed to rain tomorrow too... I am just hoping I'm not going to ruin all the training I've attempted so far...

[MandiesMom]

I absolutely LOVE that Mandie goes outside AND on pads. We've had rain like crazy here, too.

The question of only putting the pad down on special weather or ant occassion though? I don't think that is realistic. If they are taught they can go inside on a pad, then pretty much anything on the floor can become a pad (especially at 4months old). Mandie is not allowed in our bathroom to this day because our floor mats became her "new" pad lol

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

I absolutely LOVE that Mandie goes outside AND on pads. We've had rain like crazy here, too.

The question of only putting the pad down on special weather or ant occassion though? I don't think that is realistic. If they are taught they can go inside on a pad, then pretty much anything on the floor can become a pad (especially at 4months old). Mandie is not allowed in our bathroom to this day because our floor mats became her "new" pad lol

I agree that putting a pad down in the house only during bad weather or conditions is probably going to lead to confusion and problems with your pup.

The only successful cases I know of where this can be done is if the pad is in a place like a garage -- which is almost outside, still distinct from the house.

My boys are like Nancy's and prefer to go outside, but they have access to a pad at all times.

[Wallee]

Wallee does both too. In fact he will always go to the pad first before asking to go out. I have gotten to like it also as we have had terrible snowy and wet weather. He doesn't seem to go on it if I am out and immediately runs to the back door when I come in from being out. He also knows going to bed means head outside to pee and then bed, but if we are in the living room watching tv and he is up playing, he will run and use the pad quickly during playing rather than asking to go out. It does have its advantages.

[Candy5198]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I agree that putting a pad down in the house only during bad weather or conditions is probably going to lead to confusion and problems with your pup.

The only successful cases I know of where this can be done is if the pad is in a place like a garage -- which is almost outside, still distinct from the house.

My boys are like Nancy's and prefer to go outside, but they have access to a pad at all times.

Ah... And this is what I was afraid of... I really did not want a dog no matter how small pooping on my floor... As it is I don't really have an out of the way place to put a pad... But dragging in muck every time I bring him out is making me nuts also... I think if I get one of those pad holder things I'd feel better... Then at least it isn't ON the floor... Not to mention he has a habit of pooping and walking at the same time... I don't know how we'll that'll work on a pad...
It is still raining and now too dark to see and it's been 5 hours since I brought him out and he still won't GO...

[Candy5198]

Hooray! He went on the pad! I walked him with the leash and after about 5 min of commànds he gave in! Not sure how the pooping will go... I may need a room full for that! Lol...

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Candy5198

Hooray! He went on the pad! I walked him with the leash and after about 5 min of commànds he gave in! Not sure how the pooping will go... I may need a room full for that! Lol...

Way to go, glad you figured it out. I don't know about the pooping though, I don't if he can hold it forever. I've noticed one thing about Joey, he does love his privacy, he'll go to a room no one is in to do his pooping, so I put pads in several rooms. Otherwise I get a surprise token.

[Candy5198]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Way to go, glad you figured it out. I don't know about the pooping though, I don't if he can hold it forever. I've noticed one thing about Joey, he does love his privacy, he'll go to a room no one is in to do his pooping, so I put pads in several rooms. Otherwise I get a surprise token.

Wouldn't say I figured it out... Poor thing he looked so confused... I don't know if he'll poop on the pad... He usually assumes his pose.. starts... and walks so he finishes about 10 foot from where he started... i dont think the make pads that big!!! But that isn't as hard to find as potty at least...