Dual Potty Training? Outdoors AND pee pads? Is this possible?

[thelittleyorkie]

I think I've heard of "dual potty training" (NOT sure if that was the right word, it had dual in it though) where owners use both outdoors and pee pads?

Would it be harmful or alright if a pup was taken outdoors during the day, but because of the pup's age, use a pee pad for overnight accidents until he/she is old enough to "hold it"?

Just wanted to know what your thoughts were on this.

[BobbiB]

Sheldon does both with no issues at all. I'd say with the exception of the occasional crate accident overnight, he is completely trained, never goes on my floor.

[theporkieyorkie]

I have had issues with potty training in general....but especially when i introduced potty pads when Ricky came along. Ricky was used to using potty pads in the winter and he gets cold easy. Prince went outside.

When I first got Prince, he wasn't very "potty trained" but he was by the time I got Ricky. As soon as I started with the potty pads, it was like it gave Prince the license to pee inside wherever he wanted....and it hasn't changed since. Ricky, uses them, but often thinks he's on the pad and misses. I've invested in 2 carpet cleaners that get daily workouts and I want to get rid of my carpeting.


I got both of my dogs as adults...one was about 1.5 years old, the other was 7 years of age as was a former stud dog. He also lived in a pack of yorkies.

If I had to do it all over again, I would either a.)litter box train my dogs or I would b.) buy one of the crates that has a potty area(the name is escaping me but they are beautiful and have a wood frame with potty area on one side and a bed/food/play area on the other). I would train them to use that so they had to go inside that certain fenced in area to go potty.

[Lovetodream88]

A lot of pups can get confused with doing both at the same time.

[yavenay]

My last yorkie Brandi (RIP) did both potty pads and outdoors. I trained her on the potty pads for days that I was at work. She was a rescue and I did not want her to be crated as she had spent most of her life in a crate. I wanted her to have the freedom to roam the house. As soon as she was potty pad trained she had free reign.

Potty pad training definitely has its advantages. I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to take her out. However she had no problems with pottying outside as well and she didn't get confused at all. It really is the best of both worlds.

[SirTeddykins]

I trained Teddy to go on pads but when we go for a walk he goes outside - no problem.

[dmartinez0984]

i have 2 yorkies one is a 3 year old male that ive had since he was a baby and i have him dual trained he goes on his weewee pad that is in the corner and he'll go outside to he hasn't had an accident in like 2 years and i just recently got a new female puppy and i am training her to do the same she was a little tough to train but its because she has had some medical issues so i cant blame her but she is coming around an having less accidents. so i think it can be possible you just have to have a lot of patience and treats to praise them when they get it right.

[Maximo]

Max and Teddy are both pad and outdoor trained. They have a pad at home at all times, but they know other houses and indoor areas are off limits.

I think it can be risky at home to have the pad only at certain times. If the pad appears and disappears, this might be confusing.

[thelittleyorkie]

For those who have successfully dual potty trained, how did you do it? Any tips/tricks?

[ritapatt]

Ziva feels more comfortable going on a pad so I slowly moved it to the garage. She will go outside as long as it is light out and nice weather. Rain or dark she uses the tray in the garage.

[dmartinez0984]

I had to keep them blocked in one area of the house at first and I had a weewee pad in one corner and when I would see them doing there potty dance and start to go I would pick them up place them on the weewee pad and say peepee here. And once they finished I would praise them and give em a treat. It does take some time for them to get it. Keep the pad in the same spot all the time so they know to go back to it. And eventually they started going there on there own so when I saw that I'd praise them more to reinforce that they were doing the right thing. My little one who is 7 months old is doing real good she barely has accidents on my floor. And I find that the sprays that they sell at the store claiming it'll attract them to the pad don't work so don't waste your money. As they do good I open another part of the house to them and let them get used to that and so on until they can roam the house without having accidents. Patience is key.

[thelittleyorkie]

How would I accustom the pup to going on the pad only at night (as opposed to taking him outside in the middle of the night), until the pup's bladder gets large enough for him/her to "hold it"? I would give him/her a potty break before bedtime (I usually sleep at about 10:30, 11 pm) and would take him/her out again at around 7:00 am. So for through the night: I'm planning on using an exercise pen, with the floor covered with newspaper, put the crate in one end, leave the door open, and put a puppy/pee pad near the door. Would that work?

For those of you wondering: "Why don't you just take him out?", our neighborhood can be a bit scary at night.

[Oddsock]

Ours use both.
We have puppy pads in three places. Our bathroom upstairs, our bedroom ( hardly used) and in their playpen downstairs. I'm disabled so can't move fast, so it wouldn't be fair on them to have to hold it.
This summer, we took their used puppy pads outside, while we played out there, then praised them when they used it. Last we just left some of their poop outside...praised them when they went outside. Now during the day, they ask to go out. Mostly that works for us.

They are fine with pads and outside.

[SophieKatesMom]

Sophie Kate is both pad and outdoor trained, it was a lot of work.


She finally was trained with the "go potty" command and once that was mastered the pads went down and we started using the command with placing her on the pad.


I would suggest if you do use a pad keep it down all the time and in the same place (moving them confused her). Also Sophie Kate does not like a dirty pad so we change our once they are dirty once (I know some people use the same pad all day, I can't).


I use washable pad from T Bumpkins, they are the best quality pads and they last forever. We have a rather large variety to chose from (that is for my pleasure, Sophie Kate is not picky on the pattern).

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by thelittleyorkie

How would I accustom the pup to going on the pad only at night (as opposed to taking him outside in the middle of the night), until the pup's bladder gets large enough for him/her to "hold it"? I would give him/her a potty break before bedtime (I usually sleep at about 10:30, 11 pm) and would take him/her out again at around 7:00 am. So for through the night: I'm planning on using an exercise pen, with the floor covered with newspaper, put the crate in one end, leave the door open, and put a puppy/pee pad near the door. Would that work?

For those of you wondering: "Why don't you just take him out?", our neighborhood can be a bit scary at night.

Our yard is very scary at night, so I understand! I do think it will be difficult, although not impossible, to train your pup to potty indoors on the pad only at night.

Puppies learn that there is a designated area for potty. I would not cover the entire floor of the pen with newspaper. Use the disposable potty pads with the scent infused in them.

Originally Posted by SophieKatesMom

Sophie Kate is both pad and outdoor trained, it was a lot of work.


She finally was trained with the "go potty" command and once that was mastered the pads went down and we started using the command with placing her on the pad.


I would suggest if you do use a pad keep it down all the time and in the same place (moving them confused her). Also Sophie Kate does not like a dirty pad so we change our once they are dirty once (I know some people use the same pad all day, I can't).


I use washable pad from T Bumpkins, they are the best quality pads and they last forever. We have a rather large variety to chose from (that is for my pleasure, Sophie Kate is not picky on the pattern).