Please Give Advice With Transition From Pee Pads To Outside!

[KathyK09]

Hello!

Our puppy Mariah is now 5 months old and is about 2.8 lb.

She is home alone while we are at work/school from about 7:30 am – 3:30 pm (the kids get home about 3:30 pm while I get home about 5:00 pm). While we are gone she is now kept in an x-pen in our kitchen that is about 2x6. She is completely pee-pad trained during the time she is in her x-pen. This is also where she spends her nights.

When my daughter gets home she opens the door to Mariah’s pen. She cleans the pen and puts down a new pee-pad. Mariah is the allowed in the kitchen and family room for the rest of the day till bedtime.

She is about 98% trained to go on her pee-pad by herself during this time. She does occasionally poop in one spot in the kitchen that is not on her pee pad (we are working on this) but otherwise she usually does wonderfully with only rare accidents.

Now that the weather here is getting better, we want to start training her to go outside instead of on her pee-pads while we are home. We take her for a walk each afternoon (weather permitting) and she is going potty at this time. We, of course, give her lots of praise/treats anytime she goes outside.

We took one of her pee-pads and brought it outside to help her get the idea but even though we took her out several times this weekend she never went (except while on her walk).

Today I’m planning on getting a bell for the door so we can train her to ring it when she wants to go outside. We’re going to really work on watching her constantly while we are home so that anytime we think she may have to go potty we can immediately take her outside. We’re also going to continue to take her outside on a regular basis.

I would love any advice on how to make the transition to get her to go outside rather then on her pee-pads. Right now her pen and pee-pad is right next to the door we want her to use. Also, we free feed and water. Should I start restricting her?

THANKS!

[4doggiemama]

"Bumping"

[cdawnfine]

This is a long and slow process every day move the pee pad closer to the door, but only move it about 1/2 an inch each time. You want to teach the pup to go to the door. Dogs learn by repetition so by moving the pad you throw them off a bit, that is why you should only move the small amount.

[KathyK09]

THANKS so much for you reply!

[pnkcandle9]

i'm just starting to move the piddle pads closer to the door to eventually going outside too, good luck! :-)

[lilmomma]

Hi there,

I was reading some threads in the general discussion section and ran across a wonderful site that has great info on all potty training issues. You might find it helpful as well. Good luck. thehousbreakingbible.com

[spydergurl]

I trained mine to use paper when I wasn't home. But when we go outside, she will go there, as well. I always cheer when she goes potty on the paper or outside. So she knows they are both okay. I ignore if she goes in wrong place then that is usually forgotten. They like praise, rewards, clapping, cheering....hehe

[BrittanyB]

We are kinda going through the same thing here...my yorkie goes on newspaper outside on my porch but the difference between our problems is that "gracie" will not go pee on walks she will hold it untill we get home and then she'll go on her newspaper...How can I get her to go pee during our walks??? Eventually I don't want to have newspaper out. I want to be able to take her for a walk and for her to go to the bathroom there...any suggestions anyone???

[cdawnfine]

Originally Posted by BrittanyB

We are kinda going through the same thing here...my yorkie goes on newspaper outside on my porch but the difference between our problems is that "gracie" will not go pee on walks she will hold it untill we get home and then she'll go on her newspaper...How can I get her to go pee during our walks??? Eventually I don't want to have newspaper out. I want to be able to take her for a walk and for her to go to the bathroom there...any suggestions anyone???

Try bringing the News Paper on your walks, and put it down on different spots, pick it up from the porch this way. When you gt home if she has not gone, there is no paper on the porch but have it somewhere else. Eventually she will learn to pee everywhere.

[Yorkiedaze]

I'd keep her pad trained. Going potty outside is second nature to them anyway, and I'm sure when she get's to go play outside in nice weather, she will potty there as well. Mine are pad trained and will also go outside, but when we have to leave them home or if it's raining, then they go on their pads. I love this arrangement best. It comes in handy when you travel too.

[spydergurl]

All of those suggestions are great....and one other thing.....I always say something when she goes potty and I call it going Potty! So, when we go on walks, I say, go potty, go potty, go potty outside (in singsong).....always encouraging her to do that....and when she goes in the house on the paper, I say yayyyy, Chewy went potty on the paper......and give a treat. Always clap and do a little dance for her. Even now, she's 9 yrs old and we still do it! LOL She always does potty dances too, and we really go wild over those.....big handclaps....they are such little hams, they llike to please us in every way!

[KathyK09]

THANKS for all the GREAT advice!