[yellowmellie]

Originally Posted by Ladylavender

However, having said that I think regardless of which one you choose, potty pad or outside, you absolutely need to be there the whole time you are trying to get him to go potty. Leaving and coming back periodically is not going to get you what you want in the long run.

You need to be there redirecting and reinforcing the "go potty" command. If he gets side tracked (like wanting to tear up the pads) you need to snap your fingers, tell him "no" and then repeat your go potty command. You need to keep doing this until he goes. Then praise and treat! immediately.

At this stage in the potty training process, you should never just let them "go" by themselves. They get too distracted and you need to be there to positively reinforce the correct behavior. If you leave and come back after he has already gone and then tell him "good boy" and give him a treat, he only gets that he is a good boy and gets a treat for the behavior he was performing immediately preceding the positive reinforcement. That could have been shredding the peepad, walking around or playing or whatever he was doing. Going potty is a faded memory in his mind. He just will never put the two together unless you are praising and treating the instant he finishes up.

It's the same principal as "not punishing" a puppy for a mistake if you find the mess after the fact. The puppy will just not make the connection that you are punishing him for a behavior he may have perform 1, 2 -30 minutes ago.

Very well said!! I hate to see people yelling at their pups hours after the fact expecting the dog to understand!