[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!