[Ellie May]

ETA: Ellie is allowed to go on pads sometimes when I'm gone and Ry will be allowed to also. I was hoping he'd have a bladder of steel and be able to hold it, but he has urinary issues. However, when possible, I prefer my pups be outside trained and I'm not sure it's great if they think they can go inside. Ellie was crated with newspaper under her with her siblings. Came right home to me and went right to the papers. Didn't take to outside (100%) ao easily and still hasn't. While I know it's impossible to get very young pups to go outside everytime, I do think her being able to go in her crate on papers hasn't helped us any now.

And the only reason I'm going to let Ry use pads (possibly) now is that with his current issues, I can't expect him to hold it. I'm gone for very long periods.

If possible, I like to keep things simple to learn.

Now taking a dog that isn't fully vaccinated to the dog park, or letting them walk around the petstore, or not picking them up in the vet office if they are small is just..asking for trouble. But they can only be protected so much if an owner does want to outdoor train. I guess it is what it is and each person has to decide how much risk they want to take. I'd rather risk parvo and distemper and potty train how I want to (knowing that I don't see a bunch of sick looking dogs around here and I doubt there is anything risky outside my door).

Ry was at two rescues not yet fully vaccinated - around tons of other stray or rehome dogs. Unavoidable and he did fine. In fact, he was going in his crate. They were taking him out to pee. So even vet offices (his rescue is a vet hospital) take pups outside... E has a low-ish distemper titer and she is at a vet's office with me all the time. Never a problem. I think as long as caution is used, that's all we can do. ..because you can carry these diseases in on shoes and such anyway. I don't see owners taking off their shoes, changing, showering, etc. before handling their pup.. Not sure there is a huge difference between that and just letting them go out in the yard.