We found it easier to train Gracie to potty on the pee pads when she was very young because they cannot hold back their urine well until after the age of 4 months and that is just a start. Until then it is best to keep them as near to the potty as possible because even though they know where they are supposed to potty they may not be able to make it there in time if they get very far off.
Since keeping her near her potty pad was so much easier than trying to get her out the door in time we just kept using the pads. Then the weather got cold so we didn't train for outside until she was almost an adult.
You can train them to recognize some familiar words when they use the potty pads like, " go potty" or whatever sounds good to you. It will help when you start taking the pup outside if the pup knows just what you expect from it.
I have found that when you take your dog for a walk they tend to find all kinds of scents that stimulate them to pee. Just the exercise of walking gets the body functions moving so they learn to potty outside much quicker. Taking treats along to reward really speeds up the process because that treat really sticks in their mind and they associate it with going potty.
The backyard can sometimes be a place where they think they are out for some explore time and they don't really know why they are out there. Setting up a definite routine can help a pup to associate your actions with going potty. |