[Rachael1983]

Hey There!

I'm originally from Detroit so I know how brutal those Michigan winters can be! I can understand why you want them to use the potty pads. I myself don't use them anymore because I found that my floors were becoming a mess because they didn't always use the pads. I switched to crate training for that very reason.

I do think that crate training w/pads could work. Here's a sample schedule

Sleep in Crate
6am Wake up, let out and potty on pad
615-645: You're getting dressed for work, while they play/eat in the expen
645: Take to potty pad, praise when they've done what you want
7: You're off to work, back in the crate for them
If you can come home at lunch or have a walker pop by at 11:30,
1130: let out crate, potty time a bit of play
11:45 back into the crate and you're back to work
5:30: back home, out the crate, potty to the pad w/praise
530-6 play time for them
6 they are taken to the pad for potty time, praise
6-7 play time in ex pen if you like wind down
7 potty time again, praise
7:30 withold H20 for the night, last potty time, back in crate
(if you are up a bit later you can have them out but to a limited area and you'll have to keep a watchful eye on them when they start to sniff around)
9pm out the crate to the pad, praise when potty and back in crate for the night.

You can treat them everytime they go in and out the crate. Positive reinforcement will help you. Your consistency will be their consistency.