I don't know if I have an answer that is feasible to you, but even though my pup is only 10 weeks he already has a disignated POO area, and if it's cold here in MN esp at night, when I take him out, we typically just go in the pee area, but if I know that it's close to his poo-duty time or that he's OVER-due for pooing, I actually put him in that designated poo area (I always keep a few of his poos in this area, so that he smells them) and within a few minutes he's circleling around and going. I am SOOOO not a person who knows, heck I have only had mine for a little over 2 weeks, but it seems to be working for me
Heidi