too cold for walks and potty

[babybuddy]

My husband and I adopted a 5 month old furball 2 weeks ago. We live in PA, and it has been ridiculously cold to take the little furball out for walks, and when we let him out to do his business, he usually stands on the porch shaking, even with a fleece and coat on. The first few days when we let him outside to go potty he would do really well, even in the cold. We had also trained him to use the pee pads just in case we couldn't let him out due to the weather. Now he won't go outside to potty. We haven't had any pee accidents, and we have been able to catch when he poops in the wrong place and correct him. I'm afraid however, that now that he has gotten use to going on the pad, it will be hard to train him to go outside. What makes our situation a little more difficult is that is has been way too cold to also walk our little one regularly (we have walked him a couple of time when we had a break in the cold weather and he will do his business then...which we praise him for of course). I can start to see that it is affecting him, because he's been acting really crazy...running around the coffee table like he's in a race...running all around the bedroom in big circles really really fast...and he's also starting to nip and growl at us...very hyperactive/anxious. Does anyone have any suggestions about potty training/walking in really cold weather? It's been below freezing 95% of the days since we got our new furbaby!

[Nobuyuki]

www.ugodog.net
LOOK AT THIS POTTY TRAY...WHAT DO YOU THINK?...
MELISSA

[Fancy_Pants]

I'm in the same boat as you! I've had my baby Fancy for a week today. It was cold but okay to go outside to potty the first couple of days we had her but then it snowed/sleet/ice so we started having her go inside on the paper - which she has been doing really good. She has not been outside though since Monday evening. The kids have been home from school too so they have been playing with her and wearing her out. She is asleep in my lap right now Hopefully some veterans will help you *and me* out on this one too! I'm really hoping I can train Fancy to do both. When its nice outside use the potty outside but when its wet/rainy/snowy use the bathroom on paper inside the house.

[Karrie]

I trained Bailey to go outside from day one - but that was in June.

I read in several books that we should teach them one method at a time. So, if it was me, I would train on the pads only (for now) and switch to outside when the weather permits.

So, your baby has cabin fever? Maybe doggy daycare can help with some of that excessive energy?


Good luck!!

[Lexi Rae]

i keep a potty pad outside on my deck as well as inside.. maybe you can do that.

[Fancy_Pants]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

i keep a potty pad outside on my deck as well as inside.. maybe you can do that.

I thought about doing that the other day!!! They never have to touch the ground then. I think I will start that.

[PrincessDiana]

We live in Oklahoma and experienced the same ice storm Fancy_Pants was talking about. My dogs go outside in rain or shine, hot or cold. We just take them outside and wait until they go. This was Franklin's first time to see ice/snow and he quickly learned that the faster he potties, the faster we go inside. If you don't want to deal with dual-training, this could be an alternative. Just make sure they're bundled up!