Should wait to train outside?

[Jasper Jax]

Ok, I'm just wondering what some of you guys would do (or have done). My Vet told me not to start taking Jasper outside to potty train until after all of his vaccines have been completed which will be at least when he 4 months old. Jasper is deathly afraid of his kenel, so crate training is out of the question, but only seems effective if I can take him out anyway (I'll be starting another thread about the kenel). We have been puppy pad training, and he's actually responding quite well. He's not pooping on it, but he pees on it nearly every time, because he loves the praise and the treat that follows. He even perks up when I say "gotta pee pee on the puppy pad" I guess because he associates it with the rewards. Not that I'm not happy with that. I am. He is only 9 wks old and I was prepared for some trouble, since the chihuahua I had 5 years ago had no interest in potty training. So I am very proud of how intelligent he is and how much he wants to learn. However, I would love to start training him to go outside as soon as possible, I'm worried about the transition to outdoors, plus, I know he would love the sun, and our weather is mild here usually no lower than 50 for a low during this time of year. I would be nervous to take him out in the rain until he older because I wouldn't want to risk kennel cough or strep or pneumonia, but I'm not even sure if that is being to precautious. We live in an apt so I would only be taking him out on the leash to do his business and right back in for the most part. But if he is to vulnerable to illness I will take the vet's advice and wait. His health is my first priority obviously. Opinions are requested and appreciated!

[Britster]

I began outdoor training Jackson the first day I brought him home at 9 weeks old. He had only had 1 set of vaccines at that point, not getting his 2nd set until 12 weeks old. I didn't want to mess with the pads because I didn't want him learning to go potty inside was okay, pad or not.

Now, obviously, there was no taking him to dog parks, Petsmarts, places where a lot of stranger dogs have been, etc but he was taken out on leash in our backyard as well as let in my dad's fenced in yard with his 2 dogs. Jackson has been an outdoor dog from the beginning and I could never contain him With the first month of owning him (got him in Dec. 08) he had experienced snow, rain, mud, grass, outside, etc and he was highly socialized with other dogs (that we knew were updated on shots, etc) and now he's a very well rounded dog and I think I owe it to the early socialization I provided him by not keeping him confined to a house. Also, after he had his 12 week appt. at the vet, she told us it was fine to begin potty training outside.

I think you just need to be aware of common diseases in your area, certain places are more susceptible to lymes, some parvo, etc. So just beware of that!

This was Jackson at probably around 15 weeks old or so....

[Jasper Jax]

I feel the same way. Potty pads I'm sure can be quite confusing. And the only thing he wants to do is pee on them because of the attractant. He won't poop on them. We live in a small apartment community, and there are no dogs in my building. So when I walk him, which will be right outside our house, it will only be until he does his business and we'll go back in. Jackson in the snow makes me feel better that my intuitions are correct a few minutes outside to go potty will be more beneficial than possibly harmful. I think I'm going to give it a try.

[jeanm1963]

I got Laci in March, not only was the snow much deeper then she it was too cold for a tiny puppy to go outside, so I did use pee pads for a month or two, if you really want him to be familar with grass, you may want to try the www.pottypatch.com instead of the pee pads!! This way he will understand the difference between grass and pee pads!!

[Jasper Jax]

Well, I just took him outside....30 seconds after I sat him on the sidewalk, he was whining and shivering. I was barefoot, and the ground was much cooler than the air outside. I felt so bad for him I brought him back in. I'm going to invest in the potty patch. And I think I will go ahead and wait until it is warmer and more pleasant outside, so he won't see outside as something that makes him miserable. I think he will be more apt to poop on the potty pad anyway. I will admit since his poop got backed up the other day I've been a bit nervous to move him and "stop the plumbing" and have the same event happen again.

He's just so tiny, and all I could do was picture all the disease crawling over the grass blades. If he got sick I would never forgive myself for being too impatient.

[suemurray69]

I also have a new yorkie who is 11wks old and I have tried the potty training outside but have decided with all the rain we've been getting ( we need a boat practically to go out alot of days)ha ha and the cold I'm going to wait a couple more weeks. Mine has gone outside some I've had him for 2 wks but I hate it when they start shivering its just so cold. I even made mine a sock sweater something I found on the website and she really seems to like her sweater. I figure a couple more weeks won't confuse her to bad.