peeing/pooping outside?

[stl]

I am afraid this is another thread on potty training. Our Teddy is 14 weeks old and got all his shots recently, so we started taking him outside to do his business. Since we live in an apartment block, he'd never been out before like this (he was always in my arms or in his carrier). So he's pretty curious and excited exploring everything.
My husband and I work during the day, we can only take him out in the evening. We try to schedule it like this: we will have dinner, then he has his meal and after cleaning up, we take him out. Since being able to walk outside is something new to him, he's pretty curious about everything and checks out every corner and every tree. But the problem is, he NEVER pee or poop outside. It seems like he is saving it all for our apartment!!
I always make sure he drinks plenty of water before and during our walks, he eats his meal before (no pooping before our walk!!), and he gets treats as reward for something he does during our walk. I always carry some treats with me so I can reward him for peeing or pooping, but never had a chance to reward him for this!
How do I encourage him to go outside?

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I would probably start off taking him outside first thing in the morning, first thing when you get home from work. You know that he will have to do his business at these times so it should be a good time to get him used to going outdoors.

Once he gets the idea, I would try to take him out regularly so he could get used being outdoors and hopefully will catch on. I would also recommend using a single phrase for pottying and say it while he's in the act. Say it several times with lots of praise. Use this phrase only when he's to do his business.

Maggie May for some reason used to pee outside but come back into the garage and poo on the pad. She will still do it on occasion and she is 3. We have pads in the garage and in their pen.

Good luck and just be patient. It will happen.

[stl]

I will try to take him outside right away today, but I am not sure he's going to pee (let alone poo). He is in his fenced area (laundry room) with all his essentials during the day, where he can poo and pee. So it's not like he's holding it for when I go back.
Thanks for the advice.

[stl]

I've started taking him outside everytime I see her snooping around (when I am available, that is). But gosh, this little guy can sure hold up! Still no success on this outside front!!

[kjc]

Might be best to put in a couple of training days when you have 2 days off together. Plan to train those 2 days, and nothing else.

Start by watching like a hawk. Dogs will give a signal just before they go potty. Watch him to learn what his signal is.

When he potties on the pad, the first goal is to catch him in the act, and repeat the command 'Go Potty' (or whatever you decide to call it, but be consistant), and reward him with a treat and a ton of praise (a lot of happy praise, have a party!). Do this a few times inside.

Then when he gives the signal that he has to go, take him out to a spot you have chosen for him to do his business. It may help to take a soiled pad with you and rub the wet spot on the grass and place a BM there. Give the command, then stay there until he 'goes potty', give a treat and tons of praise!

Plan on doing this the entire weekend (or any 2 days off in a row). Key times for him to eliminate are upon waking, 15-30 minutes after a meal, right after playtime, right after waking from a nap. As you will be watching him, you will learn his timing and be able to catch him and take him out to do his business. If you can't see his signal, take him out every one - two hours to the spot.

During this time, it is imperative to only positive reward elimination. If he 'goes' somewhere and you don't see it till after he's done, ignore the accident, just clean it up and move forward. No bad reprimands for inappropriate elimination. They won't understand, and will think making a potty is bad, not that where he went was bad.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by kjc

Might be best to put in a couple of training days when you have 2 days off together. Plan to train those 2 days, and nothing else.

Start by watching like a hawk. Dogs will give a signal just before they go potty. Watch him to learn what his signal is.

When he potties on the pad, the first goal is to catch him in the act, and repeat the command 'Go Potty' (or whatever you decide to call it, but be consistant), and reward him with a treat and a ton of praise (a lot of happy praise, have a party!). Do this a few times inside.

Then when he gives the signal that he has to go, take him out to a spot you have chosen for him to do his business. It may help to take a soiled pad with you and rub the wet spot on the grass and place a BM there. Give the command, then stay there until he 'goes potty', give a treat and tons of praise!

Plan on doing this the entire weekend (or any 2 days off in a row). Key times for him to eliminate are upon waking, 15-30 minutes after a meal, right after playtime, right after waking from a nap. As you will be watching him, you will learn his timing and be able to catch him and take him out to do his business. If you can't see his signal, take him out every one - two hours to the spot.

During this time, it is imperative to only positive reward elimination. If he 'goes' somewhere and you don't see it till after he's done, ignore the accident, just clean it up and move forward. No bad reprimands for inappropriate elimination. They won't understand, and will think making a potty is bad, not that where he went was bad.

consistency and patience are very important. It will take time but one day when you're not expecting it, it will click and she will "get it". Just have tons of patience.