Outside and potty pad training 2 dogs.
 

I have a 6 month old pomchi and an 11 month old yorkie. They are potty trained to go on their puppy pad. And they also go on command. I am wanting to try to get them potty trained outside how. And I don't mind having the puppy pad too, just in case they need it if I don't get to take them out in time. I have a few questions on how to start outside training.

1. Should I take them out often in the beginning? Right now I have them go on command if they haven't gone within an hour. Should I do the same, or more often?
2. Is it ok to take them out at the same time?
3. Should I put one of their soiled pads (I use washable) outside in the spot where I want them to go, or should I just take them to the same spot and have them go on command without a pad?
4. If I wanted to do away with the puppy pad, do I totally take it away, or will that just cause them to potty in the area where it used to be? (It's on carpet on a puppy pad holder) Or should I leave it there for a while until they start going to the door?
5. Can I actually train them to only go outside after learning to go on puppy pads? Or will it be too confusing if I leave a pad down?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. :)

bump!

trying to get this to bump up so you can get some good advice...i have the same situation with my 6 month old, Jake...
love the potty pads but want Jake to go outside too...it's so frigid here right now in northwest Missouri, but i do let him out almost everytime my shih tsu, Gus, goes out to potty, he watches and then comes in and goes on the potty pad...

Gosh, wish I could help on this one but it's such a specific situation and I haven't gone through it. If they go on command though, I wouldn't hesitate to take them outside and try commanding them to go on the spot you prefer. And if that proves not doable, then maybe take the pad out there to the spot (a soiled one). They sound really smart so I bet they'll get it quickly. What is your ultimate goal though? Do you want them to only go outside or both ?

My boys are pad and outdoor trained, but not trained to go on command. It is possible to re-train to 100% outdoors using much of the same method you are now. You can take them outside together if you think they will stay near you and listen to your potty command. If not, you could try using an xpen to keep them together in a smallish area while training.

As suggested above, you can take the pad outdoors to indicate the spot. There are also other aids like special scented bricks to designate a spot.
Potty Rock

If you are going to use a pad at all, I would always always make it available. It is too confusing for the pad to be available sometimes, but not others.

If you prefer to do 100% outdoors, start moving the pad toward the door a little each day. Then eventually take it away completely.

i know i would like Jake to use both outdoor and potty pads...when the weather gets a little warmer i'm going to take him outside on a leash and see if that works...also i'm planning on making him stay out a lot longer and first thing in the morning when he really has to go...
my last yorkie, Jax, did both...

Thank you everyone. :) My ultimate goal is to have them want to go potty outside, but just in case I don't see their cues to go potty or on rainy/snowy days, I would like to keep a puppy pad down for them. Right now I have the pad by the front door (can't get any closer) :) and it's just the 1 pad. And that is the door that I would have them use to go outside. I am also going to try it when it starts to warm up because right now in central Missouri, we still have snow and ice on the ground and more to come.

oh, i hear you on the cold, it's worse up here north of Kansas City :eek:
that's what i want Jake to be able to do also...

Outside potty training
 

Hi! I can only talk about my personal experience. I've had many breeds since I was 9 years old, (55 now), but this is my first Yorkie. Schnauzers, Afghans, Chihuahuas, Keeshonds, are some. The Keeshond and Schnauzers were trained on command. Never used pad until now, in my times there were newspapers! :yelrotflm
My Cayo is 4 months old and it has been now 4 days "without pad", but it takes persistence to help them get to this. He already lets me know he wants to go demanding attention, or barking if I don't notice his signals. At once I put his harness, (won't go outside w/o it), and if I know he is in rush, (early in the morning after we wake up), I carry him outside or he will slip and do it as soon as he is let down.
He does pee on commnad if he doesn't do it on his own. Still working on poo to do it on command, works just sometimes. I's important to recognize the signals while training them and act quickly. They are learning and many are still puppies. As soon as they learn they will take charge and let you know, and you can take them out at least 3 times a day.
Regarding the pads, I remove them during the day and put one at nights just in case. After a couple of weeks with clean pads I remove them completely. You can do as with any child, wake up in the middle of tbe night to ck if they need to go potty those couple of weeks.
You can try taking them together and see if they do their business, or just tend to play. If it is easier for you take them apart.
REMEMBER to give them treats and/or praise them always when they do what is expected of them. :luvu:

From all the breeds I've had, this little guy has shown me, they are dominant, stubborn sometimes, KINGS, and the most lovable, adorable furball! I'm completely in love and I'm mad with his kisses and the love he gives us. Wish you could see him playing with my eldest's Pittbull! They look sooooo funny running around, and Kyra is so gentle with him! She thinks he is her baby!

Outside potty training
 

Hi! I can only talk about my personal experience. I've had many breeds since I was 9 years old, (55 now), but this is my first Yorkie. Schnauzers, Afghans, Chihuahuas, Keeshonds, are some. The Keeshond and Schnauzers were trained on command. Never used pad until now, in my times there were newspapers! :yelrotflm
My Cayo is 4 months old and it has been now 4 days "without pad", but it takes persistence to help them get to this. He already lets me know he wants to go demanding attention, or barking if I don't notice his signals. At once I put his harness, (won't go outside w/o it), and if I know he is in rush, (early in the morning after we wake up), I carry him outside or he will slip and do it as soon as he is let down.
He does pee on commnad if he doesn't do it on his own. Still working on poo to do it on command, works just sometimes. I's important to recognize the signals while training them and act quickly. They are learning and many are still puppies. As soon as they learn they will take charge and let you know, and you can take them out at least 3 times a day.
Regarding the pads, I remove them during the day and put one at nights just in case. After a couple of weeks with clean pads I remove them completely. You can do as with any child, wake up in the middle of tbe night to ck if they need to go potty those couple of weeks.
You can try taking them together and see if they do their business, or just tend to play. If it is easier for you take them apart.
REMEMBER to give them treats and/or praise them always when they do what is expected of them. :luvu:

From all the breeds I've had, this little guy has shown me, they are dominant, stubborn sometimes, KINGS, and the most lovable, adorable furball! I'm completely in love and I'm mad with his kisses and the love he gives us. Wish you could see him playing with my eldest's Pittbull! They look sooooo funny running around, and Kyra is so gentle with him! She thinks he is her baby!