Potty Training Outside
 

When I first got Frankie it was too cold to start potty training outside, but now that it's getting nicer I want to start.. I'm not sure how to go about it. I've read so many different things. From gradually moving the pee pad towards the door (which really isn't conveinent for me) to taking him out every 20 minutes, and even putting some of his poop outside and showing it to him and praising him so he thinks he already went. I'm not sure where to start, we spent a few hours with him outside yesterday afternoon and he didn't go potty once.. I'm also consered that being I do live in Wisconsin and the weather is never predictable that once I start training outside, it will get cold again and snow and I will have to stop and start all over again and that this will delay his training. Has anyone else had to go through this?? Any suggestions?

When I started to potty train, I had my pups on a schedule and stuck with it. I work very well for me.

Try to figure what will work well with you and and stick with it. You have to be consistant or else it may fall apart on you.

Weather is a big problem. A lot of our little ones are so sensitive to it. Mine will not go out if it rain or they go out just long enough to poop or pee so they don't burst. I know them well and when it rain, they are all crated when I leave for work or else they will finish doing their business in my house and I will find an unwanted present when I come home.

Good luck with your potty training.

WI weather
 

I'm from Wisconsin also and am potty training Lucy who is now 13 weeks old; I got her at 10 weeks. Although it sucked to do, I took her outside and stood out there (in the snow) with her until she went and then praised her a lot when she did go; of course we wouldn't be out there too long, I just did it frequently. She is not fully potty trained but I think she knows what I mean when I say "gotta go potty outside". I've always had dogs go outside versus paper training; just make sure during the winter months he is out for a short period of time. The weather should be fairly nice from now on until winter (cross our fingers), so you have a lot of time to potty train him for outside and come winter he will probably know to go out and do his duty and want to come right back in. Good luck!

I just had to stand outside with my pup in the the snow, rain, cold, or whatever the condition. It sucked, but I knew I had to do it. I got Sophie when she was 4 months old, so she may be a less sensitive to the weather than your pup, but she loves being outside no matter how terrible the weather is. That is actually a bad thing because she'd rather play in the snow or rain than do her business and go back inside. So, like I said it is extremely frustrating sometimes but I just do it anyway. Your pup is going to mess up a lot inside the house for the first year (if he's anything like mine). The most reliable time is first thing in the morning after she's been in her crate overnight. She has to go bad then so she'll run right out and do it and I don't have to worry about her messing up for a few hours.

Yup, same here. Bailey's on the way to being potty trained, I just take him outside every 30 - 45 min and always say "Go potty Bailey" while he's going. He still has accidents in the house (for example if I'm not home and my fiance is engrossed in his video game & forgets to take Bailey outside) but he's getting there.

We have only had Kodah since last Thursday. When we picked her up & I saw how tiny she was (only one pound), I thought to myself this is going to be ridiculous trying to potty train her outside. Fortunately we have had weather in the 70's several days in a row, and I would just pick her up & say "potty outside". At first she would just sit & look at me but as I walked around she would follow & eventually go. I would immediately pick her up & praise her with kisses & say "good girl", "potty outside". I did this every hour to hour and a half. Kodah was good in that she would sleep for a couple of hours in her bed where I could see her & everytime she woke up, I would immediately take her out. She has only gotten up once each night & goes immediately back to bed after she goes outside. Today it was raining, & I took a big umbrella out & held over us - & she went each time. I am home with her all day so I am sure that makes a huge difference. I have just decided in my mind that I'm going to be totally dedicated to these next several weeks & see if we can learn this. I know she will have accidents - but I also want her to know where she is supposed to go. Now I walk to the back door & saw "potty outside" & she runs (more like bounces with her little legs) & I take her out. Only two accidents in the house since Thursday! & that's a whole lot better than I ever dreamed of for an eleven week-old puppy. CONSISTENCY is working for us.

You can buy this spray at petsmart, it's a potty training aid. I forget what's it's called but it smells like that musty urine smell. It totally works! I used it with my mom's dog when I was dogsitting. She was only trained to use the pad and I wanted her to start going outside while she was at my house. So we have a 8x12 foot dog pen outside that works wonderful for potty training. I sprayed that stuff in the corner of the pen and I also put a puppy pad in there. She went right to where I sprayed and peed. And just about always goes in the same area still when she is visiting. Oh and putting his poop in the area you want him to go will help too. So he smells his smell there.

i need adviceI have a question... i'm going to an owner to a year old Yorkie (adopting/rescuing) in two weeks. He's been going to the bathroom in the house (newspaper). How could i train him to go potty outside?

be very consistant. take note the time of day that they poop and then start taking walks at that time. i started out by giving treats for pottying out side. it worked for Ahia. (keep them small or face the over weight problem). After a while when she got the hang of it and i could stop giving treats for going out. she is now a year old and hardly ever makes a mistake inside. even thru the night if she has to go out she will just go sit in the window beside the door or if she really has to go bad she will sit at the door and wiggle until i get there. choose a method and stick with it. good luck.

Nomatter the Weather
 

We also trained Sully, regardless of the weather.

We also made it 100% UNacceptable to pee or poop in the house, the rug, the bathroom, or his kennel. When he did, we would stick his nose close to it and yell NO! NO! NO! BAD DOG! and then directly take him outside, even if he didn't need to go then.

I think, between learning that outside is where he SHOULD go, and also just hating the hell we gave him when he did go inside, he has finally mastered the art, and we haven't had even a tiny accident in nearly a month! And before that last accident, it had been like three months! We're so proud!

thank you for the information. i'm going to put the advice to good use. Hopefully, he will pick up on the training.

All teh advise is very good for me too! I'm starting to potty train Chico this week. It's been a bit windy should I consider a sweater like I bundle up my kids? :rolleyes:

:) it's funny that your yorkie's name is Chico. one of my nieces wanted to name my yorkie Chico too...lol

Oh too funny! I was leaning toward Bear but my husband said he didn't like that but when I mentioned CHico he liked it very much so it sticked! :D

:) ....lol my yorkie's name is Spankie. I was thinking of changing his name, but i don't his transition from one house to another hard on him. I can't wait to get him. My boyfriend is bringing him to me next weekend. Everyone is anxious to see him.