Has anyone NEVER used Pee Pads?

[jjl720]

It seems to me that pads give the dogs permission to go relieve themselves in the house. My puppy was pad trained at the breeder and I immediately stopped that!. I live in the snowbelt and Max loves the snow. I just shovel a little spot for him but he usually will find the largest drift and plow right in. Cold does not bother him either. My opinion is that with pad only or a combo of the two, the dogs never learn bladder or bowel control. They need to hold it until they can go outside. I am lucky that I am a stay at home mom so that I can let them out every few hours. Max was trained within 2 months although he is still confined to the kitchen when alone for short periods and crated at night. I will continue to watch him like a hawk but he hasn't had an accident in amonth. That includes his first plane trip last month when he was 8 months old. He held everything for 9 hours!

[omega]

Originally Posted by AprilLove

Hi there! And welcome to YT from another Minnesotan. I have 2 dogs that are trained to go outside and I never used paper or pee pads with them. They both took until appprox 5-6 months before they were 90% or better and it was at least a year before I trusted them completely. My Yorkie is now litterbox and outside trained, and I would say she has been 98% since 10 months old and in the last 2 months, she has been outstanding!! I must say, that I work full time and I am sure that made the training process a bit longer for me. I just prefer that she be able to go inside, and when a pup, it was sooo nice not to have to go outside every night 2 or three times, instead, we would just go to the pee pad. Now she will go ring a bell at the door to go outside, and if she doesn't like the weather (rain) she will just go to her litterbox. Keep us posted on how your little one is doing and congratulations on becoming a Yorkie Mom!!!

just wanted to say hi to you fellow Minnesotans! I thought I was the only one here!

omega

[BlkLilMagicMan]

we actually did both...
IF he were to have an accident in the house we would rather for him to known to go to the pee pad in the room that was most frequently occupied by all of us... There was times he would be so excited and distracted he wouldnt think about going to the back door to go out..

He is 1 year old and he knows the deal..BACk door. the only time pads are laid down in this house is when Gerards mother brings her two yorkies that are peepad yorkies.

Id like to say he does wear a band!!!..Once he realized he could lift his leg it was over..Especially when I caught him about to do the deed on my flat screen TV...

[Reesie]

I didn't even know about pee pads until I started reading y/t. I had always trained my dogs to go outside. When I started reading a million threads about the difficulties in potty training I decided to try the pads. They worked well for us. Reesie is now completely outside trained and doesn't need the pads any longer, but Abbie is still using them, but also goes to the door. She's kind of like a child who plays and plays and then suddenly decides they have to go and can't hold it ....I have the pee pad right next to the door for accidents.

[donnarod]

I love them, Tricksie is 4 months old into everything. Tried training her outside but she would eat any and everything, she has a very senitive stomach. I cannot just let her run around the house because she goes nuts. We have play areas in the house and I put the pee pads down and she always uses them. It is wonderful when the weather in FL is wet and cold.

[CocosMom]

I have never used pads!!! It took me 18 months to fully train her, but I FINALLY did it!!! I have an English Bulldog pup that only took a week or so!!!! I love them both the same, but I have always had my dogs go outside! I used to put a leash on her and tie to to my pant loop so she was always close to me and I'd catch her if she had an accident, or else she was crated. Good luck, it can be done.

[Bama Yorkie Mom]

my girls go outside since day 1. I mean thats how I started training them from day 1. I've never bought a pee pad. Now they go outside, rain, cold or whatever. I know if my yard hadnt been fenced this would of been much harder and once in a while one of them might have an accident but Ive heard most dogs accidents once their pretty well trained, is the owners fault and I have to agree with that as far as the accidents mine have had.

[amspoelstra]

Hi there. Welcome to YT (little late, sorry). I just moved to the westcoast after living on the Wisconsin/ Minnesota border, but in Packer land

Despite the cold weather, I have taken Trixie outside from the moment I got her (and we didn't have a fenced in yard). I've never used potty pads. In my mind, I thought if I'd let her use a potty pad, it would be approving her going in the house. And I would not like the smell of doggy poop or pee in my house... It takes work and dedication, but it pays off.

[yorkiegirl83]

I never used pee pads w/my dogs because they'd rip them to shreds. Now with the new puppy.. I put one in each spot that she usually goes if I'm not RIGHT ontop of her to take her out... just so clean up is easier.

[rachelsyorkie]

People who live in apartments, people who live in areas that strays run loose or w/preditorial wildlife might use them....A hawks tried to take a boys dog while he was walking it. If you go alot of places its nice to know they will use the pads so you dont have to put them down where dieseases and parasites might be. I let mine out in my fenced back yard that is clean of strays urine & feces, etc. I use the pads on rainy or freezing days or if we go somewhere that I feel unsafe to let them out for some reason or another. Many little dogs killed by bigger dogs were on a leash-I think I could grab my dog up if I saw another dog running toward us, I would fight one before I let it kill my baby but why chance it & go thru the trauma. And to avoid the chance of parvo or worse, vaccinations arent 100% It happens everyday. I know the pad $ can add up but I think people who arent willing to chance it, over worry, are a little lazy & dont like to get wet cold or sweat think they are worth it

[mmn000]

I have two yorkies and I never use pee pads. I've tried them and found that mine will pee just about anywhere other than the pee pad. Also, I don't want to confuse them. When we go to other people's homes, I don't want them looking for a pee pad that isn't there.

[Christy00]

I tried using a litter box, but my baby thought she was at the play ground. I use a towel now.

[winnismom]

My 4lb. shih tzu Georgia is outside trained. We're from New Hampshire and even with the cold we've been having we still expect her to go outside. It's funny how quick she does her business when it's 8* out as compared to when it's 68* and she wants to explore the yard! She scoots out..does her thing then runs back in. We started pee pad training when we first got her and she hadn't had all her shots...she was tiny too just 1.9 lbs. I couldn't wait until she got her shots so we could start outside!! The sight of the pads with pee on them made me nuts...and then having to pick up the poop and flush it...anyway i won't go on it just skeeved me!! I often think how unsanitary it is to have dog urine and poop in your house...i don't know different strokes for different folks but i'm glad mine is outside trained.

[mmn000]

I remember reading somewhere that going outside feels more natural to a dog than going inside, which makes sense to me. And for some reason, both of my two yorkies love it outside no matter how cold it is. So when it's really cold, I'm dragging them in. The only weather they don't like is pouring rain.

[janc]

Originally Posted by PepperAnn

when I start the pups I put newspaper by the door that i take them out. when they head for the newspaper i take them out so they figure out that hmm if i go to the paper by the door we go out and i go out with them til they pee or poop. but then there is the confusion of getting outside when it is raining... hmmm. actually PepperAnn who just delivered 6 puppies Last Thursday even wanted to go out in the rain this morning cold Tennessee rain I am surprised it didnt snow... but it doesnt bother her... i feel for them even thought of getting one of those doggie liter boxes. but then I thought that would confuse them so I havent...

I've got a large litter box for my 2 puppies. I take them outside also and have from the beginning. I also have 2 planting areas on my screened in porch for them with barriers so they can't piddle on the concrete. The reason I use the litter box is sometimes we go up to Fort Campbell and that's at least a 5 or 6 hr. event. Lucy might be able to hold it but not Monkey. I leave their toys and a litter box with a pee pad in each of their houses. Lucy is bigger (4lbs or less) so she is in the expen. Monkey is tiny and his litterbox is built in to his caged in area. They sleep in one of the bedrooms. Since neither has been fixed they have to remain separate when I'm not around. She hasn't come into heat and I don't want an accident. They aren't confused by all that but they still think they can go on the floor. The only time I let them down on the wood laminate flooring is when I can't feed them on the patio in their enclosed areas. Obviously, this last couple of weeks has been so cold Monkey has been shivering in the house. (I have a ceramic heater in their bedroom in addition to the heating system.) Consequently, they've had some mistakes. I expected it and always have vinegar on hand. I hope by the time they are a year old they will have the idea!!