Teaching a pee-pad trained dog to go outside too?

[YorkieLovin]

Hey,
Does anybody have any thoughts on how to teach an already wee wee pad trained yorkie to also go outside and only use the wee-wee pad for emergencies when we are not home. Is this possible? Or can they only be trained to go one place or the other? Please share anything you can... What are some good ways to make the transition?
Thanks

[Elisandra]

I remember i wanted Rocky to go outside so bad but because i live in a apt on the 3rd floor and i work 7hrs i didnt want him to only go outside. He first learned on the wee wee pad then i bough this liquid you put outside and he smells it and they are supposed to know to use the bathroom outside (didnt work waste of money). Then one day i went to watch my bf play football at this park and out of no where he lifted his leg and peed out side i was so and happy at the same time then like 3 days later i was walking him outside and he pooped outside too. So i guess i had to wait till he was ready now he goes both places on the wee wee pad and outside but since im not home during the day he uses the pad.

[dragonflysw]

My sister trained their Abby to use the potty pad only.....she is a Min Pin and took to the pad with no problems! They lived in an apartment at the time and didn't really have a place to take Abby out to potty. Now, Abby will only potty outside 'if' she is outside at that time. She will not go to the door when she needs to pee, she uses the pad, but if she is outside playing, then she has no problem with going outside.

[my2boyz]

Originally Posted by YorkieLovin

Hey,
Does anybody have any thoughts on how to teach an already wee wee pad trained yorkie to also go outside and only use the wee-wee pad for emergencies when we are not home. Is this possible? Or can they only be trained to go one place or the other? Please share anything you can... What are some good ways to make the transition?
Thanks

My boyz are trained to use the wee-wee pad inside and to go outside. Although, Jo quit using them when he was little so he only goes outside. I recently had a talk with Riley and we decided it was time for him to be a big boy and only go outside too. So, I cleaned his litter pan, put in a fresh wee-wee pad and he watched me put it up. He stood there stomping his little feet and barking at me for a while because I put his big red bed in place of the litter pan but he got over it pretty quickly! I started by asking him often if he had to go out, if he did he would jump around and head for the door and I would praise him for doing a good job...if not he just stood there looking at me like I was nuts. So, now he lets me know he wants out by gently tapping my leg and giving a very soft 'woof'...it took me a few tries to realize he wanted out, since I had not trained him to do that, but I train pretty quick too He has had no accidents since I took the pad away...I do put it down at night, just in case, but he hasn't even used it. I will probably still put the pad down if we need to be gone for the day or something but 99% of the time it's put up and he's doing great with it. So, yes...it can be done and honestly, I don't miss the litter pan with the wee-wee pad in it...it't not the most attractive thing in the house! Good luck with your training!

P.S. You might want to try placing his used pad in the yard and take him there when you take him out...then he'll know that's where he should go. You can eventually get rid of the pad altogether.

[Potter]

Siu Pao was already litter trained when I got him but each time we go out, he'd do his #1 and #2 outside naturally. If I bring him out enough, he'd do it outside but we live in a condo and its cold so bringing him out a few times a day is not doable.

[bettyeanne]

Toto is pad trained but if we are outside, she will go outside also. We kinda look at it as the best of both worlds!!

[mistyinca]

we started on papers, but I quickly decided it was not for me, so we switched to outside early on. Only the first time, did she look at the grass, and then me like "yeah? what do you expect me to do with it?" After that, she peed and pooped out there fine. She did still use pads/papers at night in her x pen to take care of herself at night, but when she started having clean papers in the morning, we closed her crate and she now goes all night without breaks.

We can leave her in her crate in the day for up to about 4 hours or so (though she is rarely left that long). I don't know if she would even use the papers again if I set it up that way again.

[Belinda177]

Recently acquired 5 mo. old, 2lb yorkie. Was told she was reliably pad trained. She does pee on pad sometimes. Other times she does #1 & always #2 on carpet. I have two other small dogs that use a doggy door and go outside. I have tried all I know to do to get her to go outside & she just holds it until she gets into the house. I even put her soiled pad outside and she just chewed on the edges of it. I have never trained a dog this old before. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks - Belinda

[barkleylove]

I'm working on this right now. Bogey is better at going outside, Maggie is more reliable using the potty pads. I let them outside through the laundry room door which goes directly into a small fenced in area. I also have one potty pad in the laundry room. I'm hoping they will catch on that it's potty outside or on the pad in laundry room and no where else. Wishful thinking??? I also bought the clicker for training and when my son clicked it today Bogey pooped. Not where he was supposed to but at least he pooped. LOL! The problem in the Chicago area right now is the weather is so unpredictable. It goes from 50 degrees one day to 20 degrees the next and neither one likes the cold.

[dawn27]

This will sounds gross but I've done it and it will work !!

Take a piece of your pups Poo and take it outside and place it on the ground in the general area where you want your pup to go potty. Than on your next trip outside for potty time take your pups to that same area. Let them sniff around and once they find it they will GO ! You'll have to be with them to give plenty of encouragement and praise once they do go. Than just remember to take them to that same area each time after that. They will smell their own scent and continuer to go in that same area. Eventually they will get use to it and there you go. Dogs are creatures of habit.... they will go in the same area that they have marked more than not.

[Deb1]

Well....I am in the middle of potty training a 14 week old. I also have a 8 month old puppy who is outside potty trained. Tatiana is being pad trained and outside trained, depending on the weather! At night and early morning she uses the pad and already goes there on her own "most" of the time during the day. But when it is nice out, I take her outside to potty and poo. She does really well either way. When she is outside, she tends to poo or potty on the sidewalk or deck but she goes. Still working on that! I haven't decided whether to continue both once she is trained and bigger. (only 1.6lbs) I like that she is able to use the pad when we are gone or when the weather is nasty!

[Belinda177]

Thanks all. Dawn27 I will try what you suggested. She certainly leaves enough poop on the carpet for me to be able to place some outside:-). Maybe her own scent will work! When I put her next to the other 'girls' while they potty she is not in the least interested. I have her in puppy training now and the trainer can't even teach her to sit. She is doing better on leash though and is a sweet, mostly calm little baby. The trainer said not to give up, she is not a lost cause, that maybe she just needs individual training instead of group. This is tough for me because I have had dogs for 30 years and have one in advanced training now. I really don't want a yapping, messing on the carpet pet for the next 15 years. But, what do you do?

[dawn27]

I hope that it works for you, keep us updated on her progress.

There is still hope.... but you must be willing to do the work even if it means over time!