Is it possible.....
 

to train a puppy to use a potty pad if they are already used to going outside? I got Calli one month ago (she is now 4 1/2 mos old) and she has always gone to the bathroom outside. I don't believe she was ever introduced to potty pads. She has been doing a great job of going out and that is actually my preference but I would like her to be trained for both so she doesn't have to be taken out during the night (while she is still little and learning, I would prefer to just get her out of her crate and have her use a potty pad in the middle of the night, if possible) and also for the winter months when the weather may or may not allow her to go out (will have to shovel her a path if we get any snow, besides the cold temps). I have tried putting down the potty pads and putting her on them as soon as I take her out of her crate in the morning or when I come home from work but she just sits there looking at me like, "What is this thing for?" and then she lays down on it! I have read several YTers mention that theirs are trained for both so I am curious if it is too late to train her on the potty pads now? Would appreciate any help you can give, thx. :confused: :confused:

It's never too late. :)

You can try this, right after Calli pees outside, dab a bit of that pee onto a pee pad, then next time you take her out to pee, let her sniff that pee pad (with her scent on it) and try to get her to go on it. Good luck!

I'm glad someone could answer that, cause I didn't have a clue. Never used pads.

I did the same thing with my Mango. She was first trained to go outside in the dog run. But there were days I would need her to go potty in the garage (concerns about Rattle Snakes in the heat, and Hawks). I did exactly as suggested above - rubbed the pee pad in a recent pee, put it down in the garage. I did do one other thing. When training Mango to go potty, I always used the same words -"Mango, go potty". When I placed the pad in the garage, I took her there, placed her on the pad and said that command over and over until she peed, then gave her huge praise and a treat. She was going potty on command in the garage in less than 2 days. It is not too late to train your Calli.

By the way, please send love to Lisa and Matt. Tell them I hope their vacation was wonderful. Sukoshi seems to be having a ball at Misty. I leave with my Hubby for our trip on Friday, so will miss the next meetup...:(

Lauren
P.S. You have the most delightful daughter.

Thank you Lauren, and I will pass along your message to Lisa and Matt. I hope you have a great trip as well and I will miss you at the Aug meet up, I was really hoping you and Mango would be there.

You're right about Sukoshi being at Misty's. I am so glad Misty was able to keep her, I know it gave Lisa and Matt peace of mind so they could enjoy their vacation.

PS....You'll probably hear about your PS from my daughter! I'm sure we have embarrassed her.

:smile::wink:

Thank you fasteddie, I am glad to know "It's never too late", I just hope she gets the idea soon. She has picked up on other things so quickly I guess I figured (or at least hoped) this would come easily to her also.

Actually, last Sunday morning when I took her out of her crate and put her on the pee pad I decided she was wasn't coming off the pad til she pottied and I sat there on the bedroom floor right next to the pad and kept putting her back on it and kept telling her to "go potty" (since I knew she HAD to go after all night). She finally just couldn't hold it any longer and went on the pad. I praised her over and over and gave her treats and then went ahead and let her outside because I could tell she was frustrated and probably not done with her business. I wasn't sure she "got it" but hoped that she did. When I brought her back inside I kept her with me wherever I was all day and I have pads down in all the rooms she was in. Once I noticed she had used the one in the kitchen altho I didn't actually see her go potty. I still praised her and told her what a good girl she was. Later in the day she just pottied on the floor so I used the pad in that room to sop up the pee thinking that pad would then have her scent on it and it is still down in that room but she shows no interest in it at all and even tho I put her on the pad when it looks like she is looking for a good spot she just stands there looking at me. I will definitely keep working at it, and give it more time. I was just afraid that once they got it in their head that outside was the place to go, there was no changing their little mind.

WOW! 2 days, Mango is goooooood. As I told fasteddie, I am going to continue working with her and hopefully it will just click one of these times.

Another thought....
 

I noticed on Sunday afternoon when someone came to the house that Calli started peeing when they came in. Can my trying to get her to use the potty pad be causing her to do that?

Max is trained to both. Bribery is a wonderful thing. I now can call him in to the pads and tell him to "go make peepee and I'll give you a treat." Even if he doesn't have to go, he really tries! He wants those peepee treats.

I'm up for bribery! Whatever it takes. :D