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HMWAC- I would love some insight from everyone on here. House Training
Dog Breed – Bernadoodle
Age 6 months
Has been going on puppy pee pads since a puppy and now they want her to go outside and only outside.
I talked about management skills and basically starting house training from scratch, my questions to trainers is Do i tell them to get rid of the puppy pads right away? Should she still be able to go on them too?I said she has to be supervised or in a crate. They refuse a crate so i suggested in the kitchen with a baby gate. They were on board for that. I personally do not recommend puppy pads- its one or the other for me. These people live in a house with plenty of land. I also found out when they bring her inside they give a treat at the house and we discussed the importance of treating right after the pee outside next to the dog. I plan on giving my basic house training handouts to follow and talk again how important they stick to a management plan because it will pay off in the long run. I just am stumped on how to fade the pee pads out. What are your thoughts ? The husband says he will put the work in now that he is home the next month and a half, since his job is seasonal.
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14 Replies
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Hi Krista!
I wonder why suddenly they want to change what is working for the pup. I’m wondering if anyone has experience in this type of changing up the potty training after a dog has already formed a successful association with the wee pads.
In my experience, pee pads were used as a back up for an elderly couple who couldn’t always walk their Shihtzu. A Bernadoodle! Makes me wonder why, in the first place, they chose the indoor potty route. Especially if the dog is 6 months old, the weather wasn’t so terrible 6 months ago…it was the end of summer!
If the husband is home, even temporarily, I think there can be a great chance for success. However, he needs to be vigilant in observing the dog’s signals…sniffing, etc. I recently had a single guy who was having house training issues with his adolescent female puppy and told him HE needs to set her up for success. He was allowing her way too much free run of the house, unsupervised, while he was working from home, then finding the accident after the fact. I made him promise to do a week of keeping her one of 3 ways: either in her kennel (if unsupervised or if he left the house), with him in whatever room, the doorway gated off from her wandering away, or (my favorite and most recommended) on a leash tethered to him (using a caribiner on belt). “Miraculously”, she made a huge turn around right away and he was able to prevent mistakes.
I thinking it is very confusing for this puppy you mentioned, so now she is learning to potty outside: great! However, she has already learned that going indoors has been acceptable and more the rules are completely changing! I wonder if they could give one gated or x penned area with a pee pad (like a giant litterbox) away from the main living area, and live with it. I’m sure other trainers will think I’m over thinking it.
Good luck with this case! I think fading the pee pad by sizing it down might work. Or perhaps, just offering it to her outside for awhile? I am interested to know what others will suggest! Thanks for bringing this up, @pawsup!☺️
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Thanks Paula!! I had all these thoughts too. He said she does pee outside once in awhile. I think the pee pads were used as a crutch when people didn’t want to get up or were working. Not a good approach.
I was thinking same thing – cutting them down and fading them out.
I’ll get more details today.
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@pawsup you are on the right track and @bernerlabreclectus has already added some super ideas as well. I agree that putting a potty pad (with a rock on it so it doesn’t blow away) outside is a good transition. Pick up the indoor potty pads… or if that is too big a leap, they can move the pad closer to the door every day for a week, then put it outside. Since the puppy has some success outside already, they may not need the slow route. If they have ever corrected the puppy for pottying in the house (Person+potty=scary) then they may need the slow route.
JACKPOT the puppy for potty outside, as soon as she stops peeing/pooping. The owner should have the treats with them and give AT LEAST 3 in a row.
And tether her/keep her with them. Take her out when she wakes up, after play, after eating/drinking and anytime she’s sniffing around! If they keep a potty journal for 2 weeks, tracking when/where she’s going, it can really help them tune in to her needs.
Good luck – keep us posted on how it goes!
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Thank you!! I totally agree with the advice! I think if the owners will take it seriously and really put the work in- I can suggest to take them away. I’ll keep you posted. I appreciate the insight!!
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@krista, I’ve had some dogs stay with me for training where I converted them from potty pads to outdoor only. They were not super-young, so they had some good ‘holding power’ which definitely makes the task easier. I generally eliminate the pads inside right away if the dog is willing/able to eliminate outside, at least sometimes. Then I have them on a slightly more frequent-than-necessary outdoor potty schedule so they have ample ops to do it correctly outside.
And I heartily agree with all the other fabulous advice you’ve already received!
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In that case, @virginiad don’t you think that the complete change in environment helps? The fact they are at your house? Which brings up another great idea for @pawsup … if there’s any chance you can work a board-and-train in your home, you could put them on the fast track for this in a few weeks of work!
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Yes, I do think that can help – being away from home. But the presence of the pee pad is such a powerful cue, whether it’s placed on floor at pup’s home or someone else’s. So, unless the pup will be left alone for way longer than a 6 mo old can hold her pee, I’d probably have pads up right away.
The 1 year old cavalier who stayed with me to work on eliminating the need for pads appeared happy and relaxed here and she successfully eliminated outside regularly. YET, I’d observe her meander to the pee pad that was down on my floor and it seemed to call her over: “Come pee!” And she would, just a few drops. That’s when I lifted the pad for good inside.
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Brilliant. That sure makes sense! It is a powerful cue. I’m having the same issue with any fabric down on my floors, with my new pup. Because the breeder always left blankets down in the puppy kennel and the pups invariably peed on them overnight, this pup thinks any fabric on the floor deserves a tinkle. It’s maddening and I’m really glad I don’t have carpet in our main areas or we’d be sunk!
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@virginiad @catherine I am trying to read all these great responses but get distracted by that adorable picture:) I was thinking to just get rid of them as well- mostly if he is willing to put in the work. I love how you explain the pad becomes a cue! I wish I could board and train- that would be nice to have that control. Callie and Mack would probably not enjoy that. Ha ha. Thank you guys for everything I am writing things up now and hopefully they can get it under control.
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Arg!!!! I wish you buckets of patience, Catherine!
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I called owner today, he wanted to meet but informed me the pup is getting spayed. I suggested to hold off on training until she is fully healed and not in pain. We can revisit then.
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Smart move! Hopefully they can deal with pee pads while she heals.
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@pawsup – All great ideas offered. I agree that they should try for house training from scratch and keep bringing out on lead and rewarding but if they have to leave the dog for longer than they can hold it inside
one idea might be to bring a large enough adult size litter box (any plastic container with sides that is large enough should do with sod (ideally from their back yard) inside that has some
pee smell from the back yard on it as a transition. Not ideal, but could help in an extenuating circumstance. Patience for sure. and of course a vet check to make sure that there are no UTI or complicating medical factors.-
@abbie Thank you – such great ideas!! I appreciate it!
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