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I have been using a combination housebreaking approach with our new dog Savannah. She is 13 weeks old. Puppy pads during the day while I am gone at work and outside late afternoon, nights and morning. Is this setting my dog up for confusion. She seems to be doing okay... not perfect by any means... But she is doing pretty well with the go outside in the morning when we all wake up and using the puppy pads during the day. Evening is hit or miss especially if we take our eye off her for 4 seconds.

A friend told me that if we use puppy pads that the dog will be confused when going to other people's homes... thinking that small scatter rugs are the puppy pads and going on those?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Ryan's mom- Lori

>>I have been using a combination housebreaking approach with our new dog Savannah. She is 13 weeks old. Puppy pads during the day while I am gone at work and outside late afternoon, nights and morning. Is this setting my dog up for confusion. She seems to be doing okay... not perfect by any means... But she is doing pretty well with the go outside in the morning when we all wake up and using the puppy pads during the day. Evening is hit or miss especially if we take our eye off her for 4 seconds.
>>
>>A friend told me that if we use puppy pads that the dog will be confused when going to other people's homes... thinking that small scatter rugs are the puppy pads and going on those?
>>
>>Any ideas?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Ryan's mom- Lori

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you want a dog trained to the outdoors, going to 100% outdoor training as soon as you can is the surest path. Training a dog to use the indoors is a risk, and the longer you continue the indoor method, the greater the risk of lifelong accidents in the house. But you gotta do what you gotta do. If you can't get the dog outside often enough, you may have no other choice.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Hi Savanah'd parents!

It's Gretal's mom again. I have a bundle of "pee-pads" left and I think that I may use them for that extra security down the road....maybe not. I was not sure of your dogs age and you posted 13 weeks. So our dogs are about three months apart.

Gretal came from a pet store with all the pet store horror stories about potty training. Because she was kept in a box/cage with the same papers she soiled in, it was going to be very difficult to crate train her.....it wasn't.

We have a second vacation home in Cape May and Gretal has had to get use to two home. Trust me, very different from one another, so I needed the extra assurance of the pee-pad during the process. She used the pad even if she was successful outside when she was Savanah's age. It was/is a matter of our timing and until I understood the Gretal's digestive system and putting her on a reliable eating regime, I have kept the pad as a safety net. No mixed messages here. I was also instructed (on this site) that she was a baby and her ability to hold it would improve. Hence less need for the pad down the road (and they were right). I take the pad up when she has gone outside and we are home. The pad is by the back door if I know I can not make it home for the 11:30 walk. Six months later, Gretal seems to hold things. There are more days then not lately, that we don't even bother with the pad, so, I am not fearful of a confused dog.
I am realistic she will have accidents in the future.

Kathy

Thanks for the encouragement!

We have had a snow storm here and Savannah went potty outside this morning but would not go during repeated attempts throughout the day! So we had lots of accidents in the laundry room and kitchen.... lots! Oh well. I hear we will have warmer weather this weekend.... hopefully we can reinforce some good behavior then.

I definitely feel like I am in an uphill battle. I am trying to maintain a more consistent schedule and I can see she wants to please us... so I am hopeful! Your words about Gretel at 6 months are very encouraging! Thanks.

Best doggie thoughts for Gretel and you all at her surgery tomorrow.

Savannah's grandmom?!! Lori

Hi Lori,

You will get there, but you have to remember she is only a baby and you will have accidents. The thing is to get her on a schedule. Once you figure that out, things will be fine. However, expect accidents for at least the first year. My folks are home all the time and at 2 years of age, Candy hasn't had an accident in a long time, but they have her on a very strict schedule for meals and potty times.

Melody