[MoonStr80]

I'm on this yahoo group called Puppy Mill Rehabilitation. So you know, I adopted a Mini Schnauzer in October he was rescued from Puppy Mill. We had a debate the other night on the group weather they should be potty trained a lot of backfired they thought the last thing they need to learn is to trust, some come to the shelter/rescue group afraid of outdoors. I told them how I don't feel that they need to have pee wee pads figure it was the lazy way to toilet train them

What do you think? Do you think dogs should be potty trained regardless where they came from?

 

[Pai]

If the owner doesn't mind using pads, I don't see what's wrong with it.

 

[MoonStr80]

Do you think puppy mill dogs should be potty trained?

 

[Binkalette]

Do you think puppy mill dogs should be potty trained?

Why shouldn't they be?

 

[MoonStr80]

Exactly my point!

 

[midnight mojo]

I don't think it matters where the dog comes from, but I'm certainly not against pads as I use them. I disagree that it's a lazy way to train your dog as I believe training potty habits takes effort regardless of the method you use (outdoors, pads, litterbox, whatever).

Many people aren't a fan of pads for dogs but it's a solution that works for some people who for whatever reason choose to use them. If your dog is afraid of going outside, I think pads would be a good option, even if only temporarily while you work on getting over that fear. I imagine it would be much more effective than trying to force a terrified dog to go outside.

 

[ladyshadowhollyjc]

I would imagine not being house trained would harm a rescued puppy mill dog more than help it. How easy would it be to find a dog a home that has quite a few issues and isn't even house broken? All dogs should be housebroken no matter where they came from.

Pee Wee Pads gross me out. I guess I just bought cheap ones or something but every time I've used them the pee went right through them.

 

[midnight mojo]

Perhaps I'm confused, but are you asking if puppy mill pups should be house trained or how people feel about using pads? Or are you suggesting that dogs who use pads are not house trained?

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

I'd rather my dog go outside, please. Even if it takes a long time to get that way, especially with some of our fosters and rescues. I don't care if others use pee pads if that's what they want, but I'd rather not train them to go in a specific spot and get used to going in the house at all. I'd rather correct them from going in the house all together, no matter how long it takes and how many messes I have to clean.

 

[sheltiemom]

I personally have never trained a dog to use them as an alternative to outside...I've put them down in an ex-pen to catch accidents for a dog that I couldn't crate, so I think they have their place, but if you're going to actively teach a dog where to go, training to pads adds an extra step, may as well train to outside in the first place. I do think if you're dealing with difficult dogs, large numbers of dogs, whatever, it makes sense to use them as liners to lessen your clean up work, but there's a difference in that and training a dog to use pads.

 

[Pepper]

It depends on whether the puppy mill dog is horrified of going outside and has to go on pads until they get better.

 

[Trixie]

I'll be honest, I am sort of surprised at the number of people who post and say they plan on using pee pads forever for their dogs. I am not a fan except as a stop-gap measure when a dog can't get outside for whatever reason.

But, I don't live in a highrise apartment building, our winters are mild, and my dog doesn't mind the cold.

 

[Love's_Sophie]

I just can't fathom having my dogs pottying indoors; pads or not...I have to clean a couple of litter pans already, I don't want to have to roll up pads too!

I guess, if a person feels it's the 'only way', due to living in a highrise or something like that, then maybe that's for them; it's just never going to be for me...I can't stand the smell of dog poop outside, let alone in my house!!!

 

[Pai]

Do you think puppy mill dogs should be potty trained?

Potty-trained = going in a set place where you want them to go and nowhere else. If some people define that as pads, that's their business.

It's totally possible to eventually move the pads outside until you've weaned them off it alltogether. As a stopgap for a dog who's afraid of the outside, I don't see why it would such a big deal. It doesn't have to be permanent.

 

[2malts4me]

Shoot, I lost my long well thought out post. lol

Suffice it to say that my girls are both pee-pad trained. However, they also go outdoors if and when we are outdoors. They are both small so their deposits are small. We started with the pads when Sophie was 8 weeks and she took to them right away and we've never changed. Annie was a very ill rescue when she came to us so the pads were a necessity for her.

I admit some days I feel like all I (hubby) does is change pads. But, they are home with him during the day and he is disabled. Our yard is not fenced in and there are hawks and owls out and about. So for us it is beneficial if not a necessity. And, they are housetrained - they only go on their pads (when indoors) and the pads are changed very frequently.

I guess what I don't understand is why some people are so against people training their dogs to go on the pads and feel that it is a necessity for dogs to always elminate out of doors. I guess what I'm saying is as long as your dog is 100% trained to go where you want them to go what's the big deal?

And, if they poop we flush it - for those inquiring minds who want to know. lol