[tinypoodleand2cats]

Hi there,
I have posted here before about potty training my pup -- inside with pads or out. When we got him at 8 weeks, I spent a week taking him out each hour unless he was taking a nap. He was going out and doing okay but it was exhausting for me and with my 2 indoor cats getting VERY upset and aggressively trying to go out themselves ( I almost lost them 2 times despite all my efforts to hold them back), I thought maybe I was on the wrong track with potty training our toy poodle for our particular situation. Since he will always be very small, I thought maybe training indoors is the answer to avoid all the trips outside and the growing jealousy of our 2 resident cats. Also, another reason for indoor training is because I heard that toy dogs need to relieve themselves more then 2 - 3 times a day. I plan to walk him 2, maybe even 3 times a day but any more than that would be hard for our lifestyle...

So, in the last few days, I have changed tunes and have tried to train him inside on pads. He seems very confused and stressed. When I think he needs to go, I place him on pads but he runs off as if he did something wrong and hides. There have been many more accidents to clean up since he's been doing this. He'll only go on the pads if he is confined in the ex-pen but I can't keep him in there forever...

Have I confused him totally? Should I start taking him outside again although after much thought, indoor pad training seems better for our family? Any tips?

Thanks so much for reading this. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Honestly, I'd take him outside. You've basically spent all this time teaching him that going outside is good, going outside is good, going outside is good. He now has in his head that going outside is good. When he needs to go, he's going to look to go outside because in his mind, that's where he needs to go. I would keep up with that. It sounds to me like you have a housebroken dog that you're trying to "un-housebreak".

 

[jaqcorsiga]

i know some will say to keep on taking her outside, but i think you can also try to slowly get her used to going on the pads, by taking the pads with you and putting him on the pads, but outside instead of inside. and when he's used to that, you can then try to have him go on the pads inside.

i guess it would be like the reverse for those who trained to go on pads/paper first before training them to go outside.

i wish i trained my lhasa to go inside on paper, because of the crazy summer rain we are having here in the Philippines, now im forced to have her go on a covered walk near my place.

good luck and i hope this would help.

 

[Summerhawk]

I have a toy poodle, who used to have a lot of accidents until I started keeping her on a schedule. She goes out at the same time the big dogs do. Most of the time I actually take her with us, but if the weather is really crappy, I take her out first, then the big guys.

She hasn't had one accident since I started doing this (about a year and a half ago), and due to our schedule's here - there is one day a week where they are in for almost 10 hours between walks. They usually go about 4 to 6 hours between walks.

So my suggestion is to try to get your pup on a schedule going outside. It worked wonders for me!!

 

[jaqcorsiga]

so what do you do when its raining outside? i still walk my lab out even if its raining, but what do you do with a lhasa or other long haired dog?

 

[KBLover]

so what do you do when its raining outside? i still walk my lab out even if its raining, but what do you do with a lhasa or other long haired dog?

I just walk him outside in the rain. I mean, spring/summer storms will be happening soon, and he's going to want to go outside.

Yeah, he's gonna look like a rat (he looks...AWFUL when very wet) - but I dry him off as much as a can and have a rat-dog following me around for a few hours

 

[agility collie mom]

If you are worried about your dog getting wet a raincoat helps. I have one for Squeak my maltese to wear when she goes outside to potty. Doesn't keep her completely dry but it does help.

 

[Summerhawk]

so what do you do when its raining outside? i still walk my lab out even if its raining, but what do you do with a lhasa or other long haired dog?

As I said, I take the poodle separately when the weather is crappy (like when it's raining). She'll do her business quick-like, and then the big dogs can go out for a good walk. Keeping a few towels near the door helps!

 

[midnight mojo]

How large is the xpen and how much time does he spend in there? If he'll use pads without issue in the xpen and you want him to use pads full-time, I'd make use of that xpen! However, I think he would also do just fine going outside if that's what you'd like to continue. Mojo (4 lbs) has never gone to the bathroom any more frequently than other dogs his age regardless of size. If you can take your dog out every 6 hours or so during the day, you should be fine once he's older. As a puppy, he'll need to go more often but that's because he's a puppy not because he's a toy breed! All puppies have to go out frequently, particularly during the housebreaking stage.

While housetraining Mojo, he was in his crate or in his xpen unless we were actively watching him and doing nothing else. I made excellent use of our xpen and doubt I'll ever have another puppy without one! My s.o. still uses it in the morning if he's running late and needs Mojo to go to the bathroom quickly before crating him.