Indoor Potty Pads ["HOUSE" Training]

    • Gold Top Dog

    Indoor Potty Pads ["HOUSE" Training]

    [I'm not sure if there is another thread about this, I looked and failed after a few pages so I decided to create a new one]

    For those of you who don't know our little family: I have a (female) Pomeranian (d.o.b. 02/01/08) (spayed at 11 months). She goes pee 4-6 times on average in a day and poop 2-3 times. My boyfriend and I both work 8am - 6pm. I go home on lunch break to let Kayla outside. We will be moving in May/June and I'm not sure if letting her out on lunch will be an option anymore (due to distance from work). House training took a long time and was a real pain due to our families inconsistancy. Kayla understands that grass = bathroom, and won't pee anywhere else unless she's desperate or mistakes someone's carpet for the toilet (ooppss). Pomeranians are known for their tough house breaking; but Kayla is fine as long as we let her outside often. Well "often" may no longer be able to happen, can you help us?

    I've decided to give potty pads a shot. I decided (1) teach Kayla to pee on "command" kind of like a trick. When you say "sit" for example she sits, so I'd like to say "bathroom" and she'll pee. My sheltie knew "go the bathroom" so I know dogs are capable of doing it (2) after going the bathroom outside, praising & teaching "bathroom", I would then try to take it inside. (3) picking the correct type of pad for her

    Problems? Kayla likes to walk around when she pees. Tends to mark a lot. If I stood there at a potty pad she'd sit down and look at me like "what?... why are we standing here?"

    The potty pads will not become an "alternative" to letting our dog outside but instead more of an "accident proof" technique. If we are gone for too long we know she'll just go pee on the pad. She will continue to poop outside and be let out as often as possible.

    So as you can see I need some helpful ideas or tips... I never thought I'd be teaching my dog to pee INSIDE haha.

    Thank you in advance!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Potty Pads that smell like grass??? Anyone ever use these???

    • Gold Top Dog

    This might be an option for you:

    http://www.gwlittle.com/prod/Product-Types/Deodorizers---Training-Pads/Training-Pads_181/PETaPOTTY-Indoor-System_1552.aspx 

    It's a bit expensive, but maybe you could make your own?

    • Gold Top Dog
    kelliope that is an awesome idea! My boyfriend and I actually had a discussion about turning our balcony into half grass/turf! hahaha I like that box idea though! I've now trained her to go pee on the balcony but no such luck with poop yet (the grass would deff make a difference).

    oh and just to update everyone: Kayla is doing awesome with house breaking. Her new diet totally changed her potty habits. She only pees 4-5 times a day and poops 2-3 times a day with small firm non-foul smelling stool. I'm convinced it was the drastic changes in her diet plus food allergies. I can't wait to tell the Vet on March 4th how great she is doing!!! :o)

    I can't wait to show my boy this grass box idea kelly... thanks so much! :o)
    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm glad to help!

    I don't know if you could do it, but we put in a little dog door that fits right into a sliding glass door.  That way the dogs can go out anytime they want.  It doesn't require any alteration of the existing door, so it might work for an apartment.  You just have to be sure your balcony is safe for Kayla and that she can't fall off.

    Here is what I'm talking about:

     

    http://www.thepetdoorstore.com/html/sliding/ideal/ideal_panel.htm

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    OMG that is AWESOME!!! I never even knew they made those!! I am totally going to get one! Because I always said "i wish a sliding glass door could have a doggie door..." i guess it can! :o)

    I put chicken wire all across the balcony bars and she's never gone too close to the edge yet so hopefully that will be safe enough. I ask around and our neighbors did the same thing. What do you think?

    • Gold Top Dog

    I think that will be great.  I have to tell you that you will have much more success if she can go in and out at will.  I, personally, think it is quite difficult to potty train a small dog to come and tell you when they need to go out.  Bottom line is that there bladders are just too tiny.

    I really am glad these ideas will be helpful to you.  I have a 3 lbs. Chihuahua (the tan one in my siggie) that uses the door without fail.  If it's really storming I might have to go out with her because she gets a little scared, but the rest of the time they do it themselves and haven't had one accident.

     Good luck!