training a sheltie to go potty in one place

Question
I recently purchased a pure bred sheltie from a reputable breeder. she is five months old, and housebroken, crate trained, the whole nine yars. The breeder trained her well, no chewing, no peeing/pooping in the house. Problem is she was potty trained to go outside on grass. At my "urban" home, we have no grass (rather, a park a block away). I do have a fairly spaceous back yard with a covered patio, so out on the side yard I created a 3x3 ft decomposed granite area for sheltie to go potty on, but she wants nothing to do with it. After two weeks of coaxing her to go potty on the DG, and then givin up and and walking to the park three times a day), I layed down a 1x3 ft roll of grass/sod near the DG for her. Still, nothing. Well, one day she pee'd near it, that was a start. But she will not do her business on the grass or on the DG. She's stuck on going to the park to do her business. Any advice? She is VERY smart, and I know once she does it once or twice, she will be trained.

Answer
Kelly,

I see your trouble.  Shelties can be very particular about how they go potty.  Mine get quirky when the grass is too tall or wet.  

Don't take it personally, but it seems the DG just won't work.

I would have suggested the sod; however you have already tried that.  Knowing how Shelties will tend to walk and potty I would advise if possible, do make a larger stretch of grass.  I realize that this is not exactly convenient for you.  However I think a larger stretch will get her used to using the sod and at some point you can scale it back to a smaller stretch after she is comfortable using it.

I want to throw out some ideas related to the preference to the park: perhaps an urban setting feels to cramped or closed for some reason.  Perhaps it is too close to where she is fed/kept/ or possibly to where you eat?

I'm sorry I couldn't be better help.  I'm a bit too much of a country type myself and have never run across this problem.

'sneezes
Dave