Housebreaking a 7 year old Mini Pinscher

Question
I just adopted a wonderful little miniature pinscher girl from the local animal shelter. She is a perfect fit for my home and she is already following me around.
From what the shelter told me, she was surrendered because her previous owner had to go into a nursing home.
My new little girl is weewee pad trained. I am guessing it was mainly because of her previous owners age that she was pad trained. I have had a dog in the past that was weewee pad trained due to the fact that we lived in an apartment that was not conducive to a dog going outside and the fact that she was a hyper overactive and aggressive chihuahua (it was difficult to even get a collar on her).
Tasha is my new girl and she is so sweet. She let me put the collar on her first thing and is the complete opposite of my chi (who has sadly passed away 4 years ago).
I've only had her a day and she's following me all over and is leary of her new "sissy" which is a cat that is bigger then she is.
Though while i'm at work I see it might be necessary to leave a weewee pad by the door, but I would prefer to be able to train her to go outside. I have an apartment that actually has a second door that goes right out into the backyard and my new landlords are great (having three giant dogs themselves). Any advice for training her to go outside? Is this possible at her age ?


Answer
If a dog has been living where it could keep its living space clean, it should quickly catch on. The important part will be teaching it that if it goes to the door, you will let it out. It will be much more difficult if the dog was forced to live in its filth. You will need to learn to read the dog and learn its schedule, and when it needs to go out. Keep it in sight, closing doors and setting up gates. Some people even leash the dog to themselves. I have used a tie down at my computer desk.  Sometimes it helps to teach them to go to the door if you take them out whenever they even get near it.