puppy 1 year old Nov-teddy bear

Question
my puppy I got as a rescue and was trained to go outside.
However she is only about 8lbs and she is very skidish. She is afraid of the dark even though I walk her on a leash in my back yard with all the lights on. I went to Europe for a week and left her with someone that was just letting her out by herself with her little dog. Now that she is back home she is worse then ever. I would like to train her to go on a pad because it would be so much easier for me and probably she would like it better.
How do I start training her to go on he pads. My daughter comes over on the weekend with her maltese and she goes on the pads. Penny sees her do this but she could not care less. I was thinking of purchasing the pads that have a grass smell. placing them around the house and then take it from there. I know it will not be overnite. I have never owned a small dog. The dogs I have owned were large dogs like german sheperds, mutts etc. and I just let them out in the back and I never had a problem. I would appreciate any help you can give me at this point. Thank  you.

Answer
First of all, I would have her eyes examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist as there may be a visual reason why she doesn't like to go out in the dark.

Frankly, I don't know if you *can* teach her to potty inside if she is really housebroken. Some dogs would have yellow eyes and crossed legs before they would ever consider going against what they have been taught. I guess the way I would start would be to put the pads outside where she prefers to potty and encourage her to go on them. Once she is doing that (with lots of praise, of course!), then gradually start moving them closer to the house, and eventually inside.

It might be easier to train her to use a litter box. I have seen some advertised that contained grass. That might work better for her.

Karen