pee pad training

Question
I got a yorkshire/poodle mix about a week ago.  She is 2 years old and has never really had any potty training.  I would like to train her to pee pads since she is very small, about  5 or 6 pounds.  This would also be very convenient for me.  At this time I can't get her to go on the pad.  She goes on my carpet. I feel that she is worth the time to train as she is a very sweet dog and I feel a connection to her.  Please help! She eats Purina One natural blends.  I am usually gone 10 to 12 hours for work and hate to put her in one room. She is not crate trained. Any help you can give me will be appreciated by both she and I.

Answer
Hello, Phyllis. Until your baby is potty trained, you're going to have to confine her. Now, whether you choose to confine her to just one room, or to her crate is up to you. If you choose to keep her crated when you aren't home, you should get a friend, family member, or trustworthy petsitter to come over and let her out to potty about halfway through the day since you are gone 10-12 hours. She cannot be expected to hold it that long, as I'm sure you are aware. ;^)

Do you have a room that is not carpeted, such as your kitchen, dining room, mudroom, bathroom, etc.? One of those rooms should be the one you confine her to until she's potty trained. I recommend getting a wire pen (sometimes called an X-pen) to keep her in, in that room. This pen should not be huge. You don't want to give her too much floor, or she might not catch on that she's supposed to use the pads to potty on. I would recommend a pen that's no bigger than 3ft by 3ft to start with. If the pen you get comes with 2ft wide panels, then use 5 panels, and make the pen 'house' shaped. Once she has learned to potty on the pads, you can gradually make the pen larger and larger and then eventually remove it altogether and allow her free roam of the house.

On one side of the pen, place her bed, and next to that if you wish, her water dish. I do not recommend free-feeding (allowing her to have access to food all day), so that's why I did not mention her food dish. I believe dogs should be fed 2-3 times per day (depending on the age of the dog), and that their food bowl should be picked up after 30 minutes. This can help reduce the chances that the dog will develop food aggression, help with housetraining as the dog's body will be on a 'schedule,' as well as enforcing your leadership position. The leader, or alpha, controls the food and when the rest of the pack eats.  On the other side of her pen, place the wee-wee pads. It may help to place them in a large, shallow cat litter box instead of directly on the floor. This ensures that she doesn't 'miss' the pad, and also makes clean up easier. Buy the pads that are scented to attract her to them.

When you are at home, keep a very close eye on her and if you see her starting to sniff around as if to find a place to 'go,' or starting to squat, clap your hands and/or say "HEY!" to startle her, and then encourage her to follow you to the litter box where her wee-wee pads are. You may want to let her drag a 4-6 foot long leather or cloth leash so you can use it to gently tug tug tug and help get her headed towards the litter box on her own. If you can get her to go on her own four feet, she will learn much more quickly than if you were to pick her up and carry her. However, at first, you may have to pick her up and whisk her straight over to the box.

When you get her into the box, tell her repeatedly "Go potty," "Go pee pee," "Hurry up," or whatever 'command' you want to use to mean "go to the bathroom now." Say the command over and over until she has pottied, and then as soon as she finishes, praise her like crazy, saying "Good potty!" or "Good pee pee!" or "Good hurry up!" or "Good [whatever command you choose]!" in a happy tone of voice. Then play with her and make it a happy time.


Good luck, and please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!

Kristen