From puppy pad training to outside training and other Qs

Question
Hello,

My 12 weeks old shepherd/terrier mix (she's really a mutt though) pretty much goes potty on her poop pads. I've had her for 3 weeks now. What is the best way to transition her pottying from inside to outside?

Also, I've only taken her for a walk three times. She was a very shy puppy when we first got her, stayed in her kennel for like 5 days and when I would take her outside she would just sit there. I've noticed that when she sees other dogs she gets overly excited and it frightens the other dogs sometimes because she starts jumping on them and licking them. What is the best way to calm her down?

Also, when we do go for walks she likes to eat stuff off the ground like mud, grass, rocks, anything she can find. She also does this indoors and I find her eating everything. Is there a way I can keep her head up when we are on a walk??

Thanks, and sorry about all the questions. I really just had one but others kept coming as I kept typing.

Answer
Hi Jilliane;
first I want to take you to task for calling her a "mutt".
I DO NOT call my mixed breed babies such a name. I don't like to cast aspersions on a child just because the unfortunate little thing is of questionable parentage.
I call mine " Purebred Curbstone Setters"
Now, as to how to get your little "Setter" to go outside.

Watch for when she needs to go out, like after she eats and/or drinks.
They will need to go out anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes after they eat, or if you see her start toward the pad to go, take her outside instead, and when she goes out there, throw a BIg praise her fit about it.
Tell her in an excited and pleased voice what a good girl she is, how proud of her etc, like it is the greatesyt thing a dog ever did, and give her happy lovings for it.
she will rpeat it to get the attention. when she goes on her pad, just say a "not such a big deal" that's a good girl, or just say nothing.
She will soon catch on that what makes mommy REALLY happy is for me to do it ourside, and she wants to please, so she will do it more and more outside until that will just be her natural place to go.
The strange eating habits, just a sharp "NO!" scolding, is about all you can do.
Basic obedience training class would help a lot.
Petsmart and Petco stores have weekend group classes in obedience training. a trainers shows the owners how to handle their dogs, give the proper commands in the proper way, and it is , I think, the best way for them to get this training. It helps the owners and the dog bond so much closer.
The dogs can see they are doing things other dogs are doing, and if they are doing it a little better, the little stinkers seem to know that and get a boost out of it.
That would help you get her away from eating such strange things.
I cought my German Shepherd puppy eating a water glass one time, and rushed her to the Vet.
He put something in her eye to make her vomit, and them when she was emptied, he rinsed iout the eye and she was not nausious anymore. anyway, he got the pieces of glass out, also some small rocks, some pieces of a foam rubber pillow I later found the rest of when I got home, pieces of my foam floor mop, and pieces of a neighbor's son's balsa wood airplane. None of that, he informed me, was necessary to a puppy's diet.LOl
she gets excited when she sees other dogs because she IS excited at having someone to play with.
Maybe they don't know her very well, and when she jumps on them, it scares them a little.
She needs some puppy friends she plays often with, so they get to know each other and can have some good romps.
There is a methiod of animal massage I use for calming them down, relieving pain, and all sorts of things. You can cure fear of thunderstorms, excessive barking, aggression ,,,,, a ton of stuff.
The video to teach you how to do it costs about $35.00, and is the best money you will ever spend.
Expect that she may likely have arthritis when she begins to get into old age, and you can give her a lot of relief of the pain, with fewer medications with a massage.
Go to this site and read about the massages, and you can order the video from them there.
  www.lindatellington-jones.com
Eating the strange things could be because of a little anxiety too.
Happy time for you and this little girl, and PLEASE, don't reming her of her parents' sin.LOl
She IS a purebred.LOL
Charlotte