weening my puppy off pee pads

Question
Hello, I live in San Francisco, in a 3 story home.  My Morkie, now has a pretty good grasp of peeing and pooping on pee pads, (when the pad is on the floor LOL!).  Now, I am trying to get him to pee and poop outside.  When he 1st wakes in the morning (he is now sleeping in a crate in our bedroom, 2 stories up), I am able to take him out to the yard and he will pee and poop.  I then feed him and try to take him to the yard again (1 story down)to get him to pee after he eats (he poops and pees once before his breakfast)he gets downstairs and thinks its playtime.  I also have a pad outside.  I bring him up and start preparing our breakfast, and sure enough, he pees a little on the pad. I have been trying to remove the pad completely and keep a strict eye on him, but he's like a ninja...then there is a puddle.  If I try to put him in his kitchen crate 1st thing, he would yelp to wake the dead..  I guess I am a real softy and am paying the price for it now. He is 18 weeks old.

Answer
Once a behavior has been trained/learned, it is difficult to unteach it. As long as teh pads are around the dow will use them, and in many cases go where the pads were because its been taught that is where it goes potty.

You need to do a complete training for doggy to go outside. You've the right start, first AM, then after feed.  But you need to go about every two hours so it has no urge to go inside, then last thing before bedtime.  No foor or water 2 hrs before bedtime.

The dogs barking is to get your attention, ignore it unless its clean up time. Obedience training includes you being the trainer/provider of all things good, and the dog waiting to get them from you when you decide to provide them. Nothing is life is free. The dog needs to be trained to wait and at least sit or other command to get anything: food, treat, toy, attention. Don't provide it on the dogs demand, no means no.

Regards,
Henry Ruhwiedel
Westwind Kennels LLC