Urban Potty Training

[LNsBeatles]

Sorry, this one's a little long ...

I live in an apartment in the city and after reading several books and listening to my veterinarian, before I even picked up Louis from the breeder I had decided that he wouldn't be going outside before he had received his full round of puppy vaccinations. Given the very high percentage of unvaccinated dogs in my area it was just a risk I didn't want to take. So I've been preparing myself for an uphill battle ;)

Louis has been using the puppy pads and now, at four months, he's usually pretty consistent. He still does have some accidents and occasional random behaviors such as going INTO his crate to use it as his private bathroom.

On Monday, Louis received his last shot for the year and so I'm ready to send him out into the world. We are ready to begin Potty Training, Phase II! appicon

I've read that I should take a used puppy pad out with us so he can start realizing what we're doing when we go outside. This morning I took him outside and he just sat at my feet with his "What are we doing out here Mom? It's chilly!" expression on his little mug.

I live on the second floor of my building -- it's a loft apartment with wood floors. I was hoping the floors would be my saving grace, I assumed he'd only want to potty on absorbent materials. But recently Louis has decided that he doesn't really mind peeing on the bare floor -- before we even got outside this morning he was squatting in front of the elevator :( Should I just be carrying him from my apartment all the way outside?

I'm patient and I'm prepared for rather long training period. Any words of advice? Thanks in advance!!

[StellaBabe]

Tell me about it...:)

I live in NYC with 2 frenchie puppies (Stella, 10 mos & Che, 4 mos)...& 3 flights of steep stairs. We've actually managed -- I adore them and I've surprised myself with how calm I've remained...but it's quite a bit of work. Throughout the months, I've tried various things from large crates to small crates, to doggy litter boxes to walking them more that 3 times a day!, seperate doggy beds to wee-wee pads outside. Regardless, they've peed on just about everything and at all the wrong times. I go thru sheets like water.

But, after all my attempts -- wee-wee pads are a life saver for city life. It's just a different doggy-world...one can't just open a sliding glass door when you're half-asleep @ 6:30 in the morning. I can't leave my door fast enough. I think that's just puppy life -- they can't hold it long enough. But, in time...it gets better. I do both -- walk them and train them on the pads. Because Che is still so young and quite a peeing-machine, I need 2 wee wee pad places: one in my bedroom, and one in the bathroom. Eventually, there will only be one pad in the bathroom. I find that's a good solution for back up throughout their early years. It doesn't bother me -- it's a backup in case I get home a little later than expected.

I completely understand what you're going thru!! :) Hang in there. I find taking the pads outside did nothing. They learn thru repetition and watching other dogs do it correctly. Believe me, I'm crossing my fingers as well!!

[sakirby]

ellen. i went through the EXACT same thing with oscar. same style apartment and all :D i will tell you what i did....

he finished his shots, no more bathroom in the house. yeah!!!!! i was so excited. i HATED those pee pads. plus, my apartment was all stinky from them. we were on the second floor as well. DON'T carry him. he will think you will always carry him. just walk really briskly. oscar tried to go in the hall, in front of the door, in front of my neighbors door, and i just said "NO" really firmly and pulled him (lightly) towards the outside door. it is best if they really have to go although that also contributes to the trying to potty in the hall :) go to the same exact spot outside, everytime. say a command like "go potty" or whatever. i didn't want to say go potty in public so i just said let's go once. stand there. wait 5 minutes, if he doesn't go, go back inside and watch like a hawk. try again. and again and again, until he goes outside. always use the same command and say it once. i said let's go whenever oscar peed, so now if i say let's go, he will pee. it is great :) oscar gave me the what the hell mom look for two tries and then he got it. once he gets it, then it is just patience, consistancy, and lots of praise when he goes outside. it may take awhile but it WILL work. for the first two months of oscar going outside i praised him to bits when he went. now i don't even say anything but, in the beginning, i had to let him know that him going outside was the greatest thing in the universe. have a treat with you. don't just say good dog and give him a treat inside. then he won't associate it with the outside bathroom stop. good luck. your baby will get it :) you could try taking a pee pad outside but, i didn't find that really helped. eventually he will go outside if you take him out enough times. :lol:

[LNsBeatles]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the great tips -- very much appreciated! We are well on our way :p

Thanks again!