UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: VIDEO Advice: Transitioning Puppy Pads to Outdoor Potty Training on 10 month old doodle

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Need some advice, outlook, difficulty, etc in this situation

Here is the history:

Ten month old Doodle, trained to potty on pads while the owner is not home.  The owner is rarely home.

Never been in a crate or crate trained.

Understands the very basic of commands but that is in a   foreign language ( Chinese)

If you were taking this dog into your home how would you go about immediately changing things?  Especially the potty situation.

We use bells here.

Would you put pads by the door then work your way outside?

Do dogs who use pads often go inside on other things?

I have no idea what to expect!  NONE

Other suggestions.

Here she is.  She is well behaved.  Soft.  Trained.  She is fine.  Thank  you for the advice.

We have decided to start fresh with training.   So far-Perfect

SHE May Be Spud's actual Sibling.  Same breeder  address.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I remember the popular paper training of the olden days myself.  Sounds good,  Jane.  Thank you

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I know I am going to make myself look stupid but it won't be the first time, lol.  When I got my first doodle, I was totally clueless on how to potty train and I bought nearly every type of product that Petsmart sold.  They loved seeing me come in because I always left with 1/2 a cart full!  Well, one of the products I bought was this spray that you sprayed on potty-pads that was supposed to attracted the puppy to pee-pee on the pad.  After the puppy mastered peeing on the pad (due to the wonderful smell on it!) you then were supposed to take the pad outside (continuing to spray it).  Ultimately you were supposed to spray the grass with the stuff and then,  wah-la, your puppy would be trained!

Never used it....

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

You are so funny.  I appreciate your honesty too  :)  

[F, Calla & Luca]

Funny. I once bougth this spike which was supposed to make the dogs urinate in the vicinity. My dogs ignored it completely. It stank to me. I returned it : )

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I always wondered about those!

[BG and Gavin]

I agree with the solution of moving the pad closer to the door and then put the pad outside.  Good luck with this.  Sounds like a complex situation :(

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have a relative with a Havanese and they often get lazy about taking the dog out--they have puppy pads around and unfortunately, the dog has generalized that to mean any throw rug in the house--their house or mine! So, I would not get rid of the pads right away, but as others have said, gradually transition to the outdoors. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Everyone here has concentrated on the dog and that is understandable. But I am also thinking of you. Do you know if this dog gets along with other dogs? That's important. Do you know anything about the breeder? Are you ready to take this on? You've just been through a lot and the well being of you and your family, including Spud, is important.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Do I know if this dog gets along with other dogs? NO idea.  I told her I would have to meet her at the dog park.  That is the only place I agreed to.

Breeder?: Nothing. I know the area and have a good idea but initially this breeder posted on ebay. 

Am I ready to take this on?: No. And I don't want to.  But I feel .... like I need to help.  I really don't know what I feel. I'm confused.  I thought maybe I could find it a real home. Just not mine.

She is foreign and confused.  I know, I know more than she does in regards to dogs.

I know where to get help.  But, that is all I can offer.

She is very against anyone helping her but me.  She trusts me. I don't know if I trust myself in this situation.  I really am .... well have had enough of sick dogs at this time. Meaning, I don't know if I have this kind of energy  :( to take this all on due to recent events.

I see this as a helpless situation for a woman who had trouble communicating and trusting.  She really wants the BEST for this dog.  But, right now I have my own pain still with me and ...well it is difficult.

[F, Calla & Luca]

So perhaps you can be an intermediary and help in that way. But you can do that and make it clear that you will help her place it with a home or rescue but that you can not take it. We need to talk : )

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

It's obvious that you are very torn...I am so sorry!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

In the old, old days one often used newspapers for puppies at night and  when gone, and gradually transitioned them to outside. What we did in the old days was move the paper closer to the door and then outside. During the at home time, we had the paper down but we took them out.  In recent times we have a doggy door and keep the dog in an area near that door.  We take the dog out but push them through the door.  Because we have other dogs, it has taken very little time to train the dogs.  That might be similar to using the bells each time you take the dog out.  Spud may be able to help the situation along.

PS Ned was trained in German.  He understands both English and German while the other dogs do not.... Perhaps you could get the 'sound' of the command in Chinese but use both that and English. Use a website that translates orally so you can hear the word again.  Also the lady might not speak much English but how about her children?  Can they translate for you?

PSS My niece uses potty pads for her Pom and he NEVER goes anywhere but in that area.