Tiny Pup, BIG Yard! POTTY AREA QUESTION

[RBG]

Hi all,

Im a new member of Doodle Kisses and very happy to be here.  After a 6 month waiting list ( and 2 years of campaigning for a puppy )  I am finally picking up a Beautiful Black Mini Goldendoodle we named Twyla in a couple of weeks, and I found this forum during one of my doodle research marathons.   There is so much great info on here, and I just want to say thanks in advance for your help :) 

 

Ok, here we go.  My husband and I live in an old  farmhouse with 21 acres of land. About 3.5 acres are the landscaped yard.  Id like to build Twyla a permeant gravel topped potty spot on the edge of our lawn but have a coupe of concerns.

1.  I am worried that an ideal spot may be a bit too far for her to go, especially if I catch her mid-accident.   The closest lawn edge is about 200 ft away.   Also, we live in Vermont and get a TON of snow, so what if I am unable to get to shoveling in time for her tiny bowels to hold it in while I make a path to the area.

2.  Because of said snow,  The gravel spot will be covered for the winter. 

3.  I am gone next week for thanksgiving, then have school finals the week before picking her up, so the reality of building the doggy before we get her is slim to none. 

My questions are these:  

Is it ok to have a temporary "puppy potty spot" closer to the house in the beginning and maybe through winter, and then move her spot and build a more permanent location once she's bigger?  

Recommendations on how to make this an easy transition? 

Do any of you have a gravel doggie toilet?  what are your experiences with them?  

What do you guys think?  

Any advice is welcome! 

thanks! heres a pic of Twyla!  Isn't she so cute?!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I wouldn't worry about a certain spot right now. I can tell you that it is very easy to re-train them to go at a certain spot. I live in an apartment so when I am at my place its a mute point but during potty training you want the closest thing to the door! beyond that just be happy that they are going outside and not on your carpet :)

Now one of my very good friends lives in a similar set up to you, lots of land and such, also I should have mentioned we live in Michigan so I completely understand about the massive amounts of snow! At their place they have a gravel potty area- complete with fake fire hydrant for cute factor and they dogs always go there because of the smell of other dog "business". When I was potty training my boys and we happened to be over there, I just focused on getting them outside and after they were potty trained then I would take them over to that area and say "go potty" and reward with a treat if they went in that area, no they go in that area all the time when we stay over there. Hope this helps, I think once Twyla comes home you will see that sometimes it's a struggle to make it off the sidewalk and onto the grass before the peeing starts! She is soon cute by the way!