Just the beginning - Part 2

[Stacey Schiffman]

THANK YOU FELLOW DKs FOR SHARING ALL
YOUR GREAT EXPERIENCE & LEARNINGS. I love this site!!

So this is a follow up to my previous discussion. 

I live in a two story 1440 sq ft townhouse, 
and I'm curious about overnight potty training upstairs overnight
as that is where my masterbedroom is.  

During the night do I take the pup downstairs and outside (and if so do I hold
her or walk her down - I'm concerned shed be too little
for the stairs.  

And if I stay upstairs, there is a small balcony on which I could
use a K9 "grass" mat (do people like those?).

Or stay upstairs and bring pup to an indoor wee
wee pad or K9 mat?

Lastly, I just saw a commercial for potty training "apartment" for puppy. 
Large crate (open kind) and is split into two compartments:  bed and potty area. 
Has anyone used these?

OK I'm clearly asking too many questions. Thanks for putting up with my uncertainty and inquisitiveness. 

Hugs and thanks to fellow DKers. :)

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

We had a " no feet on the floor" policy. First we had maybe 3 nights where she did not sleep through so in the morning I would get up, say good morning to her and then open the crate, scoop her up and downstairs we would run. It was difficult because we picked Daisy up the day after Christmas and it was freezing and snowy out. Our idea (and it worked beautifully) was to train her to an area right outside our back door. That was her place.

We had a dog that needed to leave our area an order to relieve himself, that was a pain. Not only did we need to hurry we also had to be ready to walk him.

As far as the potty pads or K9 grass goes I never used either but my neighbor trained her Yorkie on the they potty pads...she is the same age as Daisy and she still is not trained to go outside and if there is no potty pad she just squats. She is sorry that is how she attempted training. Personally I did not want Daisy to eliminate herself anywhere in my home.

Lastly I would stay away from the the doggy apartment, that seems completely confusing.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I got my Snowy who is a Maltese in November and I lived in an apartment with a balcony.  He was five months old but totally untrained and I pondered what to do just as you are doing now.  I decided I needed him to go outside and bit the bullet so I had warm clothes by the bed, easy to slip on boots and I scooped him up every morning very early and ran down the three flights of stairs and out of the door to a patch of grass way behind the building.  I repeated this several times a day.   It was freezing and it was pretty hard work but it was only for a short time.   Later on ( about two weeks) I introduced newspaper (you can use puppy pads) on the balcony and after a short while if he didn't go outdoors he would ask to use the balcony.  The most important thing is never going indoors and that's the only rule I would stick to.  dogs are very smart and doodles in particular so you should have no problem.  You will get fit going in and out and certainly carrying a puppy rather than making him walk out is the only option while they are so little.  Good Luck with your new pup and keep us posted with lots of pics.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think that the puppy needs just one "potty spot" which should be outside.  My guys did not go out during the night even as puppies, but the would wake to go early....around 5:00.  With Guinness (my mini) I would pick him up as he came out of his crate and carry him downstairs and right outside to his spot.  With Murphy (my standard), I would put a leash on him as he came out of the crate and we'd hurry downstairs and outside.  I think it will be confusing if you have an outside spot AND the potty pads of K9 grass.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I would carry your pup down the stairs and out the door. Personally, I do not like the pee pads and would only have my dogs go outside. It is a few months of inconvenience, but will pay off in the long run.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

Never too many question. I am with those who suggest that you pick her up and take her outside. I firmly believe that is very important that you do everything you can to minimize the opportunity for her to connect peeing in the house in the  first few weeks. If you let her walk out that gives her a chance to squat. If you provide her a nightime place to go in the house or the balcony you are teaching her, even at a very early age that it is okay to go there. Accidents, probably lots of them, are still going to happen, but I suggest doing everything you can to get her outside to the place you want her to go, every time.

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

I would carry the puppy downstairs during the night and say nothing until you get outside and simply say "potty" or whatever word you are going to us.  Then back up to his/her crate.     I hope your potty training goes as well as ours did - we only got up one night and that wasn't even the first night home.   Milo was a month old and cried during the night once - I took him out - he went immediately and then back inside.    Obviously not every family is that fortunate but don't take him out of the crate at every wimper s/he makes. 

 

I don't know anything about K9 grass but IMHO - I wouldn't use it because I wouldn't want the confusion.   Take him/her where you want him/her to go.    Kinda like kids and pull-up diapers.   To me, thats confusing.  We went from diapers to underwear . . . none of that in-between stuff.   Just my 2 cents.  

 

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

I agree with Lisa.  I personally don't know one person who used potty pads that have a dog who is house trained.  They continue with the pads or the dogs go on the floor.  I also didn't want Harley to ever think it was ok for him to potty in house period.  With that being said, We were fortunate that when Harley came to us at 9 weeks, he was able to hold for 3 hours.   When he needed to go out in middle of night, I would take him outside (no lights, no talking) and bring him right back to crate and back to bed for me.  Hubby was able to come by at lunch and tend to Harley, and he never pottied in his crate + ex pin area.

[Kathy Janes]

It only last a few weeks at most.  Set the alarm for 3, get up and take Puppy outside to go potty.  Like you would a newborn.  They'll make it through the night and you'll have him trained to go in the right place from the start.  All of the other "conveniences" won't save you from the final step if you really want them to use the yard.  It goes fast - our room is upstairs too, and in Indiana's winter the treck down out into the snow wasn't fun.  But like I said - it went quickly and now we have two very well trained Doodles.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I wish I'd had to opportunity of asking the DK experts questions before getting Sedona, but unfortunately didn't find the site until after.  So - ask away.  We bought a "Potty Patch" and used it for awhile in the tiled sunroom off the master bedroom.  We had intended it to be an alternative to outside for those rainy, cold nights.  It worked moderately well (really is a pain to clean, especially when there's "pudding poop").  However, if we had it to do all over we wouldn't use it.  It was too confusing to Sedona - I go here sometimes, there sometimes, ...

[Joanne and Tucker Gilbert]

I agree with never letting the puppy do its business in the home....I used nothing with Tucker....it was outside and that was the only option.

People gave you some great advice:) I love when people ask lots of questions....we all learn from them....whether it is our first dog or not:)

[Liana & Jindi]

I agree with everyone, DEFINITELY outside training !!!!!!!!

[Janel and Sophia]

Hi Stacey,

My previous dog was trained to use pee pads and it worked like a charm, keeping in mind he was only 7 lbs.  Sophia on the other hand, just rips them to shreds, if they are left out for her to use.  She will do her "thing" on them, but I have to remove it immediately or they are history!!!