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. :)

[Page & Tanner]

I definitely agree with taking them straight outside. In the morning they'll want to be awake and play after they go potty, the key is to not talk to the dog at all and they'll typically go straight back to sleep with about 5 minutes of no attention or talking. I wish someone had told me that in the first few weeks when I had Tanner. Good luck with your new puppy!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

alot of people do use pee pads or fake grass, but from my experience (I used to work in a pet food and supply store) its very difficult to then train them to go outside. I prefer to train them to go outside straight away. After the second night Cooper slept right through til 5 am, she probably would have the first night but i didnt want to risk her having an accident in her crate so woke her up to go outside. Tire pup out so she sleeps through the night

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

also remember, no water after 7-8 ish.  Stacy, I also have a site saved that has a crate schedule if your interested. With Harley being my first crate trained dog I really didn't realize how much time they spend in crate at first.  Was thinking it was too much, but when I turn it around and thought of a schedule for a new born to toddler.  They need much quite, nap time, Not sure why I thought my brand new puppy didn't need the same care?

 

[Stacey Schiffman]

Hi Kathy! Thanks for the info. I'd love the details of the crate schedule website!! Thank you so much. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

When I raise pups (up til the age of 8 weeks when they go to their new homes) they have a crate area for sleeping and they can go over to newspapers in a pen that surrounds the crate to go potty--they learn that so fast! BUT, the minute they go home, they go "cold turkey" with no papers, no pen area--so that they go outside from that age on. They have learned by then to control themselves to the point of walking to the papers and not going potty in their bed, but it is now time for the next step and they pick it up fast.

Even though a tiny pup seems completely helpless and incapable, they are not. I have watched puppies mature from birth and by 8 weeks they are capable of a lot of complex behaviors and learn new tasks quickly--you still have to watch them like a hawk, but they are not as helpless as a human baby would be at that age.

 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I second the no feet on the floor - definitely carry her down and outside.  Any time on the floor and she may not be able to hold it anymore!

 

We tried pee pads once - Luna shredded them and refused to pee on them.  We used an Ex-pen with a crate while we were away at work - crate for sleeping, newspaper in the opposite corner of the ex-pen for emergency peeing.  She shredded the newspaper, but newspaper is non-toxic (as far as I know) and she didn't really eat it.  We tried pee pads once, but she refused to pee on them and shredded them.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

If your puppy does have any mistakes inside, just make sure you clean up the area spoiled with either a commercial cleaner or plain vinegar, this should stop them from returning.
I've also taught my puppy to ring the bells and 'get busy' outside.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Also i found it handy to have a torch handy, I've got a black dog and couldn't see her in the dark. ( I have an enclosed yard). And just rugg up. It doesn't take long to train,

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

vinegar mixed half and half with water in a spray bottle is what we used also.  Worked great.  Even on the few accidents on the carpet.  (There was a multi step process for the carpet)