Tips for potty training in an apartment / townhouse?

[Michele Kiss]

We live in a townhouse where getting to "outside" is a walk down a hallway, an elevator ride, then half a block down the street to the nearest grass. So naturally, that won't work for a little pup to go potty - it's just too far for him. 

We got a Porch Potty which is really awesome - it has real grass on it and we're trying to train him to go there. However, we also have pee pee pads around the house because he's not quite "there yet." When he goes potty upstairs on the grass (or, outside, if we're out walking) he gets a treat. When he goes on the pee pee pads, he doesn't get anything. 

Trouble is, I think he's realising what's going on and trying to game the system! Sometimes he'll refuse to go on the grass potty. Other times, he'll go a little (enough to get a treat), then when we come downstairs he'll pee like crazy on the pee pee pads - so he obviously didn't empty his bladder where he was supposed to. 

I don't know if this is normal and just part of the process, or if there is something we should be doing better? I *don't* want him papers-trained, I want him trained to go outside/on grass. Should we not have so many papers...? (But then I figure he'll just pee on the carpet...) Or just keep doing what we're doing and slowly he'll get it? 

For context, he's crate-trained (often makes it through the night without going to the bathroom, or maybe one trip up at night) and 12 weeks old. So I'm not sure if I'm expecting too much at that age? 

[Joan Bollaert]

Is this a doodle? If so you're not going to want him to go on piddle pads. Too big for that. I live in a condo and also have to go down the hall, a stairway and across a drive. What I did was take mine out often and kept in crate until they could be trusted outside of it for longer periods of time. I still took them out often and they were able to hold it for our trek outside to grass by the time they were 12 weeks old. Be patient, consistent and take out often enough so they get the idea that is the reason they go out. Mine only had a few accidents. Good luck!
I was tired of going out so often but it's worth the effort because it works quickly .

[Camilla and Darwin]

Hm. I don't have any great advice about this because we had grass nearby at all of our apartments. I personally think that having pee pads everywhere will send a very confusing message to him about where he can and can't potty. 

I would post this in the Puppy Madness group and see if anyone there has more advice!

[Michele Kiss]

Thank you both. 

@Joan - He is a miniature labradoodle, and will be 20lb, 25lb at most, so not a huge one - in theory pee pee pads could work (the larger size) but I don't want that, anyways. 

My boyfriend and I both work from home, so it seems mean to leave him in his crate ALL day just for potty training... Thoughts? His crate is basically JUST the right size for him, that's it, so it's not a lot of room if he were in there for long periods. (He will outgrow it pretty darn soon.) 

How long did it take you? If it were reasonably short maybe that would be okay. I am a sucker and feel bad. 

[Joan Bollaert]

I have two medium labradoodles...  One is 1 1/2 yrs old and a small medium weighing in at 25lbs.  The other is 35 lbs and 9 mos old.   My older one on occasion will piddle on the piddle pad that is down for my yorkie and I'm telling you he saturates the entire thing so it's not something that I would want him to do all the time.  I do appreciate him using it instead of the floor if he feels an urgent need to though. lol 

I'll go with my Millie who is now just about 9 months old as an example.   I got her at 9weeks old (2 mos and  1 week).  I am home all day long and honestly, I took her out about every 1/2 hr to 45 minutes at first and she stayed in the crate most of the time where she could see me.  I felt badly too but she didn't mind it and is used to her crate and has only had one or two accidents.   From the time I got her home until she was knowing to go outside and that she would be going "potty" whenever I took her out, it was about 3 weeks.   But 3 weeks of constant taking her out often, often, often, so she didn't have the urge to go inside and KNEW she should do potty outside.  Not bad at all.   When I left her outside of her crate after that 3 weeks more often, she would just go sit by the door and I knew she needed to go out.   She's perfectly potty trained and so is Cooper my older one.   I got him when he was 5 months old and he had a pretty good idea of what outside was all about, so it took me one week to trust him and know he already knew what to do.   They are both very good about their potty habits now and can be trusted.    I still crate them both when I leave the house in a larger crate that holds both of them and they go inside of it automatically when I say, "go to your room".   The only reason I crate them when I'm gone is because they are still very young and do what any kid would do when unattended......destroy the house.  Not chewing, but tossing my couch pillows onto the floor and playing with anything else laying around like slippers or any clothing that is on the bed.  ... it will end up in a ball on the floor...or inside their open crate. LOL    So.....   I keep them out of trouble and give myself peace of mind knowing all is well and quiet when I'm gone.

You are at a tremendous advantage with working from home and the ability to take them out often.   A pain in the neck but I'm telling you, your potty training time will be cut in half by being diligent about it and taking out ifteb and putting back in crate while you work.   When not working, then play a bit out of crate, take outside then put back in.    Your little doodle will be potty trained in no time and will also have wonderful crate habits and give you some freedom from worrying about any chewing etc..    I leave the crate door open all day now and they will go in there to sleep when they feel  like it with the door open.  

Good luck.  :)