transition form pads t outside

[visionsofadragon]

is there a certain way to transition puppies from going on the pads to going outside? i have tried to "catch" them in the act,a nd put them outside, but it seems that theyre not sure about what to do.. i do understand that they are puppies and it will take awhile for them to understand what i want them to do. also right now they are more concerned with exploring, is it a problem to let them do so?? do i lay a pad outside for them to go on?? thanks in advance.... and here is a pic... oh and they are 12 weeks old, brother and sister named scrat and coon.......

[calgal]

my yorkies were trained on the pads, so i just keep them down at night and if i go somewhere that i can't take them. it also works out really great when we take the RV into any camp or other areas, or on rainy days. it's good in motels too when we don't go out after dark or early in the mornings. at home, i don't put the pads down during the day unless they have to be left, and they always go to the door when they want to potty. this system works so perfectly for us.
if you want your babies to go outside only, then you have to start over with the house training. confine them in the house to one little area and put them outside about every hour, (saying "go potty") and right after their meal or nap, and praise like the dickens when they go, and say "good potty" in a very happy voice. Walks really help them with the confinement. Walk them either one hour before or one hour after their breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[visionsofadragon]

well i have to work 5,6, and 8 hours a day mon-fri, so every hour isnt goin to work... im not opposed to them going on the pads when im not there or overnight, at least for now. it took me months and months to get their mother potty trained but they dont have her problems.... and theyve made most of her problems subside, so im familiar with training. on the weekends i can take them out all the time, but i dont want them confused during the transition. any suggestions? p.s. ive been putting them into a crate to crate train them, but they have accidents in the crate..... which defeats the whole purpose of the crate.... lol.

[Shadowkins]

Now this may sound a bit dorky but have you considered moving the puppy pads little by little closer to the door...then finally just outside the door. It may just work getting them use to a different location!

[sheka]

i suggest SLOWLY, im talking inch by inch, moving the pads closer and closer to the outside. and evreytime you see them go on the pad when it has been moved, Praise em' like the just won a noble prize, Then (heres the tricky part) if u have a backyard or patio or w/e, move the PAD onto there, and leave the door open (if u have a securely fenced in yard) and if the step out to go there, PRAISE THEM. and slowly but surely you'll get to the grass and once u get the pad on the grass, let it be there for a while, THen simply remove the pad. THIS PLAN DOESNT WORK FOR ALOT OF DOGS, re-potty training is your best bet, but i see that u work long hours, so try this way out.

[pupmom]

What we had to do with Kona, because she was very young when we got her, at first confine her to the bathroom with newspaper during the day while we were working and work on the potty training at night and weekends. She would only pee on the paper and never pooped unless she was outside. Once she was old enough to hold her bladder for four hours, she was kept in her crate and we have our daughter come at the lunchhour to walk feed and potty her during the work week. On weekends, she is out with us and we trained her to ring a bell to let us know when she needs to go out. It has worked well for us. She sleeps in her crate at night.

[visionsofadragon]

im still working on the crate training, but i also live in an apt, so i cant leave the door open, or confine them in the bathroom because they whine and will make noise (walls are thin). the pads are by the door. i work a 9 hour day only one day a week, 6 hours 2 days a week, and 5 hours 2 days a week. i guess ill just have to keep it up on the weekends. they love going outside, but still havent used the bathroom out there, they are too busy exploring, they were born here, and these are their first times outside. hopefully when they are done exploring it will be easier. we had them out there for an hour yesterday and no potty, lol. i guess persercarence is the key...