Just gave up on winter outside potty training :(

[wadeod]

Our Josie is 4 months old. We tried outdoor potty training early on because we thought that was what we wanted and the weather was mild. As soon as the weather turned she hated going outside and so did we. Standing out in freezing rain and snow storms for 15 minutes every couple of hours got old.

During a bad storm, we just put a puppy pad in her xpen and she went right on it. We decided to just stick with it for the winter. Life is now a lot more pleasent as we sticker in pen every couple hours and she goes potty and no one freezes

My question is the vet said once you do inside training you are stuck with it. It will confuse dog to try and go outside next spring. Is this true? Anyone have luck with training both?

The other question is how do we get her to use potty pad in other parts of house? Do you just place her on it, or put pads all over house?

Does anyone have food, bed, potty pads all in her pen like we do? I read it can be confusing to sleep, eat, poop all in the same area? Sounds ideal to me

Any advice or critique appreciated

[chestermama]

I have potty pads in front room and in the bedroom, but my place is pretty small. He will use pads in the opposite room Im in. Chester will ask to be let out as well when IM home and not asleep

[BEgrace7]

We're not even trying outside... There is a foot & 1/2 of snow out there & I can't imagine being a 2lb puppy out in that. Pee pads for us right now & hopefully he'll try outdoors come spring. My poor winter puppy has only been on grass a couple of times!

[Wallee]

I have been using pads for Wallee since I got him as well as outside. Like you when the weather is bad I just had him use the pad. He is now available 9 months old and is mostly asking to go outside. If we are busy, he still will go to the pad. This is the first dog I have used pads with and I have to tell you, the combination of pads and outside is perfect for all kinds of weather.

[jeane]

Morgan uses both. He does not like to get his feet cold.

[toemi]

We are just starting out, but we have been using inside and out together successfully so far. I just can't bear to take him out there into the foot of snow, so we have chosen to go with mixing it up!

[ilovejoel]

I think you could teach both.
I personally planned from the beginning to potty train Joel outside. He was a snow dog from the begining, lol I stuck him out in the snow at day 1 since he was 8 weeks old, and he LOVED it all along never wanted to come in. The funny thing is he loves the cold and snow but hates the rain

[LittleLolasMom]

I started out doing inside and then when it got nice out i wanted to take her out for walks, which confused her. Eventually I just gave up the inside training and had her going out every few hours, once she woke up and before bed. Now she only goes outside and if she has to go during off hours she barks and makes a fuss. She is trained to go outside. During snow or rain she goes very fast and runs back inside and if it snows I shovel a small area of grass and she goes there. She is a year and a half.

[MikaTallulah]

Mine only potty outside. Never used a wee pad til Zoey got sick with renal failure due to tainted dog treats and it was just because she had accidentally due to illness not lack of training. I would never use wee pads unless my furrbutt was very sick. Even then it would be unscented human type incontinence pads.

I never left mine with continually not even as puppies. I feed the 2-3 times a day plus snacks/treats as puppies then only 2 meals as adults. Water was always available.

[Rachael1983]

Troy is now 3.5 years old. The first year of potty training I kept him in an ex pen with a tile floor I made filled with potty pads, food&water, toys etc. This potty training method was used over the winter. Good for me but bad for my carpet as he still had accidents in the house.

Next method to the madness, Troy was a 1.5 so I bought a crate but it was too big and he whined and still pottied in it. I got frustrated, switched size crates and started putting timers on my phone to when I needed to let him outside. He actually preferred this method.

The crate that fit his size and consistency was the best thing I could have done. When he needs to potty outside and I'm home, he sits by the door or nibbles my fingers as if he's saying "Lady, come on I have to pee' . So by 2 years he was reliable while I was home.

When I would leave, he would have an accident, mostly was to be expected because I was gone a long time. I learned my lesson, and I keep him in the crate while I'm away, he sleeps and there's no accident by the time I get home.

It's chilly now, I don't like going outside and neither does he but he goes out, is quick to do his business and we are right back in the house. I just make sure he's bundled and so am I.

I tell my story, as I agree with your vet, pick a method and stick to it. Consistency is key because if you don't it will take forever to potty train your yorkie.