posted 12-24-2003 01:37 PM         

My answer may or may not be what you are looking for, but I will tell you about my previous experience with this issue and what I have been told by vets and other certified professional dog trainers.

When I first received my two puppies, I decided that I wanted to both paper train and outdoor train just like you two. So, whenever I would leave I would simply put down the puppy pads, and Mickey & Tigger (my two puppies) would automatically know what it was for. I never found a mess anywhere except on the puppy pad, therefore I thought I was doing great. (Note: they would also go outdoors when I brought them out) Well, within a short amount of time I ran into a problem.

Problem: They would eliminate in the spot where I would always put the puppy pad, even when the puppy pad was absent. Now this was a problem! Well, I immediately spoke to my vet and dog trainers to find out what the problem was. Long story short, they said that most puppies are unable to understand the difference between being able to eliminate inside the house with the puppy pad down (or paper, whatever you use) and not being able to eliminate in the house when the puppy pad is not down. I also researched this problem on the internet and received the same answer as well. One website summed up the issue perfectly. Although this is reiterating what I mentioned above here it is:

"Remember, paper training is essentially giving a puppy the OK to eliminate in the house. It may be difficult for you to outdoor train the pup later."
(Derived from: www.anitcruelty.org)

As a result, I did do away with the puppy pads and strictly started training them to eliminate outdoors and outdoors ONLY. It did take several weeks for Mickey & Tigger to stop eliminating in that one spot, but eventually the promlem was stopped. And I am proud to say that they are doing very well!

The only reason why I wanted to train Mickey & Tigger to use puppy pads was so I could use them whenever it rained or was too cold (and living in the Midwest it can get pretty cold during the winter ). My vet informed me that even though my dogs are small breed dogs, they will be just fine outside in the cold for the few minutes (if even that) that it takes them to eliminate. Fortunately, even if it is raining or snowing and cold they will still "do their business."

Now I have not spoken to anyone who has both paper and outdoor trained their dog successfully, but I do not doubt that there are some who have successfully done so. But, in my experience it has not worked, and from what I have been told by various vets and dog trainers it can be quite confusing for the dog.

That is just my experience and information that I have gathered regarding this topic. Hope it helped some!

Best of Luck to the Both of You (and your pups),
Kristi

posted 12-24-2003 01:53 PM         

Sorry everyone, I accidentally replied to the wrong thread! This reply belongs in the "potty training new pup" thread!