Training puppies - help!

hi everyone!

So, my puppies are 6 months old one is a Shihtzu maltese and the other is a Shihtzu poodle). They are both trained to pee pee on the pad inside, and the poodle actually poops on the pad inside, but the maltese will not poop on the pad. he needs to be brought outside

now this is fine usually, but he barks at 6:30am every morning and needs to be walked. we got him into the habit of being walked every morning bc i go to work and walk them, but DH and i are trying to start a family and we won't be able to walk the maltese every morning at 6:30am

Any ideas on how to train him to poop on the pad? or is it too late?

thank you!

Re: Training puppies - help!

Do you want them to go on the pad only, and not outside?

Re: Training puppies - help!

Wait...so you want your dog to poop inside instead of outside because you don't have time to take it out in the morning?

I'm going to be honest - that's just not right. You want to train your dog to go against it's natural instinct as a dog to not use the bathroom in it's home. Just my opinion, but that seems cruel.

I think what you need to do is realize that you made about a 15 year committment to care for an animal and provide a loving and HEALTHY environment, and let the dog poop outside! You can get him used to going out a different time in the morning, but you really should force him to mess his home, dogs feel shame and guilt over that and it's not healthy for the animal.

Re: Training puppies - help!

Put a piece of his poo on the pad if you can't get him to do it, let him smell it there, give a treat.
Treat him every time he does it until it's enough of a habit.

Re: Training puppies - help!

I don't have a puppy, but I agree with the PP who said that it isn't natural for the dog to poop inside.

Not only isn't it natural for the dog to poop inside, but he needs the exercise and stimulation of a walk. If you have a baby are you planning on never taking the dog out? I don't understand.

Re: Training puppies - help!

I wasn't saying i never wanted to take the dog outside. I understand that it is his natural instinct to go outside - which is why i walk him all the time.


my only question was that my other dog goes to the bathroom inside AND outside and i was wondering why he did and my other one didn't. I feel badly sometimes when i cannot get home from work on time because the poodle will poop inside when he has to go, the Maltese won't and will wait. that makes me feel horrible. If he went inside AND outside, he wouldn't have to wait for me all the time

AND, there is no way i am cruel to those animals. My DH and i work full time and to make sure they aren't lonely my parents have them at their house three days out of the week, and the remaining two days, someone comes and walks them.

they are literally showered with love and affection and are the loves of my life - i just was wondering how i could get the Maltese to go inside and outside to help him AS WELL AS me out.

i understand the commitment i made when i bought two dogs. i grew up with animals and have taken in stray cats and have had dogs my entire life. definitely not being cruel over here, just wondering. sorry for asking.

Re: Training puppies - help!

Re: Training puppies - help!

Re: Training puppies - help!

Oh ok, I didn't understand.
As for one going inside and the other not - well, they are different animals. Not every dog will do everything the same way.
The one may feel comfortable with pooping on the pad, but the other would rather wait until you get home and go outside.
As long as he isn't having any accidents, I don't think you should worry!


BTW: the reason some reacted as strongly as they did was because your comment about starting a family and not wanting to take the dog out at 6:30 came across the wrong way.


i understand how it could have come off the wrong way

the reason i asked the question was that i was thinking about all of the "what ifs" in my head. Suppose i am feeding the baby at 6:30am and he needs to go outside? the thought of him holding it until i was finished made me feel badly. it's how i am - i literally think of every scenario (and i probably shouldn't) that could go wrong and i try to fix it before hand

i was just worried he wouldnt be able to go out at the exact time he needs to

then i also worry about when it snows - he is so tiny and we live in a condo and we don't have a back yard for him to run in so suppose he won't go outside with the snow on the ground? i just wanted him to get used to possibly going inside incase he won't go when it starts snowing also (he gets SO distracted when he is outside it takes him so long to actually concentrate to go the bathroom!)

it was more a question out of concern for him than anything else

thank you for your help though! i appreciate it and i apologize if it came off the wrong way!

Message edited 11/16/2009 11:30:56 AM.

Re: Training puppies - help!

you can do what a PP said about putting a piece of his poop on the pad and giving him a treat but it might be taking him backwards.

how long does he hold it for that has you concerned?