Pets

In my experience, I’ve found it much easier to take puppies outside to potty. They learn it early, I don’t have to deal with pee pads and then reteach them to go outside later on. I live in Montana so when the snow is deep, it’s a little more challenging but I’ve also found that the cold and snow encourages them to get their business done more quickly. Multiple potty places have been difficult for me to be consistent with them. Maybe others can weigh in on that.

One technique I’ve employed for a long time is when they do have a pee accident in the house, I clean it up with an old rag that I store in a zip loc bag. When it’s time to go outside, I pick puppy up and say “let’s potty outside”, carry them out, put them down and toss the rag on the grass. They run to it, give it a smell and it usually triggers a pee instantly. It works really well! When they’re very small, I take them out about once an hour, maybe every two hours. For sure take them out when they’ve woken up from a nap or after playing. It doesn’t seem to take very long to form the habit. The pee rag works great. I know it’s kinda weird, but I hate cleaning up accidents in the house!

Pooping usually happens right after they eat or first thing in the morning and when they’re small, I don’t let them trot to the door, I pick them up and plop them on the grass and say “go potty’ until they go. Lots of praise when they do.

I’m excited for you! Puppies are so fun. Work, but fun.