How do i get them to go on their own?

[3maltese4me]

I've been working on training the fluffs to use pee pads instead of being outside trained and it's been going pretty good this time around. Right now i have two pens set up with a disposable pee pad in a tray so they can't tear it up and then a washable pee pad that covers the whole are that way if they miss the one there is the other. I put them in the are and set the timer for 15 minutes and if they have pooped then they can stay out if not back into their crate for 60 mintues and this is what we do all day and just rotate. My question is how do i get them to go into the potty area by themselves when they have to go? Instead they wait for the timer to go off and then i'll say ok Noelle lets get in the area. If they have to go before the timer goes off they will potty in the kitchen. There out because they pottied like they were supposed to and i try to keep an eye on them, but there are times i'm not apparently. Should i set the timer for less than 60 minutes? I'm not sure what to do and how to make it their idea to go in the designated area to go potty. They do well when placed in designated area , but just don't seem to get it that they can go in the area on their own to potty. We have been doing this going on three weeks now.

[JiJi's Mom]

I didn't train mine that way. Normally I will catch them sniffing around and that's when I placed them in their pad. If I caught them peeing somewhere else I would give them a harsh NO. And praise them while their peeing.
One thing that helped is I bought a rock from outside and placed it in the middle of the pad. My boy especially likes to aim at it.
Also I think there age has to do alot with it. If there young they can't hold their pee for long.

[Nikki's Mom]

I wish I had some suggestions for you Debbie but I'm trying to do the same thing!! Kodie came to me pad trained and he will also do his business outside. Nikki, on the other hand is outdoor trained. I would love for Nikki to be pad trained as well...especially in the winter time and when it is raining!! I have heard that this is a good book to help with potty training. Potty training your dog in 7 days!! http://www.best-dog-training.com/datas/reviews/dog-potty-training-guide-review.php Good luck and keep us posted!!

[Jasper's Mom]

I didn't train mine that way. Normally I will catch them sniffing around and that's when I placed them in their pad. If I caught them peeing somewhere else I would give them a harsh NO. And praise them while their peeing.
One thing that helped is I bought a rock from outside and placed it in the middle of the pad. My boy especially likes to aim at it.
Also I think there age has to do alot with it. If there young they can't hold their pee for long.

I did everything the same except I didnt use a rock, when I trained him he wasnt hiking his leg yet.. now that hes a little over 2 he hikes outside but not inside on his peepad... I change his peepad after 3 pee spots.. if I dont change it after 3 spots he will pee on the edge and it gets on the floor..

[angeleyes]

I am going through the same thing right now with Sammy. I'm using a tray that I got from the breeder. It's one of those that has the fake grass over the tray but I threw that away and just use the tray with the pad inside of it. I like it cause they don't have to walk in the pee spot. Sammy goes right to it to poop but he pees on the floor if I don't catch him. It's kind of frustrating as he can hold it all night but during the day he pees like every hour. I put him on the tray and tell him to go potty and he stands and looks up at me with those big eyes. He gets a treat when he goes on the tray and he thinks this is great. Didn't take long to know what "good boy" means. Belle is a stinker with the tray, she likes to pee on it cause she doesn't get her foot wet but she thinks it counts if she puts her front feet on it and pees. I have washable pads underneath just incase and I guess she figures that counts. I feel pretty lucky with Sammy though as he is only 14 weeks old.

[ilovemysnow]

I like Jess' (JiJi's Mom) idea of using a rock to aim for boys.

How I trained Snow using the pad anywhere in the house is I put a little bit of his pee on the pad (@ the center) in the beginning and so when he smells the pad he knows that's where he needs to go. Everytime he does go on the pad i give him tons of praises "good boy!!" and pet him gently and then give him a treat. i leave a container full of treats near his pad on the shelf so it's easy to reward him as soon as he goes. Snow's to a point where he poops and pees on command now, it's amazing!!

I do like the idea of not letting them out until they potty. I do that with Snow too every morning. Maybe remove the timer from making any sounds so they don't get confused with the timer as their pottying time? Unless you want them to potty whenever your alarm makes a sound? I would also try and block the kitchen off and keep them near you at all times to better watch for their pottying signs such as spinning in circles and sniffing around. I also keep track of when they eat and drink, so i have an idea of when or if he needs to go. I would also use short commands such as peepee or poopoo, or just plain potty instead of telling them ''to go to their area." And 3 weeks is just a start, it'll take awhile with some fluffs. Took Snow more than 6 months before he can do it on command. Snow's been accident free for at least 3 months now!!

good luck though, potty training is a pain. I hate it when they accidentally step on their mess.. I decided to keep the expen closed off, so when Snow needs to go, he just stands right next to his expen and looks at me. If i come close to him and he runs away, it means he just wants his toys inside his crate.. if i come close to him and he just sits there, it means he has to potty inside his expen where his pad is.. I do this so i can wipe his feet with baby wipes after he goes... :D

[CeCe]

I trained Chloe on pee pads. I use both washable and the disposable. The real blessing is that when we are traveling, she will use the disposable pee pad in the car -- while we are driving. I put it on the floor and give her the command to "go potty" and she does. This has been great for when I am alone and don't want to stop. She will also go outside, but because she is so small (I am afraid of the owls :( in this area) she does not do this often.

[Morkie4]

I have never pee pad trained a fluff. I've always trained them for the outside. So I'm not going to be of much help with this type of training. But the gals have given you a lot of first hand experience with it. Hope it works out!!!! I've thought about pee pad training but Toby nearly has a heart attack if he sees a pee pad with pee or poo on it. I do put one down when my grandfurbaby comes for her but they are now training her to do it outside and on pee pads.