Potty Training Indoors

[LAN ZHENG]

I got a 12 week old toy poodle, Mocha, who likes to potty outdoors.  This is becoming a problem because I have noticed many poop left on my yard that passing dog owners did not pick up.  Mocha always seems to find those and start eating them, I'm worried about her getting sick because she's not fully vaccinated yet.  I tried following the potty training article and it did not seem to work, she would hold it in until I take her outside or potty on my rugs instead of the pee pads.  I tried using the pee pad holder and spraying potty attractants, but she still wouldn't potty there.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums!

You are right to be concerned about passing owners not picking up other dog's poop. We don't know if these dogs are dewormed or vaccinated, so yes, we want to keep your pup away from this area. Even walking on poop can be problematic at her age.  You have several options here:

-Ideally, try using an indoor substrate that is as as similar to the substrate your dog is using in the yard. For example, if your yard has grass, try using a Fresh Patch https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005G7S6UI/, if you have tree bark try a litter box filled with tree bark: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005G7S6UI/ 

Puppies are known for forming a substrate preference at around 8 weeks and a half which makes them picky over surfaces to go potty. 

-If she is using the rugs, you can remove the rugs so as to stop her from using those and make her aware of the pee pads. You may need to attach several pee pads together so as to make the area larger and easier to not miss the mark.

-Create a den-like enclosure with the pee pads on one side and her bed and toys and food on the opposite side. Let her out when she successfully eliminates on her pee pads. 

More tips of teaching a dog to potty indoors can be found here:  https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/advanced-potty-training/training-your-dog-to-go-indoors/

As you wait for her to be fully vaccinated and use the outdoors again, dedicate some time to training the 'leave it" cue which should turn helpful in telling her to avoid getting near any poop: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/take-leave-it/