New puppy owner thinking of going from potty pads to outside?

camarojsmith

Hi all.

My wife and I are about to be new dog owners (boston terrier) on Feb. 4th. We are very excited but both a little nervious about potty training a new puppy in our newly renovated house.

A little backround, My wife and I both work full time and the puppy will be left alone for about 8.5 hours a day 5 days a week.

After reading several threads on here and many other articles we have come up with a game plan. Please give me your opinion on this schedule.

While we're sleeping.
Puppy will be crated in our bedroom so we can hear if he needs out.
I wake up around 6am. Let him out, back inside, quick play, food, back outside, back in cate around 7.

Wife wakes up at 7 gets ready for work. Lets him out before she leaves for work at 8. Puts him in our (puppy proof) laundry room with the crate, food, water, toys and puppy pads.

I get home at 4:30. We take him out, play, train, eat, repeat in the evening till about 11:30 when he'll go into his crate in our room for bedtime.

I'm reluctant on having him use puppy pads because I don't want him to get accustomed to peeing/pooping in the house. But I know he will not be able to hold it for that long while we are at work and I don't want him to go in his crate.

Sorry for the long post. My questions are: Is this a good plan? What is the best approach to transition him to be able to hold it (after he is able)and not go on the pads? My long term goal is for him to have free run of the house while we are not home and not pee/poop in the house.

Thanks.

Tess

A puppy that age will need puppy pads for such a long day while you are at work. Yes, you can transition him off of pads to the outdoors when he is older. Do the normal house training for outside when you are home... that means out for tinkle 2 or 3 or even 4 times an hour while he is up and active. TREATS for successful pottying on the spot area very important!

Your plan is reasonable overall, although it would be better if you could have someone come midday... poor little guy will be quite lonely, and also as you say, won't be able to "hold it" that long.

Good plan to have puppy in your room with you at night. That will help a lot with the loneliness factor.

Be prepared for some "accidents" in your new house. Try not to be upset with the little guy. Puppies are more precious than carpets.

Get yourself a gallon jug of "nature's miracle" for clean up.

And please, come back here for help with your puppy, or just to share pics and the stories of raising him. Puppies are my favorite topic!

Tess

If you have not added these to your puppy library yet, they are the two books I recommend most for puppy owners.

bigpawsup

Sounds like a plan to me. Two things:

1) I would not leave food out during the day - that's me.
2) On weekends, do not use the puppy pads if you want the dog only going outside. Bostons are fairly small, so that is up to you. I'm not a huge fan of puppy pads but for those of us who work it really is the only choice with a little one.

Best of luck - I'm certain you will get some other great advice here.

And remember, you have to pay for all advice received with PUPPY PICTURES!

Tess

Good point about the food out, although I might indulge him as a youngster with a wee bowl of food while gone. Puppies do get very hungry and some like to graze throughout the day, rather than gorge all at once. Adding too much "food stress" to his lonely stress might be detrimental. (8 hours is a long time between feedings for a baby pup.... a pup that age should probably have at least 3 meals a day, if not 4.)

Yes, overall, scheduled feedings are normally recommended, although I have also raised puppies on "free feed" successfully as well. It can make house training a bit more challenging though.

camarojsmith

Thanks for the fast replies.

Tess, I'll check out those books. Thanks a lot. Most of our house is hardwood and tile so I don't think I can get to upset with mistakes. haha. Any idea of when I can expect to be able to transition him to outside only?

Bigpaw,
1.) I was planning on getting a kong and filling it with half his daily food. I think this will give the guy something to keep him occupied while we're gone. Do you think that will be ok?

2.) I only plan on having him use the pads when we are gone for more than 3-4 hours (weekdays). When we are home but not instantly available to catch him peeing/pooping, he will be in his crate.

I'm glad I found this site, there seems to be a lot of knowledgable people on here.

My first payment. Stopped at the breeder on Tuesday.

Tess

He is absolutely precious!

As far as transitioning to outside, that depends on a lot of factors, your consistency with rewarding the outside potty, the weather, (puppies generally don't like cold and wet), his bladder capacity... how fast he matures.

Generally puppies take a few weeks to a couple of months to be house trained. By 6 months old, most pups are solid, and it would be reasonable to think your puppy would be also transitioned to outside. You might have residual use of pee pads for when you are away for longer though. Play it by ear as you go along.

camarojsmith

Thanks a lot. we'll be very consistant on giving treats for going outside. This makes me feel like I'm on the right track. Sounds like you can't give him an opportunity to make a mistake and you let the good habits take care of themselves.

Tess

Yup, I think you are very much on track.

Prevention of accidents, management of the situation, all to minimize issues, so you are not faced with having to scold him.

Then lots of rewards for forming the right habits.

He's going to be one lucky puppy to join your family!

bigpawsup

The Kong is a good idea. I would run with it.