i have a 12 week old bulldog bitch who is partly house trained, she goes on the training pads sometimes but others she just does it anywhere (she pee ed on her own bed). i have now started letting her out in the garden after eating, sleeping and playing etc but she will still do her business in the house on the floor. any advice will be much appreciated thanks Sharon.
PS sorry if this advice is posted somewhere else but i can't seem to find it!!!!!

Hi Sharon,

Best to ditch the training pads completely IMO - all they do is teach a pup that toiletting indoors is acceptable.  You say you have "now started letting her out in the garden" etc., but this should have been done from day one so although you're now doing it the correct way you will have to be very vigilant of her movements and ensure you don't allow her to have any accidents inside ;)  She has to not only learn to ask out but has to unlearn what you've already instilled by using the pads.

It is do-able :)  Just ensure yourself and every household member keeps on their toes - when pups have accidents inside it's always OUR fault for not paying attention :D

regards, Teri

I agree with Teri - throw away the puppy pads.  These things just teach the dog that it's ok to toilet inside, and then you have to re-train all over again to go outside. 

If your pup has also weed on her bed, it sounds like she might have "learnt" that it's ok to toilet anywhere absorbent, so your carpets and mats and rugs might get messed on - all because they are quite similar to a puppy pad. 

To make the lesson the easiest for the pup, ditch the puppy training pads.

You might also want to consider a crate: http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/crate-train.pdf

thanks to both of you for the advice, i will now get rid of the pads and keep an eye on her. i have already ordered a puppy crate from ebay which shopuld be delivered hopefully tomorrow, take care Sharon

i used puppy pads and i know they encourage the puppy to pee inside ! i did a test with my 14 week old pup. every night i left a puppy pad next to her bed in the dining room , every morning by 6 am she had used it a least twice. so the other night i didnt put one down & she hadnt weed anywhere , i did this over 5 nights , & whenever there was a pad she used it & whenever there wasnt she was dry !! what a waste of £10.00 !!!! :)

To be honest, everyone I've ever known who has used puppy pads has ended up housetraining twice! But you can't help but admire the manufacturers who must have worked out that using their products drastically lengthens the process!! And while I'm no expert in the finer points of dog training, housetraining is one area which I've always had modest success with and my experience has taught me that there's no way you can avoid many happy hours (day and night) out in the garden with your pup - many of them sounding like a complete loony!! :D

You get back what you put in Roz :D I gave up using paper even in the crate just used babymonitor so I could hear any squeaks and mine have gone through the night very quickly. During the day it's just a case of being vigilant and spending time out in all weathers. Hardest work was my rescue boy who I got as 6 months I rather think he had had constant access to the garden in his 2nd home and so wasn't used to asking out or holding on. I spent a LOT of time in the garden with him for a couple of weeks. Great fun in December and January

thanks for all your advice, i have now lifted the pads and i have to go out in the garden with her! i don't mind really cos i can see what she's up to and know she's safe. Sharon

We used those pads for our Irish Wolfhound pup and forgot to put one down one night. He didnt mess from that night onwards. So yes get rid of them

When i have a pup I always take them out into the garden the second they wake up, don't allow them to walk accross the room as on the way they will wee.  they are picked up, taken out and I ALWAYS stay with them so I can see that they go. As they go I always repeat in a happy excited voice either clever girl or clever boy and then make a massive fuss of them and bring them back in.  As soon as they have eaten we go out and repeat all this again.  if they are running round playing we go out every 5 mins. If they stop and start sniffing the floor we go straight out etc etc.  Saying clever boy/girl each time teaches them quite quickly that hearing these words means toilet and because they get so much fuss for doing it in the right place they quickly cotton on, and as they get older and you want to go out or to bed you can just say clever boy/girl and they will perform.  I repeat these words throughout thier lives even on walks.
Accidents in the house are not a puppys fault but ours for not paying attention.  When an accident occurs to not tell puppy off, do not speak, do not make eye contact just clean it up with your back to puppy.
I find using these methods teaches puppy very quickly its fantastic to go outside to do your toilet because mum or dad gives you so much positive attention.

Bev

I agree with this entirely.  I've had my gsd baby since Wednesday,a s some of you may know , and have been using this method since day one.  Today, he went and sat by the back door twice, and each time I took him outside he did a poo!!!  My OH can't believe it!!  No poos inside today at all!!!

Now I'm not saying that this will happen every time, especially if I'm not paying 100% attention or if he is in his crate because he can't hold on, but it seems he knows where he is supposed to go

We're still working on the wees!!!