Hello all, I'm new to the forum as my wife and I will be meeting our 12-week old chocolate lab that we've adopted (Coco) this coming Monday. I live in the Northeast, in Massachusetts, and my back yard, although large, has a foot of snow in it. There doesn't seem to be any breaks in the forecast in terms of temperature, and I'm worried about the house training issues that I foresee with teaching a dog from the South (Tennessee) to do her business in the snow when she arrives as it will probably be her first time exposed to these type of conditions. Does anyone have any suggestions and experience with a similar issue? If so, I would appreciate any feedback or guidance. I love the forum, and look forward to being a contributor in the future! Thanks, Rob
Re: House Training in Snow Hello, and welcome to this lovely forum. I don't have any experience of snow (well, more than a ft of it, and a new puppy wise anyway!). But just wanted to say hi and welcome. Lots of members are surviving snow right now, and I'm sure someone will be along to help soon. I think I saw a square of grass in a garage suggested for the night times when no-one, even with a small puppy desperate to pee, is going out in those snowy, freezing conditions!
Re: House Training in Snow Welcome to the forum Rob. I live in Iowa and had the same worry about house training our chocolate puppy. I was actually surprise by how well he took to going potty in the snow. He isn't too crazy about the cold but he doesn't hesitate when he needs to go. Our scout is 8 1/2 weeks old and has taken pretty well to it. I think you might also be surprised how well your pup will adapt to the environment. It may take her a bit at first to get used to the cold snow so don't be discouraged if she just sits there and shivers the first time or two when you take her out. Just try to encourage her by saying a happy "go potty". Also, If you haven't done so already you may want to shovel an area in your back yard that she can potty in so she is not hampered by the snow when trying to potty. The setup in the garage that Julie mentioned is what we are doing for our pup at night. It has worked out well but of course is not ideal as it creates two different potty places for your pup. It is always an option though.
Re: House Training in Snow I don't think you need to worry. I live in Canada, and although my dogs have always been pups in the summer and so experienced snow when they were a bit older, they had no trouble making the leap between weeing outside when there is no snow as opposed to weeing outside the first time it snowed. As long as they had learned to do their business outside, the conditions outside didn't seem to matter. Good luck, post pictures of your pup when he/she (?) arrives!
Re: House Training in Snow Thanks for the words of encouragement and all the replies! It's great that this forum is so active. I will definitely post some pictures of her when we meet on Monday! Thanks again! Rob
Re: House Training in Snow Hi Rob - just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum! Good luck with your new addition. jac and Lilly (black girl will be 4 in may) Non-snowy Scotland
Re: House Training in Snow Welcome from me and Obi, who live in snowless* Australia *Except for a small semi-mountainous area on the NSW/Victorian border that is optimistically known as the Australian Alps.
Re: House Training in Snow Hi and welcome Rob! Where is Massachusetts do you live? My daughter lives in Boston, and I lived just outside, in Andover, for a couple of years. Daughter says it is VERY cold at the moment!
Re: House Training in Snow Hi and welcome from me too , snow is a rare sight in Cornwall, mores the pity , look forward to some photos
Re: House Training in Snow [quote author=Karen link=topic=4666.msg57394#msg57394 date=1393487776] Hi and welcome Rob! Where is Massachusetts do you live? My daughter lives in Boston, and I lived just outside, in Andover, for a couple of years. Daughter says it is VERY cold at the moment! [/quote] Hi Karen, I live in Rockland, which is south of the city. It's brutally cold right now in the low 20's F here this week. Our 3rd "Polar Vortex" of the winter. More snow expected Monday which is the date I pick up my puppy.
