Hi All, we're going to collect our first, 8-week-old puppy this weekend (yay!!!!) and we would appreciate some advice on the first stages of potty-training. We live on the 3rd floor of a condominium, so we assume the young puppy will be unable to hold it until we get downstairs to do her business (long hall + stairs/ elevator = well over 5 minutes to reach the lawn). Therefore, the plan of action is to pad-train her at first until her bladder control is more reliable and then start taking her downstairs. Now, as for pad training, our options are to set up the pads in our smaller bathroom indoors OR on our outside balcony. We want to pick only one of the options and stick to it for consistency, but does it make a difference whether we pick the balcony or the bathroom? Both are on the smaller size. Is one a better option over the other? Another piece of advice we need... Pippa says on her Happy Puppy book that a good gated area with washable floors for free play-time would be the kitchen, for example. We are thinking of using our large bathroom instead, and then upgrade it to the kitchen eventually. Does it sound like a good idea, or is the bathroom an unsuitable play area because of the "intriguing odors" for a puppy? I will thank you a bunch for some puppy advice on this! This seems so complicated for first-time parents, but it's such an important step, and we don't want to make the wrong choices. Cheers, Luciana
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Personally, I would go for the balcony. We also live in an apartment but have a big terrace (we're on the lowest floor of apartments but not "ground floor" as such because of the layout of the building, so still too far for us to go outside every few minutes). I used a pad on the terrace for a while until Willow had the idea that that was her potty area. It was easy to clean with soapy water in the summer, to keep smells at bay. We picked up any solids and bagged them for disposal. I think it's clearer to the dog that outside = toilet rather than this particular room inside is OK, but the others aren't. I also think it's easier to translate this to going when on walks, which can take a while for some dogs to get the hang of. I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with using a bathroom as a safe area (obviously ensuring there are no dangerous cleaning fluids, exciting toilet rolls etc that she can get to), but you would have to ensure that you clean it VERY thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner like Simple Solution before you do, otherwise any tiny residual smells of urine or regular cleaners will encourage the puppy to toilet there. If you choose to have her in there and you have another bathroom, I would clean it fastidiously and then have it off-limits for human toileting until the puppy no longer uses it. Good luck - this is a very exciting but nerve-wracking time! Do you have a name yet? Is it a Lab? And what colour?
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Hi Fiona, thank you so much for your advice! Yes, I worry about having the bathroom as the safe area - it is kept extremely clean, but we prefer to make it flaw-proof, if possible. We might just pick the kitchen instead... Yes, our puppy's name is Roma, and she's a black Lab!! We are so happy and can't wait to bring her home!! I'll be posting pictures soon... Thanks again!!
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training [quote author=Sarralucia link=topic=9665.msg139660#msg139660 date=1422277362] Hi Fiona, thank you so much for your advice! Yes, I worry about having the bathroom as the safe area - it is kept extremely clean, but we prefer to make it flaw-proof, if possible. We might just pick the kitchen instead... Yes, our puppy's name is Roma, and she's a black Lab!! We are so happy and can't wait to bring her home!! I'll be posting pictures soon... Thanks again!! [/quote] Ah, beautiful! My little black lady was a complete heart-breaker at 8 weeks. I'm sure Roma will be too! As for the keeping clean, it's not so much "human clean", but most of the household cleaners we use have ingredients which actively encourage pups to wee, which is why Simple Solution or similar is recommended for cleaning up accidents. Also, especially if you have boys in the house, it's very easy for the odd "drip" to end up on the floor ( : ), and unless you clean EVERY time the toilet is used, it would be noticeable for a keen puppy nose. The kitchen would certainly be an easier option for that reason
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Hi Fiona, That makes absolute sense! Thank you so much for the info. So we're picking the balcony for her 1st stage of potty training and the kitchen as the safe area. Your lab looks so pretty in the profile picture!! I hope Roma will be as beautiful! Cheers!
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training I'm sure she will be! This was little Willow not long after we got her: And Shadow, who is her littermate, but who we got a few weeks later: And this is me with Shadow a few minutes after he was born: And, for good measure, a video of them playing a couple of weeks ago: http://youtu.be/hAclRYZOCiE Just in case you weren't excited enough about getting your little Roma already x
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Hi Fiona, Willow and Shadow are absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!!! What a nice treat to see such beautiful pictures and fun video!!!! You've just made my day! ;D
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Hello welcome to the forum! I think a bathroom would be an odd place for a safe play area. Ideally, you want your puppy in the same place as the family, and having everyone in the bathroom would be odd. Much better for puppy to be with all her new family in the kitchen. Good luck with the preparations!
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training I agree, Juliet! The kitchen is a much better play zone. Thank you!
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Whichever area you use for toilet training make sure it's got a non-porous floor (so, glazed tiles or sealed timber etc). Unsealed concrete or pavers will absorb wee and it'll be a devil of a job to get rid of the smell. I agree that the best play area would be where the pup can see people and be part of the family
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Hi Rachael, thank you for the advice! The floor is wood, so I've bought a replacement tray (used for crates) to be the wee area - we'll place the wee pads on top. I bought a tray that's large enough to fit two small/puppy-size pads, but Roma's "dad" thinks the tray is too large and that we should exchange it for a smaller one. Any advice on the ideal size of a wee-tray?
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Starting with a large tray covered in pads is fine It's better to start with a large area to make it easier to hit the mark, so to speak. Once your pup is reliably using the tray then you can just cover half of it in pads. If your pup has got the idea of toileting on the actual pads then she'll still wee on the pad even though the size is reduced. Then you can get a smaller tray. It's important to expect accidents. Just stock up on your cleaning equipment
Re: Balcony or Bathroom? First stages of potty-training Thanks for the advice, Rachael! That sounds like a good idea. We'll keep the large tray for now and downsize as potty-training goes
