Thanks. learn something new every day.
Bob

It may be common knowledge here, but when I seen the Puppy video and it said that dogs go to the bathroom:

-after they sleep
-after they eat
-after they exercise

It made things much clearer to me. When my pup takes a nap, I'll take him outside when he wakes up. After he eats, I'll take him out. And sometimes when I feel like he should go to the bathroom but he won't...I exercise him and he does.

Plus--I don't know if it's just coincidence or he actually understands, but how Ed takes his puppies out and says "Good Outside"...I've been doing that. And now I can take my puppy outside and say "Do an outside" and within a minute he'll do the dew...like I said, probably just coincidence but I get a kick out of it.

I give my dogs/pups the "outside" command too, and it works. I have never had a problem with the pad training. The closest I have come to a problem was a pup who thought as long as 1 paw was on the pad he was okay <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> . It also makes it more convienent if you travel with your pups. Pad down in the hotel room and viola. One key with pups that I have noticed is that every time you transition them from one spot to another, it is a good time to go pee, especially when they are very little, going from the living room to the kitchen, stop by the "outside" first.

Hi Gina,

A lot of info here, but do yourself a favor and stay away from pee pads.........crate train like Robert, Deanna, and Ken said. Puppys go potty: after they sleep, after they eat, and after they exercise. I have crated trained every pup I've had, starting at 8 weeks, and soon they will tell you that they have to go out with a bark.
When they are little, just pick up the water in the evening, and you might have to take them out a few times during the night.

If a pup is trained to go *POTTY* on a pee pad *IN THE HOUSE*, then what are you teaching that pup??

I'm with the crate trainers and not using the pee pad group. It also just seems to me you are adding an extra step (teaching them to pee on the pads IN the house) while teaching them to go outside the house. And then you have to re-train to NOT go in the house and ONLY go outside.

Not that using the pads won't work, these dogs are pretty smart. Just seems like you are ultimately prolonging the housebreaking training with the extra steps.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the help! Ok, a little more info. I totally want a family dog that can be housetrained and can stay in the house. I'd like to use the backyard for going potty in (we have a specific section of dirt that will be used for this) and the grassy area for playing and exercising. I'll say right off the bat that I do not want a Rott, Pitt or Dobie due to home insurance issues, preconceived notions and my own fears regarding those particular dogs.
While I was working with our 6 week old puppy and crate training it was going excellent! She never went potty in her crate. I would take her outside as soon as I let her out of the crate and she would potty in the dirt. Then she would run around the backyard and maybe try to go potty again. After feeding her, I'd give her 5-10 minutes in the house (keeping a very close eye on her) and then back out to potty. She was never put in her crate hungry, having to go potty or unexercised. I made sure she went late at night to potty and then would get up around 4 or 5 am to take her out again and then again at 7:30am to go potty again and feed her. So, I think the crate works really good for training even if they're puppies if you are diligent about taking them out frequently to go potty.
So obviously I don't want to adopt from a breeder that is really opposed to using a crate. The new puppy does not have to be a Lab, it just seemed like a good choice for a first dog. I've also considered a "Canaan dog" based on internet suggestions. If anyone has any suggestions on different breeds, I'm more than willing to research it. Thanks!

Gina, I think a Lab would be perfect for your family. But it's like all breeds, you need to do your research. Once you find a breeder you trust, with the 'flavor' of Lab you are looking for, it gets alot easier.

Just make sure you do meet the breeder, go to their home, meet the mother of the pups and littermates. You can tell alot about the pup you'll get if you are familiar with all of that.

You could also try a shelter that is very reputable in it's care of the dogs, such as here in NY, the North Shore Animal League. A reputable and diligent shelter such as this would reduce the chances of a sick pup and PLUS, you could save a life....and the breed combos are limitless!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and BTW, I first crate trained a pup 30 years ago, before it was widely known or accepted....worked then, and does now. SKIP THE PEE PADS!!!!

I would only consider them if you lived in a high rise building( NYC, Chicago..etc..) where you need to take an elevator down 15 or more stories down to get to the street!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I am surprised that there is such a strong feeling against the piddle pads, I take you all must have had some bad experiences.

I like it for the following reasons.
1. The young pup spends less time caged up.
2. If you crate train them to young you risk a chance of teaching them to go in their bedding.
3. It is a good opportunity to start them Targeting.

Now don't get me wrong, I do think that crate training can certainly be more effective for problem dogs, and I am not recommending pad training over crate training; its just that I am a little surprised at the negativity towards pad training.