Change of environment for Lucas; Training?
 

Hi Everyone!

I posted this on YT too, just wanted to know you ladies' opinions!

Last summer I posted about taking Lucas out to BC to our summer place, which is a long car ride. Everything went really well and at that time, we had him trained to go outside, but still on pee pads occasionally.

We are going to be spending the summer out in BC again, in a condo on the 3rd floor of the development. Since last summer, we have used the "jingle bells" on the back door for Lucas to tell us he needs to go. He is AWESOME at it now and only goes outside.

My question is, now that we will be switching environments to an apartment/condo style living, with no yard obviously, and on the 3rd floor of the complex, what would you recommend for training?

I would prefer not to use potty pads at all, of course, because we did have way more accidents when we used them. However, in the wee hours, it is going to be a pain to go all the way downstairs and out the gate and down the driveway to have him go (we can't let them go inside the complex on our grass).

Help! Thanks for your responses

Hi Maddie,
When we lived on the third floor of our condo, Layla used a pee pad on the deck most of the time. It was so convenient, and she still got to be outside. I think she got the difference between going inside and outside (she got better treats for outside!). If you're concerned about using pads AT ALL, you can also buy things that have synthetic grass in them... they're like a pee pad but grass instead, and you can hose them off or put them in the washer I think to clean them.

P.S. Where are you going in BC? Scott and I are planning a trip the first weekend of July to visit family and friends around Kamloops, Kelowna, and Pentiction :)

Thanks Lindsey! I'm still unsure of what to do, but that grass pad sounds interesting, like a happy medium. Do you think having one in one spot would be sufficient? And would it affect his training at all, like would he regress?

Our condo is on Wood Lake in Winfield, BC which is just 10 minutes North of Kelowna. You drive right through it on the way to Kelowna! I don't know yet if I'll be there the first weekend of July. I just love it there, have you been?

Layla was fine to go on the pad on the deck, or in the grass when we were somewhere grassy, so I'm not sure if Lucas would regress but Layla did really well!

I have NEVER been there before so I'm really excited! I have only been to Jasper, Banff, and snowboarding in Kimberley. I don't get out much :rolleyes: lol! I almost took a job in Chilliwack a couple years ago after a phone interview, but I decided not to take it before even flying out for an in-person interview! BC is so beautiful, so I can't wait to see more of it on this trip!

Mine are pad train, and I do have one spot for them. They get in trouble if I even see them smelling the wrong area. If you do have a balcony I think that a grass pad will be wonderful there too, since his train outside.

I think you should talk with your condo people. As long as you pick it up, what difference does it make where they go. I would just ignore the remarks and do what you know is best.

I agree, however it is written in our Strata Rules which were decided upon when the development was built. They will issue fines for anyone having the dogs on the common area grass :(

We have the same rule in our condo, but I ignore it because in order to get to the road, I have to walk through common areas. I certainly can't tell my dogs that they can go on that grass, but not on the grass other people are on! I also let them run off-leash in front of my townhouse, and go wherever they want. I usually pick up the poop, but if it's going to rain, I don't bother. It is a common area, but it is in front of my house, so nobody walks there. It's good fertilizer anyway.

I guess it depends on how your place is set up. If you don't have to cross common areas to walk the dog, they can fine you.

Do you have a deck or porch/balcony? I agree with Lindsey. Put an astroturf pad out there and train Lucas to go there. I have one and Annie uses it. Max figures outside is outside, and too bad! He poops on the deck itself. It's an easy clean up though. During the winter they are strictly pee pad trained, and they know what to do.

Is Lucas a yorkie?

Yes, Lucas is a yorkie. The way our condo development is set up and run, there's no way he can go on common areas and we don't have to go across the courtyard to get to the driveway etc.

We have a balcony, it is quite small though. I'll look into the grass turf, or I may just have to suck it up and take him down and out every time :(

You can put newspaper in the balcony too. I don't think dogs are fooled by astroturf at all! They go by their sense of smell, and fake grass sure doesn't smell like real grass!

You could try placing him in a kennel at night. My dogs both sleep in their kennel and are let out in the morning. They never potty in their kennel. Then in the morning you could take him outside to go.