Hello Cecilia, I am guessing that pup was previously used to going potty outside and due to old age and decreasing bladder control pup is being switched to inside potty training? If so, I would use something that's more familiar to pup - a disposable real grass pad, rather than the pee pad which is made of fabric and resembles carpets and rugs - something pup has learned over a decade to avoid peeing on. Disposable real grass pad brands: www.freshpatch.com www.porchpotty.com www.doggielawn.com Also on amazon Switching the indoor potty might be enough by itself, but you can also add a potty encouraging spray, such as "Hurry!" or "Go Here", spraying the area right before its time for pup to go potty. If pup is still struggling, you can place the pad outside, get pup used to going potty on it out there, where pup is less resistent to going potty already, then move the pad indoors for pup to go on there. Tell pup to "Go Potty" and give a treat whenever pup goes potty on the pad. You can then tell pup Go Potty and give a treat once the pad is moved back inside, so pup understands that it's okay to go potty on it. If pup is having accidents inside during this transition I would use the Crate training method or exercise pen method from this article below to prevent accidents while training. You can adjust the times since pup is older. And adult dog would normally go potty every 3-4 hours, repeating the potty trips every hour after that initial 3-4 hours if they didn't go potty when taken at first. Pup might need to be take more often than a younger adult if they are loosing bladder control also. This article mentions a litter box, but other indoor potties like grass pads and pee pads have the same steps to train. Exercise pen method or crate training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

May 23, 2022

Hello Shawn, For a larger dog who was used to going potty outside previously I recommend using a disposable grass pad. Unfortunately, I suspect with DM pup won't have enough bladder control as things progress to control where they go potty. Incontinence seems likely. I am not a vet, so I would ask your vet their opinion on that. If it that is the case though, I would combine two things. I would set up a large exercise pen fence somewhere like a mudroom or kitchen, where there are hard floors or tiles that are easier to clean, where pup can rest but also not feel completely secluded from the entire family. I would cover the ground with disposable real grass pads. The grass is more likely to remind pup of outside and be easier for pup to transition to. If you need to switch to pee pads, then once pup is used going potty in that area of the home on the grass, start removing the grass pads one at a time, with the pee pads put where they used to be, so pup is using the pee pads more and more, but knows its okay to go potty in that location still. If it were my I would still leave one grass pad for pup - so if pup does have any control they can choose the grass - which will be less confusing, but still cover the other areas with the pee pads since pup likely will have accidents there too, to protect your floors better. I would have pup stay in that penned area at night and when you are away or can't monitor pup. I would also desensitize pup to wearing a doggie diaper and when you want pup to hang out with you in the other rooms, have pup wear that right after they have gone potty in the pen and are less likely to need to go as much. When you choose a pen, choose something designed for larger dogs that won't tip over easily, and/or anchor it to the wall in a corner. Example: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/go-pet-club-heavy-duty-exercise-pen-for-dogs-32-l-x-32-w-x-40-h-3117693?cm_mmc=PSH%7cGGL%7cSPP%7cSBU04%7cSH6%7c0%7cqcEnJdLjs2dXh4h2WcdwzH%7c58700007475444232%7cPRODUCT_GROUP%7c0%7c0%7cpla-1455470974486%7c126888372897%7c15087953012&gclid=CjwKCAjw7IeUBhBbEiwADhiEMXb4dHRfjbDJGVt6ZLw1rD4hL7jQjobTggVT2Rt3L6IjV5nBtlQTyRoCad4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Reward pup whenever you see them go potty on the grass in the pen to help pup see that it's okay to go potty there. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

May 16, 2022

Hello Alfred, Instead of pee pads I would use disposable real grass pads, such as the ones I have linked below as examples. www.porchpotty.com www.freshpatch.com www.doggielawn.com I would set up an area that is at least four times large than pup's size, and then use the Crate Training method from the article I have linked below. Since pup is older than the puppies the article was written for, you can adjust those times by adding 1-2 hours to the times listed, making pup's potty trips every 3 hours, 1-1.5 hour between repeat potty trips if pup didn't go the first time, and when you are away pup can be crated for 5-8 hours (less at first) and be expected to hold it as needed. That 5-8 hours is a maximum time frame for an adult dog, on average the goal should be a potty trip every 3 hours, and being tethered to yourself or crated until pup's bladder is empty after 2 hours of freedom out of the crate. Crate Training method - the main difference in this method and what you will be doing is just that you will take pup to the garage pads on leash instead of to an indoor doggie litter box each time. https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy Even though the grass pads are more expensive per item than pee pads, they are designed to be used for a couple of weeks each instead of one use. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

March 29, 2022