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I'm not really sure if there is a way for her to know "not" to go inside. Its just more important for her to know where TO go instead of where NOT TO go. If she isn't trying anymore thats great! The best you can do is just praise praise praise (and treat!) when she goes where you want her to. Most dogs WANT to please so if you make a big deal about her going it the right place, than she will want to go. You are doing the right thing about when you catch her in the act of going inside by stopping her and bringing her to the right spot. If she does make an accident and you didnt see her, give her no attention for it at all.

As far as a way for her to "ask" to go out. We have our puppy (4 months old and it took him less than a week to learn this) who we have trained to ring a bell to go outside. We have a cowbell hanging next to the door. Whenever we took him outside, we would take his paw and hit the bell and give him a treat than take him outside to go potty. When he goes potty outside, give him another treat. Do this everytime you take him outside to go potty. (only when potty though, not just outside to play or a walk or anything). When he rings the bell on his own, take him outside right away. Don't give him a treat when he rings the bell on his own or else he will ring it just for treats. Only give him the treat when he actually goes potty. Our dog caught on very quick and within a week was housetrained and consistently ringing the bell when he had to go outside.

Congrats on your new Sheltie puppy. My new Sheltie is now 17 weeks old and is heading until the Terrible Twos (nipping and herding anything that moves! Wait for this phase...its nasty :-)) But they are lovely, aren't they! This is my 3rd Sheltie.

I'm not sure why you say that an inside option is necessary as you are clearly trying to teach the dog to go outside. So I'm going to make some assumptions. And I'm assuming that the reason for the puppy pads is that you cannot be home at lunch time to let the dog out of her crate???Yes?

I'm generally not in favour combining training methods, and I always rely on pure crate training as the best method. So if you can find a way to eliminate the puppy pads, do so as quickly as possible. It only confuses them.

But if you are needing to combine them....

Put the dog in crate for a maximum of 3 to 4 hours (this can go longer as the pup gets older). When you bring the pup out of her crate, bring her immediately to the same door every time so that she learns that this is the the "outside" door. Don't forget to reward your pup with praise and occasional treats when she goes where she needs to.

I'm assuming that the reason for the puppy pads is that you can't be there to let the dog out every 3 to 4 hours. If so, put the crate in a 6 foot Xpen on a tiled surface (i.e. that can absorb accidents). Place the puppy pad as far away from the crate as possible. The idea is that a dog generally will not defecate close to her den (i.e. the crate).

Be consistent in your use of the crate. Sleep time is crate time. Even when I'm home, I put my pup in his crate for at least an hour or so....at this age, he does need his sleep. I then when I let him out...we go directly to the back door.

Hope this helps

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://bitly.im/aLXfX

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

So far you're doing great with your puppy. I don't understand why you need an inside option but I hate puppy pads as it tells the puppy that it's okay to use it all the time. I use a 2 hour regime with the puppies I foster. Every 2 hours in daylight I take them out to that area in the garden that is theirs. That gives them the idea that going out is required to use toilet. If they go I give a treat. If not then no treat. I have a friend who has to leave an area indoors for her dog as she has a weak bladder and she uses a cat litter tray but with your puppy she should get into the habit of only going outdoors. You ahould also reduce the night outdoor visits as she learns to control her bladder. Good luck . Cathy

Once she learns to go on the pad, bring the pad outside for a little while. My dogs either bark or just go stand by the door when they have to go out. I trained my one little dog by simply bringing her outside every few hours to have her go and praising her when she did. If you want her trained to go outside, you had best start now, since she seems to pick up things quickly.

There are books available at places like PetsMart regarding training, etc.

It is best to choose a place to potty train- outside or inside. Basically just praise her and give her treats when she does her business where she is supposed to. So she will learn that when she goes to the bathroom in the right place, she gets praises and treats. Petsmart has a bell that you hang from the door and you can train your dog to ring the bell when she has to go outside to go to the bathroom... however I don't know too much about it. Well good luck :)

Take her outside right away and praise her when it goes outside. If you dont want it going in the house, you should not put down puppy pads, this shows it that they can go in the house, but you could try a cat litter box filled with grass, or whatever material she uses outside.

you just have to keep taking her to the pads. and how i got my dog to ask to go outside was i after he learned to only go outside instead of cry to be taken out i sat down next to the door and knocked on the door with his paw and said knock. after awhile he learn to knock when he wants to go outside

Put a bell on the handle of the doorand whenever you take her out push her nose on the bell and she will learn to ring the bell when she has to go. I did this with my puppy and now she rings the bell.

remember she is just a baby-

I use crate traiing as well

try this book- how to crate train your dog in 7 days