Tolled training in first floor flat. Best way to do it?

[isthismummy]

Picking up my new Shih Tzu puppy tomorrow and wondering what people think is the best approach for house training?

We live in a first floor flat (converted terrace) with no garden access. We have a yard at the front of the property and also a small balcony that can be accessed via a door in the kitchen.

It will be quicker to train pup to go on balcony at first as less time for pup to get there than downstairs. However I don't really want pup using balcony as adult and would prefer her to use front yard. Worried that she will get confused with the balcony first method.

Any thoughts? I'd prefer to start training her to go straight out to toilet and avoid puppy pads if possible. I also appreciate Shih Tzus are a hard breed to house train though, so I suppose I have to be realistic.

Take pup out regularly and really praise when it does its business. Use a command as its going 'be quick' 'go pee' etc. Take out quickly after pup has been sleeping, eating or playing. Put a puppy pad by the front door (you really won't need them for long). My old boy was trained in a first floor flat and he was fully house trained really quickly. My second pup had a nice big garden and took much longer. Just don't get stressed when the odd accident happens (which it will). Good luck with your new baby :)

Is your front yard secure, ie no unvaccinated dogs/foxes etc ever going through? If not you might have to paper train or use the balcony until after her second jabs. We're in a flat with a balcony, our puppy came to us paper trained which we've continued, and we can finally go for walks next week so we're working out how to make the transition now!

There yard is secure, but there's a massive urban fox population round here and I'm sue they can climb in! The balcony might have to be used until she's vaccinated.

She's already pad trained, but breeder had about a million of them dotted around the living room. Getting her through whole flat to a single one at back door may be more challenging. I'm sure we'll get there though

Try and limit her to one room at first and have a designated pee spot, easier to keep an eye on than the whole flat! Are you crate training? This has really helped us so far!

She's going to have to stay in the kitchen to start as it's the only bit of flat (apart from bathroom!) that hasn't got carpets. The balcony door is directly off the kitchen.

We have a crate for her and a puppy pen

Picking her up at 9am. Very excited, but quite anxious as well. I haven't had a puppy to raise for 13 years!

Considering they are a small breed dog could you not toilet train using a littler box?
I've seen dog ones designed with astroturf and drainage as well as opposed to litter

Not sure about the litter box as I want her to get the message about going outside as soon as possible. We're only in a first floor flat, so it takes less than a minute to get into front yard.

Just gotten back with her and she's very shell shocked bless her. Think it's going to take at least a few days for her to settle in.

We were in a similar situation with our shihtzu but with only a balcony. We had to get a holder for pee pad to keep it outside and stop her tearing it up! We took her out there at very regular intervals and waited (which she didn't always like) and then lots of praise. She got the hang of it quickly but a year later she pretty much always goes outside of the flat as she prefers the feel of grass under her paws and the smells of other dogs. Also bladder control is so much stronger than the early days when having the pee pad was a blessing.

That's good to hear Shmary Glad to hear your girl got there Puppy is doing fairly well. She goes to door for poos, although happily still seeing everywhere if allowed. She's only a tiny baby though. The balcony is only tiny as well, so don't think she's 100% secure on there. Can't wait til we can start taking her out!

I might have to invest in a puppy pad holder. Ours are currently inelegantly wedged with a plant pot to stop them blowing away😄

Weeing everywhere even...