I'm watching a Frenchie puppy who was trained to use astroturf. His owner told me he won't go to the bathroom on walks at all. Any advice I can give her?
A few things to try:
Moving the astroturf patch outside and rewarding him for using it in the new location. Once he's used to going outside on the patch, she can try removing the patch (but if possible leaving behind some of his urine/feces on the spot) and continuing to take him to that spot for potty breaks. Reward at every step of the way.
Teaching him a potty cue by capturing the behavior indoors on the astroturf (saying whatever cue she wants to use when he starts to relieve himself until he's made an association between the cue and the behavior) and then starting to use the cue in new locations; if he goes, give him jackpot rewards to reinforce the behavior.
Spending a few free days entirely outdoors, waiting him out. He'll have to go eventually, and when he does, make him feel like he just won the final round on The Price is Right.
Consistency! We took our dog out every 30 min as a pup and he was trained over a weekend. Everyone 30 mins walk him or her outside in the grass until they go!
I try to take him out every hour to two hours and tell them to potty I stare around with him and walk him when he potties I tell him good boy and give them a treat.. And other times you read the puppy I know they need to go outside and take them outside to potty and Price them with you voice "good boy a good girl" when he does with the command
Pee pads (or any other station that you set up in the home) is a big no no. It is very hard to break the habit of using pee pads, and rightfully so, you have been enforcing that it is ok for your dog to eliminate in the home.
Start over. Get rid of the pee pads in the home. You will also need to pick up anything that looks like a pee pad (I.e. Bathroom mat, rugs,etc.) You can still put one outside, since your dog now thinks that is where he/she must go.
Do frequent potty breaks at first, and gradually build up.
Reward your dog and make a big deal when they go potty outside. BUT, do not react when they have an accident inside, and Yes, it will happen... multiple times.
It can take months to break "pee pad training" Keep up with it!!
It is recommended to use a crate when potty training as well.