Hello, You can. The chance of pup becoming confused and having accidents inside long term is increased anytime you use an indoor potty, but sometimes with work schedules and other needs a grass pad is temporarily needed, and grass is definitely a better choice than something like a pee pad. To minimize the chances of confusion and get off the the right start with indoor and outdoor potty training, I recommend combining the following: Check out the Tethering method from the article linked below. Whenever you are home use the Tethering method. Also, you are going to put the grass pad in an exercise pen instead of out in a general area, to help avoid future accidents as an adult. Set up an exercise pen in a room that you can close off access to later on (pup will learn it’s okay to potty in this room so choose accordingly). A guest bathroom, laundry room, or enclosed balcony – if your weather is a safe temperature are a few options. Don’t set the exercise up in a main area of the house like the den or kitchen. Tethering method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Use the Exercise Pen method from the article linked below, and instead of a litter box like the article mentions, use a real grass pad to stay consistent with teaching pup to potty on grass outside – which is far less confusing than pee pads (Don’t use pee pads if the end goal is pottying outside!). Artificial grass is better than pee pads, but real grass pads are a lot better if you can order them online where you are. Each pad is advertised to last about two weeks before needing to be replaced. Since your goal is pottying outside only use the Exercise Pen at night and when you are not home. When pup will hold her bladder while in the rest of the house consistently due to the tethering method and can hold it for as long as you are gone for during the day and overnight, then remove the exercise pen and grass pad completely, close off access to the room that the pen was in so she won’t go into there looking to pee, and take her potty outside only. Since she may still chew longer even after potty training, when you leave her alone, be sure to leave her in a safe area that’s been puppy proofed, like a cordoned off area of the kitchen with chew toys – until she is out of the destructive chewing phases too – which typically happens between 1-2 years for most dogs with the right training. Exercise Pen method: https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy Real grass pad brands – Also found on Amazon www.freshpatch.com www.doggielawn.com You can also make your own out of a piece of grass sod cut up and a large, shallow plastic storage container. If you decide to go straight to outside potty training alone, the crate training method found in the same article as the Tethering method above, is a good option for fully outdoor potty training for small dogs. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

May 2, 2023