Training On Fake Grass

[Moonstones]

I have a small puppy, will be a medium dog who is 9 weeks old. I have been home with the puppy this week settling it in, training and getting it used to being home alone. Next week I go back to work and just won't some options on setups. Currently when we leave he is in the kitchen/laundry we have a pen closing the area off. His crates toys and food etc are in there, I have been putting puppy pads in there but I think it's just luck if he uses them. Our back yard is quiet large and not keen on him having the full run of the place (just yet). If we have a working bee on the weekend we can temp fence of a small section right off the laundry door + install dog door. The area there though has no grass (I take him to grass when I'm home). I was thinking off getting a square of fake grass to put in this temp area till he's a bit older. Do you think this could work? Once he's older/bigger will it be hard to get him to move places . House layout means I can't fence of any grass area. Thank you

[Papillon Kisses]

Yes! My parents' puppy was originally trained to go on fake grass when he didn't have access to the lawn. He is now heavily praised and rewarded for going on the grass outside so he now he goes there. Can't miss an opportunity for chicken.

Here's a project (below) that you might like to do since your dog won't ever have free access to your grass. Another option is putting fake grass over a large cat litter tray. (This is if you don't want the fake grass directly on the enclosed area.) If the dog is struggling to make the switch in the future you can gradually move the fake/real grass structure/mat to the real grass until he's just going on real grass. But he might just make the leap with positive reinforcement.