Why does my dog not tell me when he needs to pee?

She was trained to go to the bathroom on pee pads but not outside. But if the door is shut she won't scratch or anything. She doesn't even bark in general so I'm not sure how to get her to tell me when she needs to go. I've even been using her paw to scratch the door and tell her to go potty before taking her to encourage her to do something. I've seen people say as soon as she goes on the pee pad, to just put her out and use the potty command. They said if she sniffs the pads then to put her out asap but again, she doesn't sniff them, just goes to them and goes.

When you first start potty training your puppy, it’s up to you to keep an eye on your dog and watch for the signs that they need to go to the bathroom–getting restless, giving the side-eye, and trying to sneak off to a corner or another room are just a few of the notable behaviors. As soon as you notice the signs, you rush your pup into the backyard. Instead, training your dog to provide a clear signal when they need to go should be your goal. To start teaching these signals, you still need to begin by paying attention to the small signs that they need to go. When it’s time to go, get up and lead them to the door. Then, open the door just a crack–enough for them to smell the outside, but not enough to stick their whole head out. Wait for them to make eye contact with you, then get them excited to go out. Ask something along the lines of “You need to go potty?” then wait. In just a few seconds, your dog should get impatient and vocalize (either by whining or barking) or paw at the door to be let out.

The number one thing we want our dogs to communicate to us is when they need a potty break — and it’s also the number two thing as well, isn’t it. Dogs have many different ways of telling us they need to go out — right now. Some paw at us, some bark, some stand at the top of the stairs or in front of the door. Of course, there’s the classic turning in circles before squatting. But other dogs are more subtle. Sometimes all you get is a quick glance or a brief period of restlessness. Folks, these are signals you need to learn. If our dogs aren’t standing right in front of us crossing their legs, tap dancing and grinning anxiously, we often don’t notice or recognize what they’re asking. It’s really easy to ignore a paw at your knee and assume that he just wants attention or a treat. It’s really easy not to notice that he’s sitting in front of the door to the backyard or to think that he just wants to chase squirrels. A dog who is allowed — even unintentionally — to do his business inside may not realize that he needs to ask to go out. When your dog has an accident in the house, it’s a mess — but the consequences can last longer than the clean up. Yelling at him after the fact doesn’t inform him where you want him to go; it only reinforces the idea that he doesn’t want to do the deed in your presence. Pay attention to the times of day your dog usually wants to go out and be sure you check on what he’s doing then. When you see his signal, act on it. If you make him wait — especially if he’s a young puppy — you’re going to find yourself down on your knees with a roll of paper towels and a bottle of carpet cleaner, sopping up an accident.