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When it comes to potty training your dog, many new puppy owners start at home on pads before stepping outdoors. Of course, having your dog go outside is the best solution, but potty pads can sometimes play a role in successful potty training and can be a great temporary option. If you live in an apartment or area where you don't have easy access to the outdoors multiple times a day, or if your puppy hasn't been completely vaccinated and the outside isn't a safe place to take them, pee pads are a practical way to housebreak your puppy before transitioning to going outside!
So instead of feeling sad or angry because of your puppy having yet another peeing accident, ensure your pup is successful with their potty training. In this article, we are going to provide you with some handy tips and recommendations about how to train puppies to use pee pads.
We all remember the old newspaper, cardboard substitutes, and flimsy towels that got soggy, fell apart, and needed constant changing or washing. Thankfully, dog product technology has dramatically improved, and we now have potty pads that make the lives of dog owners much easier. They are extra absorbent, prevent leaking across our floors, and (depending on the brand) get rid of unpleasant smells. Just like diapers for babies, a potty pad will:
Absorb urine into its sponge-like layers;
Cover the liquid with a layer of material that won't leak - for odor control.
One of the best things about potty pads is how quick and easy they are to clean up. So if your puppy is still learning to ask you to be let out to pee, potty pads are a great way to keep your canine companion from creating messes in inconvenient places. The idea behind a potty pad is to give your dog a clear, regular place to go potty. You'll want to pick something absorbent, easy to clean, and provides enough space for your dog to relieve itself.
Potty Pads For Dogs: Types and Selection Criteria
But what about the alternatives? Although they are cheap, it can be messy and hard to clean up after your puppy poops on newspaper or paper towels. Likewise, cloth towels may soak up water, but they need to be washed often, and your dog might try to chew on them like they are a blanket or toy. Most people choose store-bought disposable pee pads because they are absorbent, come in different sizes, and are easy to throw away. However, if you want to train your puppy to use a pee pad indoors, then indoor/outdoor carpet potty spots are a good choice.
Consistently placing the potty pad in a specific location helps your puppy make the association of where you'd like them to go. When choosing a permanent place in your house for a potty pad, you should consider several factors:
The location should be easily accessible for your dog and away from high foot traffic or noisy areas;
It is recommended to place the pad on a hard surface floor, as this makes cleanup easier, and to avoid carpeted areas;
Consistency in the chosen location is important to avoid confusion and maintain training effectiveness.
The success of your training is very much dependent on the location you pick to place your potty pad. So select the perfect location that is most comfortable for your dog to urinate.
Make sure your dog gets a chance to observe and sniff the pads you've selected; this way they won't feel scared. While using a command such as “Go,” encourage your puppy to walk on the pad. It's advisable to take your pup to the pad every two to three hours, after they wake up, after playtime and after meals.
When your puppy successfully uses the pad, be generous with rewards and praise to reinforce their behavior.
To prevent your dog from wandering off, you may want to consider keeping them on a leash. Stay with them in the designated area without giving them attention until they finish. Give them around five minutes before guiding them from the spot.
Potty training a pup is always a challenge for pet parents. Although your puppy may seem to have zero bladder control, you can still solve all unpleasant peeing accidents by teaching your pup to use potty pads. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a stressful experience. Approach this training in a few stages and follow the recommendations below for potty training success.
Creating a schedule and following it is essential for successfully training pups to use pee pads, as all puppies require a routine when it comes to toilet training. Establish designated times for your friend to utilize the pee pad, such as after waking up in the morning or following meals and snacks. Take your dog to the location you’ve selected for your pad in your home, and keep them there until they have completed their business. This approach will help your dog connect the pee pad with the designated bathroom area.
When potty training your puppy, it's important to give clear verbal commands to help them understand where they should go. Select two separate potty commands, one for pee and one for poop, such as “go pee” or “potty” for urination, and “go poop” for defecation. When your puppy begins to eliminate on the pad, repeat the chosen command phrase in a consistent and calm tone to help them associate the command with the action.
Whenever you can, keep an eye on your dog while they are in the “potty” area so they don't get distracted and do something else. You can also use this time to praise them every time they use the pad correctly. That way, they will associate it with positive reinforcement.
Dogs respond very well to praise and treats - with treats in particular creating positive associations for the puppy. Praise can be verbal in an excited tone of voice, and you can also give your puppy a special, soft treat reserved only for potty time. Make sure to reward your puppy when they go to the bathroom in the right place; being consistent and timing it properly are both important.
Remember to praise and reward your puppy each time they exhibit the desired behavior exactly at the moment it happens, otherwise they may think they’re being rewarded for another behavior.
Keep an eye on your puppy at all times to ensure their safety and successful potty training. If you don't keep an eye on your puppy, this is when unpleasant accidents are likely to happen. Here are some tips for an effective supervision:
Take your dog to the potty pad often. When the puppy is very young, this could be as much as every 15 minutes.
If you can't remember when to take your puppy to his pad, set a timer.
Keep an eye on your dog to see if they want to urinate. Once you see the pup sniffing the ground, circling, or whining, then take them to the potty pad right away.
When you can't supervise your dog for some time, put your pup in a box or use a dog crate.
Remember that an unsupervised puppy will undoubtedly make blunders until they learn what they are meant to do! Think about a child; you wouldn't leave a 2-year-old alone all day, would you?
It's really important to keep the pads clean and replace them regularly so they can be used effectively. Make sure there are always pads in the designated area to discourage your puppy from going somewhere else. It's a good idea to wash the pads with soap and water every now and then, so they still have a scent when your dog comes back to use them after being washed.
As humans, we tend to focus on the things that are going wrong rather than appreciating the things that are going right. However, when it comes to our canine companions we should adopt a more positive approach. Accidents in the bathroom department might occur occasionally so it's important not to get overly upset or punish your dog. Instead, it's best to remain patient and keep in mind that consistency is crucial. By using the same phrases, commands, and routines you can help reinforce the desired behavior in your beloved pet.
If you're new to using a potty pad and teaching a dog healthy toileting behaviors, accidents may happen. When using pads for training your friend, here are the mistakes to avoid:
Punishing your dog — Dogs, especially pups, are not people. They do not understand exactly what you want them to do. They have no clue what they've done wrong and will strive extra hard to avoid being caught again.
Giving your dog too few potty breaks — Your puppy may need to go outside as often as every 20 minutes, depending on how old they are.
Not sticking to a schedule — Making a schedule is the number one rule of potty training! Dogs, especially puppies, need frequent bathroom trips, and scheduling them to happen at the same time every day will help your pet learn the routine and rules.
Moving the pad around the house — While your puppy is learning, maintain consistency by keeping the pads in one spot. Changing the location of the pad will make your puppy think “I can pee here and there,” which can lead to confusion and prolong the potty training process.
Remember that patience and consistency are factors in ensuring stress-free potty training for your pup.
If you’d like to read more common potty training mistakes to avoid, check out our blog on this topic here.
Housebreaking your puppy can pose a challenge, for pet parents and pups alike. Be prepared for your pup to have accidents throughout the learning process. For instance if there's time between potty breaks, your puppy may struggle to hold it in and end up relieving themselves in random spots around the house. To avoid this it's helpful to establish a potty schedule and stick to it.
Another factor that can contribute to urination accidents is moving the pad around. It's important to designate a spot for the pad and keep it consistent. Additionally, altering the order of activities can also disrupt your puppy's bathroom habits.
The ideal sequence should be; time > free time exercise > food and water > crate/rest time. Changing this order can create confusion.
Remember that instead of resorting to punishment if your pup has an accident, it’s better to correct them gently. This can help you strengthen your relationship with your dog, one successful pad moment at a time.
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