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Suddenly finding puddles in unwanted places? Thought you’d crossed through toilet training terrain and reached the green grass on the other side? It is not uncommon for dog owners to find that all of a sudden their fur babies have decided to take a potty break away from where they were supposed to.
Dogs are creatures of habit, but sometimes even the smallest change or upset to what they know can cause unwanted behaviors. Dogs can be very particular and even territorial about where and how they go to the toilet, and so maintaining a calm environment for them is super important.
This can be down to a few different reasons - pad placement, an overly soiled pad, urinary tract infections or a dog’s age can all be contributing factors which, with some care and attention, can often be easily remedied. In this blog we are going to take you through some of the reasons why your dog has stopped using the pee pads, what to do and how to help them get back on track with perfect pee habits.
Let’s take a look!
Dogs may suddenly stop using their pee pads for a number of reasons. This can be down to environment; pad placement; whether the pad has been changed regularly enough, or even internal issues such as a need for more training, health issues or even a dog’s age.
Here is a deeper look into some of these causes:
If your dog suddenly stops using their pee pad, particularly if they are a younger dog, it could be because they need a training refresh, or that they haven’t quite grasped the use of it yet.
Oftentimes dog owners will fall out of a regular training routine too early before a dog has had time to properly settle and understand the rules of toileting.
Dogs are extremely receptive to repetition and routine, and therefore interrupting this pattern before it has fully sunk in can lead to little accidents. Training refreshes don’t just apply to young dogs, adult dogs can also develop unwanted behaviors which can affect their potty habits.
Another reason why your dog may be struggling to use their pad could be due to a urinary tract infection. UTIs are quite common in canines and can be super uncomfortable for your pup. Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria enters through the urethra, if your dog becomes too dehydrated or is perhaps lacking certain micronutrients in their diet. These can all be easily managed by pet parents to avoid bouts of infection.
These infections can cause a whole host of unpleasant symptoms for your dog, one of the most common being painful and frequent urination. Dogs suffering from UTIs may often get caught short on their way to the bathroom, meaning that it is more likely for you to find little puddles that didn’t quite reach the pad.
UTIs are quite treatable if caught quickly and if you are ever concerned that your dog might be suffering from a UTI, seek the professional advice of your vet for further guidance and appropriate treatment.
Our sweet senior pups can find toileting at their age a bit of a struggle. As dogs get older, certain health conditions can start to creep in and have a detrimental affect on their day-to-day activities. Conditions which affect their mobility can be one of the most difficult as getting up to go to the toilet even if they are desperate can be painful or even impossible in some instances.
Another condition which can majorly compromise an older dog’s ability to use the toilet is canine dementia, which causes a deterioration in a dog’s memory, learning and comprehension.
Believe it or not, our pups are pretty hygienic creatures and may not want to use their pee pad if it has been overly soiled. As a general rule, your pup should have a clean pad each day to avoid a buildup of bacteria.
Of course it may not be possible to fully machine wash your pup’s pad everyday (we would recommend perhaps investing in several reusable pads - one to wash and one to use!) however there are a few things you can do to keep your pads clean and fresh for longer. We would suggest dog-friendly cleaning sprays for sanitation, and perhaps even a spray mix of apple cider and vinegar and water to keep bad smells at bay.
If you are using disposable pads, this can rack up your pad usage quite considerably. Conversely, with a reusable pad, these often have better odor and absorption technology to keep a pad going for longer. Keeping on top of the condition of your dog’s pad will keep it a nice, clean space where your dog feels comfortable to do their business.
In some cases, it may be that your dog is struggling with certain behavioral issues, and are therefore not using their pad in the way that they should. It can be easy for unwanted behaviors and habits to creep in, whether through lack of training or outside influences, we want to be able to nip these in the bud fairly quickly to get our dogs back on track.
Dogs don’t know how to be naughty, this is a very human concept which we push onto dogs as a way of trying to understand and describe an unwanted learnt behavior. If we want our dogs to learn properly, we have to be patient, repetition is the key, and oftentimes if a dog is presenting ‘bad’ behavior, it is because they are trying to tell us something. Fear, stress, anxiety or past trauma can all contribute to a dog’s unwanted behaviors.
It could just be the simple case that the pad is too small. A small pad, particularly for large dogs or male dogs (who may need a little more space in order to aim) can be a leading cause for why dogs may be missing their markwhen using a pee pad.
Pads come in all sizes and absorbency, with most giving measurements and guidance as to which size, breed and age of dog suits which pad. Doing your research is super important if you are considering potty pads, as the right size and fit can make all the difference to your dog - and the state of your floors!
Another thing that can really affect our dogs’ confidence when it comes to toilet time is if their pad gets moved and is put in a different place. During potty training it is often suggested to place several pee pads around the house, so that your dog has several ports of call if they need the toilet, and as a result they become used to their pads being in the same place each time. Dogs thrive through repetitive pattern-led learning, and when this is changed or interrupted it can take a little time for the new routine to settle.
Pad movement should be done very gradually, allowing your dog to get accustomed to their new position. If this is done too quickly then that is what often leads to confusion and subsequent accidents. Not only this, but it can bring about anxiety for your dog surrounding going to the toilet, which is the last thing we want.
Taking it slow and steady with a great deal of patience will always be the best way to create new routine patterns for your dog.
If you’re in the position where your dog was previously using pee pads successfully, but all of a sudden they’ve now stopped using their potty pad, what we’d suggest is reviewing the above contributing factors to identify what could have caused this potty training regression. For instance, have you moved their pee pad to another location without fully realizing the impact this could have on your dog? Or is your dog simply reaching their senior citizen canine years and just needs some more support, with extra pads placed around your living space?
In truth, this behavior could be due to a number of factors and as we mentioned earlier, if you’re at all concerned about your pup and would like a professional’s opinion, we’d highly recommend booking in for a consultation with your local veterinarian. This will help to rule out anything more insidious.
In the meantime, it’s important not to get frustrated with or punish your canine companion. As we mentioned before, they’re not doing this to deliberately annoy you or cause you more aggravation. It’s just a natural reaction to whatever may be going on for them internally, and it’s our job as pet parents to do our best to understand and support them - physically, mentally and emotionally.
That’s why we commend you for checking out this blog! Because the more we can do our research and educate ourselves, to better understand the underlying factors contributing to our dogs’ behaviors and habits, the better we can support them to succeed and thrive with better and healthier habits.
As a pet parent it is natural to be concerned about our fur babies. If you notice your dog has stopped using their pee pad, there are a few things you can do to get them back on track by using this hygiene support accessory.
Take a look at the steps below and give them a try, to help get your pup back into more constructive potty hygiene habits.
The first and most crucial step when you notice that your dog has stopped using their pee pads is to find out why. As we’ve established, there are several different reasons why this might be happening, and as our pups can’t tell us verbally what’s wrong, they have to show us through their behavior.
It is our job to pay attention to this and monitor the situation accordingly, seeking the advice of a professional if we become concerned for their health or wellbeing - once you discover the cause, you can work out how best to help.
It can be tricky to figure things out by ourselves, and so having a professional on hand to help do some detective work can be really helpful. If you are worried that your dog’s behavior may be getting worse or might even be due to a health issue, a vet is an excellent first port of call.
They will be able to do all the appropriate checks and tests to rule out anything nasty before focussing on the root of the problem. Vets can also offer advice and guidance on training, behavioral exercises as well as ways to keep your dog calm and stress free.
Above all else, the most valuable thing you can offer your dog is patience and understanding. Dogs do not respond to punishment - a dog should never be physically harmed as a form of punishment, this is considered abuse, and shouting or aggressive verbal punishment will only frighten them and could lead to further issues with anxiety.
While our complete guide for How to Train Your Puppy to Use a Potty Pad gives the full monty on pee pad potty training, a little refresh never hurts!
Here are some of the basic steps to consider when teaching your dog to use a pee pad, whether they are a newbie or an old hat, same rules apply:
Your dog may find their pee pad confronting at first, so show them there is nothing to be scared of! Let them sniff and interact with it before diving straight in with training. Remember to also use positive reinforcement with things like praise and treats, as this will help to indicate to your dog that pee pads are a “good” thing for them to interact with.
It is important to give your dog options of when and where to go potty. Place the pads in several different areas around the house for easier access, perhaps focusing on keeping them close to exits or outside doors; this will make the eventual transition to peeing outside a little easier. Doing this also allows your dog to get familiar with the look of the pads, and can make them feel secure knowing that they have toilet access whenever they need it.
Setting a proper routine structure is key when creating an effective potty training pattern for your pup. The rules should be clear, with commands and instructions that are easy to follow and understand (verbal and visual cues work particularly well for dogs). It can be very easy to become lazy with potty training routines, however this is when bad habits can set in and our pups can get confused by the lack of structure, leaving them wondering if the rules have now changed.
At the end of the day, dogs respond best to repetitive learning, clear commands and a whole lotta love. With these tools in your arsenal you won’t steer far wrong. Remember to reflect on your pup’s journey and celebrate the small wins, as it’s often easy to forget just how much they’ve improved along the way.
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