Dog Housetraining: Train Your Puppy to Use a Pee Pad
Having a puppy, providing him with great care and love, and training him for different activities can offer you great satisfaction and amusement. But training a puppy to use a pee pad can be challenging.
Many people prefer to train their puppy to go outside for potty directly. However, there can be multiple reasons which may cause you the need for a pee pad. If you are a city dweller with no space for yards, or you have small breed dogs that can be harmed by the outside environment, pee pads are the thing for your puppy.
Moreover, having a pee pad will save your puppy from the fear of punishment in case of accidents. It will also save you from the worry of cleaning the messes caused by your puppy.
Despite all these pros of pee pad, you may be unable to train your furry companion to use a pee pad. We have come up with a step-by-step guide for you to help you train your puppy. But first, you should know whether to use a pee pad for your pup.
Are Puppy Training Pads a Good Idea?
Although the pee pads for the puppies can be beneficial to save you from the messes, a pee pad may have some long-term disturbances for you. Therefore, it is always recommended to get your puppy trained to go outside for potty. But pee pads can be essential in different circumstances.
- Some immobile owners who cannot take their dogs outside can benefit themselves by using a pee pad.
- Many city dwellers do not have yards and extra spaces, so they have to get their puppies to pee inside the apartment. Pee pads are essential for them to keep their apartment clean.
- Some older dogs that are not able to go outside due to some disease also need pee pads.
So we can say pee pads have their pros and cons, which need to be looked for before getting one. Click Here to get a dog pee pad for your dogs!
- Pee pads are very convenient to use. They can be placed anywhere and are easily and quickly accessible to puppies than going outside.
- Pee pads are also easy to clean. They soak up the mess and can be tossed in the trash. There are also reusable pads in the market.
- Pee pads will get your puppy to potty in a fixed place. Even after moving to outside training, he will learn to go away from his sleeping area for peeing.
- Using a pee pad may lead your pup to think it's acceptable to pee on resembling items. Your puppy may pee on any paper, mat, or rug present in the house.
- One crucial difficulty you can face by using a pee pad is the inability to train your pup to go outside. It may take a long time to shift your puppy's potty habits from pee pads to outdoors.
Despite these cons, pee pads are a need for many dog owners. But if you have enough yard space or the outside environment is safe, first get your puppy trained for going outside. However, in case of the necessity of a pee pad, you need first to train your puppy for a pee pad.
How do I Train My Puppy to Use a Pee Pad?
To train your dog to use a pee pad, you will need to be consistent. Your dog may have problems or distractions during the training, but you will have to be patient with him. Here is a step-by-step guide to training your puppy.
1. Setting Up
In the first step, you will have to choose an area where you want your puppy to go for potty. It is better to select a spot having hard floors instead of carpets. You can have two or multiple pads in the room, as using one pad can be challenging for the pup.
2. Take Your Puppy to the Spot
It would be best if you took your puppy quickly to the pad whenever he feels the need to go. Take your pup to the pad after he wakes up, some 20minutes after he drinks water, and after vigorous play sessions. Moreover, you can carefully observe his behavior and note his timings. You can take your puppy to the pad at the scheduled time. Moreover, there are some scents with pee pads, which help the puppies to eliminate right away.
3. Verbal Cues are Helpful
It is helpful to repeat verbal cues while your puppy is using a pee pad. You can repeat something like "Go Potty," which will help him associate the command with the place and process. Later, if your pup gets confused about the area, this command can help him find and remember the site and process.
4. Appreciation is Necessary
To get your pup trained for peeing on the pad, you will have to link the process of elimination with pleasant results for the dog. You can praise your puppy verbally after he's done. But it is more helpful to praise your dog with treats. This will make the process more pleasant for him, leading him to use the same place again.
5. Frequent Visits to the Pad
Your dog needs to visit the pee pad to get acquainted with it regularly. It would help if you made your puppy periodically visit the spot after each 2-3 hours. Let him be there for at least 5 minutes without distraction. After several visits and verbal commands, your puppy will begin to visit the place himself.
6. Be Patient
Consistency and patience are essential to successful training. Your dog may pee in other places than pee pad. In this case, you need to get him back to the pee pad and repeat the verbal cues. It would be best not to yell or negatively punish your pup as it won't help. Clean the soiled area so that the puppy doesn't follow lingering scents again. Be patient, and you will be able to train your puppy to use a pee pad.
Mistakes to Avoid during Training
Following are different mistakes that many pet owners make while training their puppy for pee pads. You need to avoid them to well-train your puppy to use a pee pad.
- Many parents do not use verbal cues during the training of their pups.
- They ignore their puppy's body language.
- They do not praise their dog's efforts with treats and toys.
- They negatively punish their dog for accidents.
Why Won't My Puppy Pee on the Pad?
If your puppy has stopped peeing on the pad, you should try to start over the training. However, also get them checked for medical or behavioral problems. There can be several reasons for which your dog can stop peeing on the pad.
- Your dog may not be trained enough when you had stopped paying attention. By this, he can lose the memory of the pee pad. This can also happen in case of changing the pee pad's location within the room or changing the room of the pad.
- In case of home shifting or environment change, your dog may be unsettled and become anxious. The stressed puppy may stop peeing on the pad.
- One significant and worrying reason for your puppy not peeing on the pad can be a Urinary Tract Infection. This infection is mainly caused by bacteria, and females are more likely to be affected. For this, get your pup carefully examined by a vet.
- One case leads to the puppies peeing on the edges of the pad or right next to it. This condition simply means a lack of training. Your pup may not be able to perceive where to pee exactly. For this, repeat the training and reward your dog for peeing in the middle of the pad.
After How Long Should I Replace the Puppy Pad?
A puppy pad needs to be replaced often. Although it is recommended to change it after two or three uses, it still depends on your puppy's personality trait and your budget and environmental concerns. A pad can be used for a whole day or even two days due to less pee and poop for puppies.
But it can cause environmental concerns for you. The odor may build up and make it difficult to stay in your own home. Depending upon the personality traits, some puppies like to pee on a clean pad. Some puppies may also make themselves dirty if the pad contains potty in it.
Considering all these cons, we recommend you changing the pads after two or three uses in the case of an adult dog or after a day for small puppies. Leaving it for more time will only cause problems for you and your puppy.
Final Thoughts
Using a pee pad can be helpful for your puppy in case of no yard space, living in city apartments, and unsuitable outdoor environments. You can train your puppy to use a pee pad by following the step-by-step guide above. However, we also recommend you to train your puppy for outside peeing if you have a safe outdoor environment.
Hope this article helped you teach your dog how to use a pee pad. We love to hear from you, so feel free to share any experiences or anecdotes in the comments down below.
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