Puppy Pee Pads
Tired of training with newspaper? Tired of buying hundreds of disposable puppy
pads? Tired of your puppies shredding them? Try washable, waterproof pads. You
probably won't return to disposables.
Our whelping pads are designed to absorb and hold liquid (through the soft
fabric top). And they are waterproof on the bottom. They work wonderfully for
housebreaking puppies.
Our laminated pads
(part numbers start with "Vi") feature coffee-colored tops which work
well for hiding stains. If your puppy is already used to white tops (the common
disposable top color), you might consider our multi-layer pads (part
numbers start with "LJ") as they are also white on top.
Why use pads? Use pads if...
- You are not able to regularly let your dog outside to do his business (apartment living, work schedule, etc.). In this case, your dog will always have the option to relieve himself on your pads, and that is acceptable to you. Or,
- You will use the pads to teach your puppy to go outside. The end goal is to always have your dog relieve himself outside--pad use is only a training phase.
Buy whelping/puppy pads here.
General puppy potty training with dog pads:
- Start housebreaking immediately and be patient. Puppies don't have bladder control until about 12 weeks.
- Be consistent.
- Your praise and/or correction must be immediate. Puppies cannot associate your response with an act that occurred a minute ago...they don't think like humans. They do want to please, but confusing them is counter-productive.
- Say "no" firmly when the puppy is caught in the act of relieving himself the wrong place--immediately relocate him to the proper location. Give lavish praise immediately when done right.
- Create a large area with pads, preferably in a confined "special" area. Either use multiple pads, or a single large pad.
- After feeding your puppy, place them in this designated area and keep an eye on them. Encourage them to relieve themselves here. After they do, praise them and remove them to another area.
- Alternatively, instead of immediately placing your puppy in the designated area after feeding, you could carefully watch him for "pre-potty" behavior (sniffing/circling around, etc.). Then relocate him, quickly, to the correct area.
- At this point, it is good to keep the pad mildly soiled (don't rush to wash the pads). It is good for the puppy to return to the scent while he is learning the routine.
- Keep repeating this procedure until the puppy knows that the pads are his place of "business."
- Over time, you can make the spot smaller by using less pads and/or using smaller pads.
- As the puppy learns, you will wash the pads as needed and desired. Your puppy will know his spot and will no longer need his scent.
If you are OK with your puppy doing his business inside the house/apartment, you are done!
If you want to encourage him to go outside instead of inside, do this:
- Over time, move the pad closer and closer to the door (front or back as desired). Soon he is always going to the door.
- Meanwhile, you are also taking him outside when you detect he is ready--so he knows that "outside" is a good spot.
- Finally, you make the transition from the pad by the door inside, to the pad outside. Your puppy knows outside is OK, and he knows the pad is OK, and you will keep an eye on the door so you know when he is ready.