How to Potty Train a Puppy With Puppy Pads

Puppy owners have opinions about puppy pads. Some trainers think they are great. Others do not use them all. For many people who have puppies puppy pads are really helpful.

If you live in an apartment. Cannot take your puppy outside quickly or if your puppy has not had all its shots yet or if you work long hours or if you have a small puppy that cannot hold its bladder for a long-time puppy pads are a good idea. When you use puppy pads correctly they give your puppy a place to go to the bathroom while you are teaching it good habits.

The key to making puppy pad training work is to have a plan and stick to it. Here is how you can do it.

When to Use Puppy Pads

Puppy pads are not for every situation. They are a good choice for many people. You might want to use puppy pads if:

1. You live in an apartment. Do not have a yard

2. Your puppy has not had all its shots yet. Cannot go outside

3. Your puppy is very young. Cannot control its bladder

4. You have a puppy that has a tiny bladder

5. You are away from home for a time and need a backup plan

If you have a yard and your puppy has had all its shots you can start training it to go to the bathroom outside right away. If any of these things apply to you puppy pads are a good tool to use.

What You Need to Get Started

You do not need a lot of things to start training your puppy with puppy pads. You need:

1. Puppy pads that can absorb a lot of liquid and have a scent that attracts your puppy

2. Treats that your puppy loves

3. A special cleaner that gets rid of the smell of urine

4. A crate or a special area for your puppy to stay in

Step 1: Choose a Special Spot for the Puppy Pad

This is the important decision you will make. Choose a spot for the puppy pad. Do not move it. Your puppy needs to learn that this spot is where it goes to the bathroom. Every time you move the pad your puppy gets confused.

Choose a spot that's

1. Easy for your puppy to get to

2. Not near where your puppy sleeps or eats

3. On a floor that is easy to clean

4. In an area where your puppy will not be distracted

Once you choose the spot stick to it. Do not move the pad until your puppy is using it reliably.

Step 2: Take Your Puppy to the Pad at the Right Time

Puppy pad training is like training your puppy to go to the bathroom. You need to take your puppy to the pad at the time. Take your puppy to the pad:

1. First thing in the morning

2. After every meal

3. After every nap

4. After every time your puppy drinks water

5. After every playtime

6. Every one to two hours during the day

7. Last thing at night before bed

When you take your puppy to the pad stand with it calmly. Use a special word like "go potty." This word will help your puppy learn to go to the bathroom on command.

Step 3: Reward Your Puppy Right Away

This is the important part of puppy pad training. When your puppy goes to the bathroom on the pad reward it away. Use a treat. Praise your puppy. This will help your puppy learn that going to the bathroom on the pad is a thing.

Use a word, like "yes " to mark the moment when your puppy goes to the bathroom. Then give your puppy a treat. Do not wait long to give the treat or your puppy will get confused.

Step 4: Clean Up Accidents

Accidents will happen. When they do clean them up calmly. Do not punish your puppy. If you catch your puppy going to the bathroom in the spot interrupt it calmly and take it to the pad. If your puppy goes to the bathroom on the pad reward it.

If you find an accident after it happens clean it up with the cleaner and move on. Do not punish your puppy. Take it to the spot where the accident happened. This will only confuse your puppy. Make it anxious.

Step 5: Make a Daily Routine

The best way to make puppy pad training work is to have a routine. Take your puppy to the pad at the times every day. This will help your puppy learn when it is time to go to the bathroom.

A simple daily routine might look like this:

1. Morning: Take your puppy to the pad then give it breakfast

2. During the day: Take your puppy to the pad every one to two hours

3. After meals and naps: Take your puppy to the pad

4. Evening: Take your puppy to the pad one time before bed

The more consistent you are the faster your puppy will learn.

Step 6: Reduce the Number of Puppy Pads

Once your puppy is using the pad reliably you can reduce the number of pads. Start with one pad. Do not add more unless you need to. If you have pads reduce them to one as soon as you can.

How to Transition from Pads to Going to the Bathroom Outside

If you want your puppy to go to the bathroom outside you can start by moving the pad to the door. Then take the pad outside. Place it in the spot where you want your puppy to go to the bathroom. Gradually reduce the size of the pad until your puppy is going to the bathroom on the ground.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Moving the pad constantly. Every time the location changes, your puppy has to relearn where to go. Pick a spot and keep it there.

2. Rewarding too late. If the treat arrives 30 seconds after the toilet, the moment is lost. Reward immediately.

3. Punishing accidents. It doesn't work. It creates anxiety. It slows progress. Clean it up and move on.

4. You should not put the puppy pad near your dogs bed or food bowl. Dogs do not like to go to the bathroom near where they sleep and eat. If you put a pad there your dog will not use it.

5. You should not expect your dog to learn much too fast. Most puppies are not fully trained to use a pad until they're three to four months old and you have worked with them every day. Some days will be good. Some days will be bad. You just have to keep going.

6. You should not leave your puppy alone without watching them. If you want your puppy to use a pad you have to watch them all the time. If you let your puppy run around the house without watching them they will have accidents.

How Long Does It Take To Train A Puppy To Use A Pad?

Most puppies start using a pad within two to four weeks of training. It usually takes two to four months for a puppy to get really good at using a pad. This means they will go to the pad every time they need to go to the bathroom and they will not have accidents. How long it takes depends on how old your puppy's what kind of dog they are and how often you train them.

Smaller dogs take longer to train because they have bladders and need to go to the bathroom more often. Bigger dogs might learn faster once they get into a routine.

The important thing is not what kind of dog you have it is how consistent you are. If you stick to the routine every day even when it is hard you will be successful.

Final Thoughts

Training a puppy to use a pad is not hard. You just need to pick a spot take your puppy there at the right times give them a treat when they do it right and clean up accidents without getting upset.

If you do these things every day your puppy will learn to use a pad

Just keep doing it. Your floors will be clean.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you start training your puppy to use a pad?

You should start soon as you bring your puppy home usually when they are eight weeks old. The sooner you start a routine the faster your puppy will learn.

Where should you put the puppy pad?

You should put it in one place away from where your puppy sleeps and eats. A corner of the kitchen or a bathroom is a spot. It is easier to clean if your puppy has an accident on a floor. Just pick a spot and stick to it.

How puppy pads do you need?

You should start with one pad in one place. If you have pads all over the house your puppy will think it is okay to go to the bathroom anywhere. Once your puppy is trained one pad is all you need.

How do you get your puppy to use the pad of the floor?

You need to be consistent and give your puppy treats when they do it right. Take your puppy to the pad every time they need to go to the bathroom wait for them to go and give them a treat soon as they are done. If your puppy keeps going to the bathroom in the spot try moving the pad there and then moving it back.

Should you use puppy pads. Train your puppy to go outside?

If you have a yard and your puppy is healthy it is faster to train them to go. But if you live in an apartment or your puppy is not healthy pads are an idea. Both ways work you just need to pick what is best for you.

How do you train your puppy to go from using a pad to going ?

You should move the pad closer, to the door over a days then take it outside to the spot where you want your puppy to go to the bathroom. As your puppy gets better at going you can make the pad smaller until you do not need it anymore. Always give your puppy a treat when they go to the bathroom outside.