Instructions
Choose the spot in your home where you would like your puppy or dog to go potty and place the mat in that area. The ideal selected location might be a mud-room or the kitchen, where potential messes are easy to clean up.
Take your puppy or dog to the mat and encourage it to go potty on the mat at regular intervals -- especially after meals or naps, early in the morning and before bed. Choose a certain word or phrase that your dog will identify with using the mat: "go potty," "be quick," "find a place" or "go potty." Use this phrase consistently.
Allow your puppy or dog adequate time to do its business. If nothing happens within 3 or 4 minutes, take it out of the area and try again in 30 minutes. If you do have success, give lavish praise. Remember that positive reinforcement is the best long-term way to ensure good habits.
Replace the soiled mat with a clean one after each use and make sure the new one is in the same place. Dispose of the used mat in a place that is inaccessible to your puppy or dog. Dogs learn quickly and, within a short time, your dog will get into the habit of using the mat to go potty.
Move the mat gradually toward the outside door, finally placing it outside of the house. Your dog will naturally follow the mat. When your pup understands that it should go outside to go potty, you will have a house-trained dog and can discontinue use of the mats.
How to Use a Mat for Potty Training a Dog
Potty training dogs doesn't need to be difficult or stressful, but does require time and consistency. Your dog will naturally want to find a place to go potty and the secret is to encourage it to go where you want it to. Disposable mats are one tool you can use for potty training. Made of moisture-absorbent padding with plastic backing and sealed edges, they are available online and from traditional pet supply retailers. While potty training your dog, be patient, kind and remember the importance of preventing mistakes and reinforcing great habits.