The Best Puppy Potting Training Tips on Pads

Many people potty train their puppies using pads, which contain chemicals that encourage the dog to go to the bathroom. It can be just as easy to train your puppy to go outside as on the pads. But dog owners who are gone for long periods of time and cannot provide their puppies access to the outdoors often use these pads. Since puppies can't hold their urine for long, the pads enable them to relieve themselves throughout the day without making messes in the house.

  1. Location

    • Keep the puppy pads in the same location. This ensures the puppy knows where to go when she needs to urinate. If the puppy has to search all over the house for pads, she is more likely to go on the floor.

    Signs

    • Watch for signs that your puppy needs to go to the bathroom, such as sniffing around and walking in circles. When you see this behavior, gently pick the puppy up and place him on the pad. If he uses the pad, praise him. If he doesn't, let him walk off the pad. Forcing him to stay on the pad will make the pad seem like a punishment and it will take much longer to train him. Be consistent with this behavior–don't put him on the pad sometimes and let him out other times. Teach him where to go and reinforce that teaching.

    Clean

    • If your puppy has an accident in your house, be sure to clean it thoroughly. A puppy has a very good sense of smell, so all urine or feces odors should be eliminated. If your puppy smells those odors in places other than the pads, he will be encouraged to use that spot again. Make sure the puppy pads are the only place that smells like a place he should go to the bathroom.

    Patience

    • Patience is key when teaching a puppy where to relieve himself. If your puppy has an accident in your home, simply clean it up. Bringing the puppy over to the mess and telling him "no" will only confuse him. Don't reprimand him unless you catch him urinating or defecating in an area other than his puppy pads.