How to Train Dogs to Use Diapers

Dog owners use dog diapers on their canine companion when it becomes incontinent, for females in season, untrained puppies or the adult dog with excitable urine. However, most veterinarians and industry professionals recommend diapers for a specific use only. Dog diapers work best for incontinent dogs, typically senior dogs or dogs that have reached the last third of the average life expectancy for that breed. Diapers used to supplement puppy housebreaking is considered ineffective and can cause infection in females in season.

Things You'll Need

  • Clicker
  • Treats
  • Diaper
  • Towels
  • Kong toy
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Instructions

    • 1

      Encourage your dog to accept the diaper. Place a diaper on the floor near your dog's sleep area. Each time your dog shows interest in the diaper, by nosing, sniffing or touching it with its muzzle or paw, click the clicker and reward your dog with a small treat. Press the center button of the clicker to make the click. Make a click each time your dog shows interest and reward.

    • 2

      Make your dog comfortable. Place the closing or adjustable tabs on the bottom of the diaper so they face up. Put your dog in a stand position. If maintaining a stand is difficult for your dog, slip a rolled towel under its belly to give support for a small dog, or several larger rolled towels to help a larger breed. Ease your dog into a down, so that its bottom end remains accessible and its belly rests on the rolled towels.

    • 3

      Introduce your dog to the feeling of the diaper around its tail and groin area. Guide your dog's tail through the diaper hole as it rests on the towels. Click and reward for calm acceptance. Hold the tail at the base and slip the hole over it, letting the diaper drape over its back. Click and reward your dog if it does not resist.

    • 4

      Center the diaper so it goes between your dog's legs. Click and reward. Rest material against its underbelly. Click and reward. If at any time your dog appears uncomfortable or uneasy, stop what you're doing.

    • 5

      Take a few minutes to calm down your dog if it seems disturbed. Don't try to show it who's boss by overpowering your dog. An aggressive display toward your dog is counterproductive. Use soothing, encouraging tones and light massage to restore calm. If your dog is food-oriented, offer a distracting toy like a Kong filled with frozen peanut butter or squeeze cheese.

    • 6

      Bring the diaper's adjustable tabs up and around your dog's sides as it eats from the Kong or other food toy. Attach the tabs at its back loosely. Allow your dog to continue eating from the Kong for approximately five to 10 minutes. Supervise your dog to prevent it from tearing at the diaper.

    • 7

      Take your dog for a short walk around the house on leash. Keep your dog close to you so you can supervise your dog as it walks with the diaper. Click and reward for calm behavior like walking normally or without concern about the diaper. Discourage biting at the diaper by distracting your dog with its name or a sound that encourages it to make eye contact with you. Never punish your dog if it bites at the diaper--distract it. Praise and reward for eye contact, and continue on the walk.

      Over time and with positive reinforcement, your dog will begin to associate wearing a diaper with positive activities, like praise, walking together and small food treats.