Tips on Potty Training Dogs to Use Pads

By Amy Cocke

Instructions

Puppy Area

Step 1:
You will need to section off part of a room that isn't carpeted with puppy fencing. Another option is to use a baby gate to keep your puppy in a bathroom or other small room. Cover the floor completely with puppy pads so that when the puppy urinates or defecates, he has no choice but to use a pad. There are pads with adhesive strips on the bottom so that they won't be pushed aside as the puppy moves around. Put a dog bed or crate in the pen for the puppy to sleep in. Dogs don't like to soil their sleeping areas. When the puppy is outside of his area, keep an eye on him and take him outside or put him back in the pen when he starts sniffing the ground and circling.

Remove Pads

Step 1:
Start taking away pads after the puppy has gotten used to them. This usually takes a few days. The puppy should start seeking the pads to go on them. This is helped by the hard floor, as dogs generally don't like to urinate where the urine can splash up on them. If the puppy starts using the floor, clean the floor with an enzyme cleaner so the puppy won't go in that spot again, then recover the floor with the puppy pads.

Going Outside

Step 1:
When the puppy is using the puppy pads reliably, put a few by the door every time the puppy is outside of the pen. Take the puppy outside when he starts to go toward the puppy pads, as well as keep the puppy on a regular schedule for walks, and reward him every time he urinates or defecates outside. If the puppy has to go when you're unable to take him out, he will still use the puppy pads and save your floors.

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