How to Use Dog Training Pee Pads (Working, Usage, Safety and Training)?

The introduction of dog pee pads is a dream come true for dog owners who aspire to keep pets in the house besides maintaining a clean environment. Things that you need to take care of with pee pads is the location of pee pads and supervision when the pee pads need to be replaced.

Consider this – you’ve just purchased your first batch of wee-wee pads, and the dog pees everywhere including the pads.

How would you react?
What could be the problem?
Is your dog uncomfortable using the pads or they don’t understand this new introduction?

This article will provide adequate knowledge on what dog training pads are, how to use them, troubleshooting problems that arise when using the pads and lastly how to wean to your dog off the pads.

What are Dog Training Pee Pads?

Dogs pee pads also come by the names like dog training pads, wee-wee pads or potty pads. These pads can be either rectangular or square in shape. They are made of an absorbent material that is designed to absorb and soak up the dog’s pee.

The market has lots of dog pee pads; consumers have a broad variety from which to choose ideal dog pee pads. The pads come with different features and benefits to allow the consumer to decide what’s best for them.

For example, you can choose dogs pee pads that are odor-eliminating, to avoid awful smells in your house.

Are Dog Training Pads Good for You?

If you find it difficult taking your dog out every time they need to pee, or probably you’ve got a disability that limits your movement, then using dog pee pads is the ideal solution to this problem.

Same applies to those who have to leave their dogs in the house for hours. The pads will allow the dog to relieve themselves when you’re away then you can come later, collect and dispose of the pads.

What are Dog Pee Pads Made Of?

Dog training pads can be made of different materials. As you choose the pad to use for your dog, comfort must be of primary importance.

Dogs and puppies will always avoid using pads if the material is uncomfortable. It essential to note that puppies naturally want to pee outside without any restrictions.

Most dog pads are made of absorbent gauze that sits on a plastic cover to trap the pee and urine in the pad.

If you find it difficult to use dog pee pads on your puppies, then you can try using a sod training box. But with training and choosing the right material for the pad, your dog will be comfortable to use the pads.

Are Dog Training Pads Recyclable?

The materials used in making these pads usually consist of a combination of the following which is bio-degradable in nature:

Soft Cloth
Paper Tissue
Fluff Pulp

There can be one or more layers of either of the above depending upon the manufacturer.

The short answer is yes most dog pee pads are recyclable and bio-degradable. Many brands would put this information on top of their packages. This also helps companies to build trust and attract more repeat customers.

How do Dog Training Pads Work? or How to Choose the Best Training Pads for Dogs?

Dogs pads manufacturers use attractants in the pads to draw puppies to use them. It is essential to note that though every manufacturer will claim their pads are the best, some attracts may not work due to their quality.

If you plan to train your dog to use the yard as the potting area in the future; you can use fresh grass scented pads. It’ll be easier for the dog to use the pads later.

Pee pad treated with ammonia is another excellent pick for dog owners. Ammonia has a significant role in potty training.

Do you know that if you use ammonia to clean an area that has been soiled by puppies, it will make them stain the area more often? Yes, it’s true. When you clean an area with urine using ammonia, you’re spreading the smell of urine.

Every time the puppy wants to pee, they’ll be drawn to the location by the scent and will view it as their peeing area.

Thus incorporating ammonia in pee pads is a superior way of training puppies to use the training pads.

In the market, you’ll also find pee pads that are treated with pheromones. The pheromones are a substance that dog’s secret and can attract other dogs to a particular site.

The synthetic pheromones can be incorporated in the pad, or you’ll purchase them separately. Customer reviews from those that have tried using dog training pad with pheromones indicate that most of these products do not produce the best results. Some puppies may still be able to use these pads.

When you purchase potty pads that have no attractant, you can improvise one by picking a paper towel and then collecting urine from a place the dog had urinated before and placed it on or adjacent to the pad. The smell of urine from the paper towel will attract then puppy to the pee pad.

How to Use Dog Training Pads?

The dog pee pads should only be used in instances where the dog can’t go outside to pee. For example when you’ve been away from the house for long hours, and there’s no one at home to take the dog out.

Remember as you are training the dog to use the pee pads, your ultimate goal is to avoid messing your house. But also remember that your dog needs to learn how to relieve themselves outside.

As you leave the house, select a small space in the house and assemble the dog’s necessities such as a water bowl, bed, and toy and include a potty pad in the arrangement; the dog will have to use the pad to pee.

Similarly, you can opt to train your dog to use the pee pads by leaving them close to the area they like playing around. The puppy will gain interest using the pad if it’s always available to them.

Remember, your dog needs training on how to use these pads. When you discover your dog is sniffing around, it’s an indication that they need to pee.

It’s therefore essential to decide what you want for your dog, do you want your dog to be using the potty pads or you want them to pee in the yard? If you want them to use the pads, then you must make sure that they are available all the time.

How do You Wean Your Dog from Using the Pads?

It requires training to introduce the pads to your dog as well as weaning them off. If you planned to use pee pads for only a short time, then you’ll have to train your dog to use the yard.

When you decide it’s now time to stop using the pads, the first step will be to end leaving the pads on the ground or at the dog’s favorite place.

Notice when your dog starts sniffing around, take him outside and place the pad on the ground where you want him to use as their pee site. Continue this for a while until a point where you can eliminate the use of the pad, and the dog can comfortably pee on the grass.

As you train the dog to use the yard, it’s essential to reward them every time they successfully pee on the grass. If you give them a treat for learning to relieve on the lawn, they’ll learn faster.

Dog training pads can be a useful tool to avoid messing your house, but if possible use the pads only when necessary. Your dog can learn to be dependent on the pads every time they need to pee. And this can create dependence and thus creating a hindrance in potty training.

Are Puppy Pads Poisonous?

If you search an online marketplace like Amazon for brands selling these pads, you will definitely find that each of them uses different materials. They are never meant to be consumed by the dogs.

Dogs (puppies especially) do have the tendency of biting and you should take measures that they don’t do this kind of behavior. This is so important because you never know what these brands are hiding from you.

Do Puppy Pads Attract Dogs?

Wee-wee dog pads manufacturers claim that dogs are attracted to pads by smell; thus they’ve incorporated some scent to the pads to attract the dogs.

As you train your dog to use the pads, be keen to observe how they react to these pads. Observe and discourage any behavior of the dogs tearing the pads.

How to Stop Puppy Eating Pee Pads?

Some of the common solutions to this problem are using:

Pee Pad shredder
A frame for these training pads

You’ll need to be patient as you train your dogs to use the pee pads, but training the dog will save you from the mess. Dogs can respond to words and commands.

Any time you discover that your dog is about to pee, use words that instruct him to pee on the pad and also commands for him to stop eating it.

Dog Training Pads Won’t Work for Everyone!

Though some dog owners succeed to use potty pads entirely, for some, it may not work. It’s important to decide if you will use the pads for your dog or not. Timing is critical when training your puppies to use the pads.

If you have a yard or can train your dog to use the conventional potting system, then invest in this.

It takes time to train your dog to use the pads, and the most challenging part comes in when you want to wean your dog.

The best option is to train your dog to use the yard from the start, but it might not be possible for each individual due to a number of reasons.

Karen Overall confirms that dogs develop substrate preference at the age of eight and a half weeks. Since puppies acquire substrate preference at a very young age, weaning them off the pads can be a challenge. Several reasons motivate dog owners to use pee pads for their puppies, they include:

If you have a disability that prevents from training the dog to use the yard.
Those that don’t have a yard.
If your dog fears potting outside.
If the dog is sick, convalescent or too weak to potty in the yard.
If you live in a high-rise building.
If the puppy is very young and the weather is chilly outside.
If you have to leave your puppy indoor for long due to work or other commitments.

How to Fix Puppy Pee Pad Training Problems

Most individuals assume that by placing the potty pads on the floor, the puppy will automatically pee on the pad. Unfortunately, this formula doesn’t work in most cases. If it were that easy, potty training would be a walk in the game.

The fact remains that it can take long before your dog learns to use the pads. You’ll need to be patient besides; your dog requires training on how to use the pads.

Though training your puppy to use pee pads can be challenging, these strategies can make you work easier.

Supervise the dog: Your dog will learn fast to use the pee pads if they are under supervision. Make it fun for the dog to use the pads. Besides, reward your puppy every time they get it right.
Consider the location of the pads: When selecting the area to place the pads, you need to make sure your dog can quickly locate the pads. If the pee pads are far away from your dog’s favorite spot, chances are, your dog will find difficulties location the pads.
Use the same location for the pads: Dogs are routine-oriented animals. If you keep changing the position of the pads, you’re confusing the dog, and it’ll take more time for the dog to learn using the pads.
Choose a specific area in your absence: If you’ll be away from the house for long, or you don’t have the time to supervise the dog, select a small restricted area for the puppy and place the pads adjacent to other puppy essentials such as the bed.
Be cautious of the surface: Always make sure you place the pads on a surface you can clean easily like tiles; if not, put the pads on a non-wettable material.
Distractions for puppies matter: Remember puppies like to potty in quiet areas with minimal distractions.
Take it easy: Don’t yell at the puppy each time they miss using the potty pads. Your dog is still under training, be patient as they learn to use the pee pads.
Learn how to use words and commands when training your puppy. For example, when you discover your dog wants to pee, you can use the words “potty over there” as you point at the pee pad.
If you notice urine resides in any part of the house other than the dog’s potting area, use an enzyme-based cleaner to eliminate any smell that can attract the dog to pee in the area.
If your ultimate plan is for your dog to use the yard, select an area close to the door to place the pads. Additionally, use pads that have attractants that mimic the smell of grass.
As your puppy advances in using the pee pads, slowly increase his restriction area to the point where you can leave them alone in the house yet still use the pads to pee.

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Over to you!

I believe you’re now better equipped to use dog training pads for your puppy. Do you require any more information on dog pee pads? How has been your experience using the pee pads?

References

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