Housebreaking and Pee Pads

Pee pads are used a lot by breeders and provide a method of quick cleanup for puppy messes. They are extremely useful in the right circumstances. Many choose to use them when a puppy first comes home.

If, however, you want to get away from the pads and want the dog to soil outside, don’t use them as a means of convenience. You will be teaching your dog that soiling in the house is acceptable.  Typically, a dog does not like to eliminate where they sleep and eat.   If you are unknowingly encouraging that, housebreaking will be very challenging.

More than one dog trained using pads, continues to mistake a throw rug for a pad if it needs to go out and can’t immediately get there.

In the cases I’m referring to, the dog is housebroken and has developed his ability to hold it. They have to go and don’t see an obvious way to get outside. “Oh look, there’s a throw rug that looks vaguely like a pee pad, so I’ll just go right there.”

Due to restrictions, travel, or limited access to a safe place for the dog, some people choose to use pee pads exclusively. Housebreaking (potty training) would follow the same guidelines  as if you are taking the dog outside; but rather than taking the dog outside, you will take the dog to the pad. Supervision is still required and praise for using the pad.  If at all possible, place the pad in a separate area from their bed so they have to “go to the bathroom” in the desired area with the pad.

For a complete guide to Housebreaking, order my ebook with step-by-step instruction which comes with a second book on crate training.