Setting up a regular schedule for your puppy to use the pad can help them understand potty training more quickly. Using positive reinforcement will also encourage them to do their thing on the mat since they will be rewarded for it.
Although it can feel like a tiring process at times, you should always avoid any punishment or negative reinforcement as this can make your puppy feel uneasy and scared. This also means they are more likely to pee in unknown parts of the home to try to hide it.
Once your puppy learns to use pads, you can slowly reduce their number. Most owners do this by moving the main pad used by the puppy closer to the door and removing other pads in the home.
To further help your puppy understand the connection between peeing and the outdoors, you should take them outside to potty regularly rather than encouraging them to pee on any training pads. Over time, your puppy should begin to associate peeing with the door and the world outside.
Every time your dog goes outside to use the bathroom, reward the behavior with treats and verbal praise.
Common mistakes to avoid:
Training a puppy to use pads isn't always easy. However, we have listed the most common mistakes to help you avoid making them.
Inconsistent use of puppy training pads can lead to confusion and cause your puppy to urinate away from the pads and other areas of your home. Make sure to place and replace pads regularly, even when reducing pads.
Failure to properly clean up a mess means your puppy may pee in the same spot again, even if there isn't a pee pad there. Dogs have a great sense of smell, so if they smell something related to urine, there's a good chance they'll pee on it. Not good news for your floors.
Negative punishment increases the risk of aggression and fearfulness. It's also not proven to cause any changes in your dog's behavior. If your dog misses the pad or pees on the floor, encourage them to try again. Staying calm is the best way to produce positive results.
While there is no set time to stop using puppy pee pads, waiting too long may increase the chances that your puppy will not realize that peeing outdoors is the goal. As a rule of thumb, if your dog can hold their bladder at night without incident, they can usually do so until they go out. When this happens, it may be time to say goodbye to puppy training pads for good.