How To Train A Puppy To Pee On A Pad

There are many different ways to house train puppies. One option for house training your puppy is to teach him to pee on a house training pad.

Teaching your puppy to pee on a pad is very similar to teaching him to relieve himself on newspapers. Instead of newspapers you’ll be using house training pads designed for the purpose.

Choosing Where To Put The Pads

In order to train your puppy to use house training pads you should place the pads in the area you have chosen for your puppy to use. Ideally, this will be a somewhat confined area so your puppy will have a smaller choice about places to go. A kitchen, den or laundry room often makes a good choice. Any room with a tile or linoleum floor is a good choice since floors of this type are easy to clean if your puppy has an accident. You will not want to place the puppy training pads near your dog’s sleeping or eating areas since he will have an aversion to relieving himself near those places.

To help keep your floor cleaner you can place some plastic sheeting under the pads as a precaution.

Watch For Signs

Once you have everything set up you should help your dog get started using the house training pad. You can do this by spending time with him and watching for signs that he needs to relieve himself. As soon as you see the signs, take your puppy to the house training pad and give him a word so he can associate it with the pad such as “potty” or “papers.”  Your puppy should use the house training pad as designed. Make sure you praise your puppy to let him know that he’s done a good thing.

Put Your Puppy On A Schedule

Although your puppy may catch on that he’s supposed to use the house training pad, he may still need frequent encouragement at first. You can help your puppy if you will put him on a definite schedule. Take your puppy to the pad as soon as he wakes up in the morning, right after he eats, when he wakes up from naps, and right after he has a big play session. These are all times when puppies usually need to potty. You should also make sure your puppy uses the pad before he goes to sleep at night.

Watch For Accidents

You’ll also need to be on the lookout for accidents. Watch your puppy for signs that he needs to relieve himself. When you see him acting suspiciously go ahead and take him to the pad, just in case. As your puppy gets a little older he will become more reliable about using the pad on his own.

You will need to change the house training pads frequently. You should also use an odor neutralizer to eliminate unwanted odors. You can purchase these products at pet stores or buy them online.

Your puppy will almost certainly have a few accidents so don’t be surprised by them. He’s only a puppy and he will make mistakes. If you catch your puppy in the act of having an accident then you should clap your hands or make some other loud noise to startle him and let him know that this is inappropriate behavior. Carry him to the house training pad and encourage him to finish there. Then praise him.

If you find an accident after it’s already happened, let it go. Puppies have a short attention span and if you punish your puppy for something that’s already happened he won’t have any idea why he’s being punished.  Instead, take the blame yourself and make a mental note to watch for the signs more closely the next time.

Toy dogs and some other small breeds may be harder to house train so you should be extra patient with them. If they have accidents simply continue to take them back to the house training pads. They should eventually get the idea.

Many large breed puppies can learn to use house training pads but they will almost always prefer to go outside to relieve themselves if given a choice.

Training your puppy how to pee on a pad isn’t that hard but it does take persistence on your part. Follow the suggestions offered here and your puppy should learn to use a pad very quickly.