Dogsmanship - The Dog Lover's Survival Guide

How to Use a Puppy Training Pad

When you bring a new pup home from the breeder or kennel, one of your first priorities will be to housebreak the little guy. There are plenty of options in potty training a puppy, including using a crate or training pads to teach your dog the appropriate location to eliminate. Either of these methods can be used successfully, if you are willing to invest the time and patience into showing your puppy the ropes.

What is a puppy training pad
Before discussing how to use a puppy training pad, we need to define what it is. These pads are specifically designed for assisting you in housebreaking your pup. They consist of thick, absorbent surfaces, and many are treated with a special scent that will encourage your pup to eliminate on the pad instead of on your carpet. Good news for those puppy owners who would prefer to keep their carpeting intact and as odor-free as possible throughout the housebreaking endeavor. These pads are also invaluable if you have a sick or aging pet that is having trouble holding his urges.

How to Use Puppy Training Pads
While some dog owners prefer other methods of housebreaking to learning how to use puppy training pads, there are many other puppy trainers who swear by the training pad system. If you want to know how to use a puppy training pad, the first step is to confine your pup to a single room of the house. The kitchen often works best for this process, since it is an easy location for you to keep an eye on your dog, and the flooring is often hard and easy to clean up in the event of an accident or leak.

Once you have confined your puppy, place a training pad on the floor and show it to him. With any luck, the scent of the pad will be sufficient to encourage your pup to eliminate on the pad. When he does, make sure that you offer plenty of praise by patting his head and saying, “Good dog!” in a friendly tone. The more consistently that your dog receives this praise for making the right choice, the more quickly and effectively he will learn how to use the puppy training pad properly.

When your puppy has begun to use the pad consistently in its original location, it is time to begin moving the pad a bit closer to the back door where he will be let outside. With time, patience and consistency, your puppy will learn to potty in the great outdoors, and your beautiful home will be safe once again from the mess and odor. Learning how to use puppy training pads is a great first step on the road to a positive relationship between you and your new pet.