When it comes to toilet training your new puppy, puppy pads might seem like an easy solution. After all, they’re convenient, disposable, and marketed as a "must-have" for new dog owners. But while they may be appealing, puppy pads can actually slow down the toilet training process and cause long-term confusion for your dog.
Why Puppy Pads Can Be a Problem
Using puppy pads teaches your puppy that it’s acceptable to toilet indoors. While this may seem like a temporary solution, it sends mixed signals. Your puppy doesn’t understand that toileting is only okay on the pad; instead, they begin to associate any indoor surface, such as rugs, carpets, or mats as fair game for relieving themselves. Over time, this habit can become difficult to break, leading to frustration for both you and your dog.
The Importance of Outdoor Toilet Training
Toilet training is all about consistency and setting clear expectations. Dogs thrive on routines, and it’s much easier for them to learn that toileting happens only outside when that rule is in place from day one. By taking your puppy outside regularly, after meals, playtime, or naps, you reinforce that the outdoors is the proper place to go.
Skipping puppy pads altogether simplifies the process, eliminates confusion, and speeds up learning. Instead of teaching your puppy to use pads, then later retraining them to go outside, you establish the correct behavior from the start.
Encouraging Outdoor Success
To successfully toilet train your puppy without pads:
1. Stick to a Schedule: Take your puppy outside frequently, especially after eating, drinking, playing, or waking up.
2. Praise and Reward: When your puppy goes outside, immediately praise them and give them a treat. Positive reinforcement is key!
3. Supervise Indoors: Keep an eye on your puppy indoors to prevent accidents. Use a baby gate to manage their space if needed.
4. Clean Up Accidents Properly: If an accident happens, clean it thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to remove all traces of odour.
5.Never Scold your Puppy for doing it inside: Accidents will happen, just take your puppy away from the soiled area without any fuss, clean it up and carry on with your day. By doing this you are not marking the unwanted behaviour incorrectly.
Short-Term Convenience vs. Long-Term Success
Puppy pads may seem convenient in the short term, but they create unnecessary confusion and make the toilet training process longer and more complicated. By teaching your puppy the right habits from the beginning, you set them up for lifelong success and save yourself from the frustration of undoing bad habits later.
Remember, consistency and patience are the keys to toilet training. Skip the puppy pads, focus on outdoor training, and you’ll have a confident, well-trained dog who knows exactly where to go.
If you want to know more on how to toilet train your dog, we offer a free online Toilet Training Course from our Online Academy. It costs nothing we do not ask for any card details. It is simply there to support the thousands of dog owners looking to know how to toilet (potty) train their dog. Click the link below.
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