Yes, you can put pee pads in a puppy playpen as a temporary potty solution, especially for short periods when you can't take them out, but it's best to use them strategically (like in a designated corner or tray) to avoid teaching them to soil their entire living space, and always aim to transition to outdoor potty training for long-term success. Using a tray or grass mat can also help define the potty area and reduce shredding.
For outdoor potty training, it's perfectly fine if your puppy uses the pee pads in their playpen during the learning phase—remember, this is their “puppy can do no wrong” zone.
Place it once and keep it there: Choose a quiet corner, away from the bed and bowls. Create a puppy zone: Use a playpen or puppy-proofed room for indoor potty training, and a crate for naps and overnight. Crate training and pee pads can coexist (keep the pad just outside the crate).
At a minimum, the playpen needs to be large enough to accommodate a crate, food and water bowls, some toys, and enough space to move and play.
The 10-10-10 rule for puppy potty training is a specific routine: 10 minutes outside in the designated potty spot, staying 10 feet away from the house/play area, followed by 10 minutes of focused supervision indoors to prevent accidents before the next potty break, creating a consistent cycle for success. This method ensures the puppy has ample time to eliminate and minimizes mistakes by closely monitoring them afterward, reinforcing good habits consistently.
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The 3-day potty training method is an intensive, "cold turkey" approach where you dedicate three full days at home to ditch diapers, focusing entirely on teaching your toddler to use the potty by staying bottomless (or in underwear) and offering lots of liquids to increase opportunities for accidents and learning, using positive reinforcement for successes, and maintaining calm and consistency to help them recognize their body's cues and make the connection to the toilet. It requires significant preparation, commitment, and patience, as accidents are expected, but it's designed to accelerate learning by immersing the child in the process.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for the adjustment period after adoption, representing 3 days (overwhelmed/hiding), 3 weeks (settling in/testing boundaries), and 3 months (feeling at home/bonding) to help owners manage expectations and provide patience, routine, and a calm environment, understanding that anxiety is normal as they decompress from a stressful past. It's a framework for recognizing stress and fostering trust, not a rigid timeline, but it helps owners understand why a new dog might seem timid or act out initially.
Some objects or belongings that should not be put in your dog's crate include: Collars and tags – Having a collar and tags on your dog is an excellent idea just in case they wander off, but these should be removed before loading your dog into their crate.
The 3-second rule for puppies, primarily for greetings, means letting two dogs sniff each other for about three seconds, then separating them briefly before repeating, to keep interactions positive and prevent over-excitement or conflict; it's also used in training to reward or correct within three seconds of behavior for clear association, ensuring quick, calm interactions and giving dogs choice in petting.
A puppy can't control their bladder until they're 16 weeks old. So, as much as you might like them to wait, they simply can't. A puppy can typically only hold their bladder as long as their age in months plus one hour.
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Signs Your Dog is Cold
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
Unlike the crate where you can't leave a young puppy for long periods; the puppy will be fine in the playpen and you can go out for longer periods. Just make sure your dog is ready before you leave for a long period so the puppy does not feel left alone form the start and associate that with the playpen itself.
Since 1988, CPSC has received reports of over 200 babies who died while in playpens. In almost 100 of these deaths, soft bedding or improper or extra mattresses were present in the playpen, and the children died of suffocation or SIDS. Over this period, CPSC conducted follow-up investigations on many of these deaths.
Heartworm disease is among the top silent killers of dogs and cats, and it's a slow and insidious disease which gradually incapacitates them. By the time pet owners notice the giveaway signs of this disease, serious damage may already have been caused.
The "new puppy rule of 3" (or 3-3-3 rule) is a guideline for adjusting to a new dog, outlining phases: 3 Days for decompression (overwhelmed, hiding); 3 Weeks for learning routines and boundaries (personality emerges); and 3 Months for feeling truly at home (trust built, comfortable). It emphasizes patience and consistency, reminding owners that a dog's behavior is normal stress response as they adapt to a new environment.
Armed with the proper crate, a Snuggle Puppy, Adaptil dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP), calming music, a Kong chew toy, the right room temperature, adequate space, a baby monitor or pet camera, and the right location for your crate, you're well on your way to a positive association with the crate and a successful crate ...
The most commonly surrendered dog type is the "pit bull type" (including mixes), often due to negative stereotypes, breed-specific legislation, and high energy levels, followed by other popular breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers that may not fit owner lifestyles. Breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers (especially mixes) also top surrender lists in some regions like Australia.
For most pets, it takes on average 3 months to fully become comfortable and acclimated to their new home. However, some pets may need longer to adjust, and some may adapt more quickly.
Always make sure that your dog has exciting things to do when you're not with them. You can give your dog a long-lasting chew such as a stuffed Kong toy, a meat-flavoured chew or a treat ball when you plan to go out. Make sure that they enjoy using it when you're there.
Getting your child ready to potty train
We see a lot more poop issues with 3-year-olds as potty training consultants because it's a harder pattern to break. Simply because the pattern has being going on for a longer time. It's what the child knows and actually *feels comfortable* with at that point.
We also talk about the most common mistake you need to avoid, and the 3 C's of potty training: consistency, calm and commitment. We also share about our own potty training methods and adventures. Tips: Noisy automatic flushing in public restrooms can scare young children.