Once you select the best Wee-Wee Pad for your dog, place it somewhere they can easily access and away from heavy foot traffic. A corner of the room where your pet spends most of their time is often ideal.
If you want or need to use potty pads: Place them in one location of the house. This location should stay static over time and not move around the house. If possible, the potty pad should be on wood/tile and not on carpet.
This can be a pee pad or maybe a litter box lined with sod or artificial turf. Don't use blankets/bedding/pee pads, if your puppy tends to eat those items. Set up a "puppy zone" (aka confinement area). This may be a small room, kitchen, bathroom, or an exercise pen in a larger room.
It's really a personal choice, as long as you keep the pads clean! Disposable puppy pads are single use. Reusable pee pads can be rewashed and are generally more eco-friendly.
Puppy training pads cannot be recycled. Please place them in your black general waste bin or pink sacks.
Having your dog go outside is the ideal solution, but potty pads can sometimes play a role in successful potty training. For example, with very young puppies it's necessary to make frequent trips outside. That might be too challenging for elderly owners or apartment dwellers.
15 minutes after your dog's meal or drinking, say your magic word and take him to the pee pad. Also, take him to pee pad trips a few times every day, not just after eating, to remind him that it is there when he needs it. You can set a timer for every two hours to help them learn the routine and prevent accidents.
Some pads boast added attractants designed to simulate the smell of grass, ammonia, and pheromones.
Pee pads = comfy resting spot!
Many puppies make a bed out of their potty pads. Not only does this work against the natural instinct to not potty where they rest (often delaying potty training success), but it also means that they get dirty and smelly from laying down in their own waste.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.
Generally speaking, very young puppies under 8 weeks old should be changed every 2-3 hours. Older puppies up to 6 months old should be changed twice a day. Meanwhile, older puppies may need to be changed every four to six hours.
Create a Safe Confinement Area
Crate training is a great way to keep older puppies safely sequestered while you're at work. (Tip: You can help your puppy build positive associations with the crate by leaving the door open and putting tasty chew treats inside.)
Vinegar. Just like citrus, dogs cannot stand the smell of vinegar. It seems that a dog's heightened sense of smell is not keen on acidic smells, vinegar being another very acidic substance. It is worth noting that dogs are more repelled by the smell of vinegar than they are by lemons and oranges.
Potty training your dog can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the dog and their previous experience with the process. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to speed up the process, but ultimately it's up to your time commitment each day how long it takes.
Most pups are potty trained at around six months as an average. Still, it can take much less time, or over a year - particularly for teacup breeds with tiny bladders that need to reach almost adulthood before they can go a few hours without an accident!
Put your pads in easy reach of your puppy’s bed or crate at nighttime. Going to the toilet in the house, or their crate, can cause significant distress if they know it's not what you want them to do, so ensure they have the option of a 'safe' place to pee, and your puppy will sleep much better.
When you first bring home a puppy, usually at around 8 weeks old, take her out every 30–60 minutes for the first week or two. This will help to prevent the puppy from peeing in the house and also help her get used to going to the bathroom outside.
There are a few alternatives to puppy pads that you might like to consider when your new dog arrives. The most popular options include paper, fabric, or dog potties with artificial or real grass. Or using a different method of house training that does not involve lining the floor.
Baking soda - Baking soda can be an excellent odor repellent pre-soak for your pee pads. Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 4 cups of boiling water, followed by some cooler water. You can then soak the pee pads for 2-4 hours in this mixture, after which you can pop the pads on for a wash cycle and et voilà…
Puppies younger than 6 months: Leave them alone for 2 hours max at a time. Puppies older than 6 months: Leave them alone for 4 hours max at a time.
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.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).