In this article we give you the 4 effective Pee Pad training steps to potty train an older dog to use a pee pad, as well as the common mistakes to avoid.
4 Steps To Potty Train An Older Dog To Use A Pee Pad
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Take Some Time Off to Housetrain Your Dog
To properly housetrain your adult dog, the first week you bring them home is vital in setting up their potty routine.
They will have to take midday potty breaks, and you will want to try and prevent as many indoor accidents as possible.
If you have school, work, or other scheduling issues, try to get a dog walker or a neighbor who can let your dog out.
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Invest in a Crate
A crate is one of the easiest and quickest ways to teach your dog how to control its potty habits. A box becomes associated with your dog’s sleeping and eating habits.
In turn, your dog will learn bladder and bowel control because they will not want to soil the areas where they sleep and eat.
The key to crate training is getting a crate that is the most comfortable size for your dog. It should be big enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down.
Any more significant than that, your dog may still find an area in the crate where they can comfortably relieve themselves.
Also, never keep them in the crate for too long. You don’t want them to feel frustrated, isolated, or trapped.
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Introduce the Pee Pad
A common mistake many owners make is just putting the pad down and hoping their dog finds it.
To set up good consistent behavior and potty habits, you must actively introduce and show your dog the potty pad.
That said, always keep your dog on its leash when you start using the pee pad.
To start, try placing the pad down in an area where they usually go to the bathroom in your yard or where you typically walk your dog.
Then, using their leash, guide them to the spot and use your potty command. This will help associate their potty breaks with the pad and base smell.
Eventually, you can move the place into your house and continue training your older dog to use a pee pad inside.
If you are pad training a dog who has never had housetraining before, you can pad teach them by confining them to a small area of the house.
Try using dog gates to create a secluded space where your dog can use the bathroom.
It is essential to use the leash still so you can easily guide them to the pad when it is time to go.
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Heap on the Praise
Lastly, once you get this routine going and your dog starts using the pad consistently and directly, praise them.
Praise is vital in housetraining because it helps your dog associate the areas for him to take a potty break with credit.
Make sure treats and praise come immediately after they relieve themselves.
This will ensure that they are associating the pleasure with the correct behavior.
Pee Pad Training Mistakes
Inconsistency
Many owners mistake not paying attention to their dog’s bathroom frequency.
When you have a new adult dog or a puppy, you must exercise constant supervision and learn how many times they need to use the potty.
Some critical times to remember are after your dog gets up in the morning and 30 minutes after eating.
These are peak times to guide your dog to the pee pad.
Don’t Distract Your Dog
When you lead your dog to its pad, do not distract them from doing their business with chit-chat or games.
Stand still and let them focus on sniffing out their potty area. Use the simple “go potty” command as soon as they prepare to go.
This will help your dog start to eliminate on cue.
Do Not Punish Your Dog For Accidents You Did Not See
It does not help to punish your dog for an accident after the fact.
What you want to do instead is thoroughly clean up the area where they had their accident, so they are not drawn to the same place.
Residual urine and poop smells can encourage them to relieve themselves in the same area.
What you should also do is try to interrupt them in the act. If you catch your dog in the middle of an accident, interrupt them by startling them with a shout or clap.
Then, quickly take them outside or to the pad to finish their business. When they are done, give them praise.
This will teach them that going inside does not get praised, but going on a pad or outside is rewarded.
Do Not Confine Them For Longer Than They Can Hold It
Again, you do not want to keep your pet confined so long that they are forced to defecate inside their crate or your house.
At the very least, give your dog six bathroom breaks during those first few weeks of training.
Try to take them out first thing in the morning, before you leave for work or school, twice during the rest of the day, after dinner, and before bed.
When you have finished training, you can go for fewer bathroom breaks.
Cleaning Products That Can Help
Accidents are bound to happen. When they do, you want to ensure that you have the best cleaning product to help your training process.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- First, you want to find a cleaner that has live bacteria or enzymes.
- Second, use soiled towels to emphasize your pet’s designated relief area.
- Lastly, avoid ammonia-based cleaning products.
More Solutions to know How to Potty Train an Older Dog to Use A Pee Pad
If you are still struggling with training, consider getting personal help. Sometimes, potty accidents can be linked to more significant health or oral issues in older dogs.
So while these are helpful steps to housetrain your dog, it is not a universal solution.
As such, it is essential to get professional help to find a routine and solution that fits your dog.
Another great solution is this potty training guide. This guide breaks down the secrets to utterly potty training any dog or puppy in less than a week.
It tackles common mistakes owners make and teaches you how to permanently break your dog’s habits of going inside the house.
With this guide, you will be able to leave your dog at home alone for hours without worrying about accidents.
You will also have a dog who can actively let you know when they want to use the bathroom.
It is a highly easy-to-follow guide for any owner and dog. There is no need for any training equipment or even previous knowledge of dog training.
Moreover, you don’t have to rearrange your schedule to train your dog thoroughly.
This guide covers everything you need to know to get a fully housetrained dog in no time.
Conclusion
Training older dogs to use a pee pad should not be a challenge.
If you follow the routine we explained above or use the potty training guide; your adult dog will have proper potty skills in no time.
Have you housetrained a dog before? Did we miss any tips? Let us know!
