How to Train a Dog to use Puppy Potty Pads

It's not hard to train a dog to use the bathroom where you want him to. Puppy potty pads offer pet owners another gentle weapon in their arsenal of training aids. When used as one part of an overall system of dog obedience training, these pads let the puppy know where he should use the bathroom.

Things You'll Need

• Puppy potty pads
• Newspaper

Instructions

1. 

   Puppy potty training pads feature a rectangular layer of absorbent fiber or cotton matting on top of a layer of sealed plastic sheeting that protects your floor. The pads are pre-sprayed with pheromones and other scents that train a dog, through his sense of smell, to go potty near the pad.

2. Dogs form their bathroom habits around their sense of smell and the pads will train a dog to recognize the scent that he instinctively associates with a good place to potty. This encourages him to go on the pad, not your carpet. Some pads contain additional scents that act as further training aids, such as fresh grass essence, infused into the pads. When your dog is outside, he will remember the smell of grass signifies a good place to potty.

3. Choose a spot in your home where there is no carpet underneath and layer newspaper beneath the potty pad. Although the potty pad will tell your pup where he should go - he may not hit the target exactly. Many puppies will walk over, smell the pad, and immediately go potty but their hind end is not above the pad. To protect flooring, use lots of newspaper.

4. Lead or place your puppy directly on the pad immediately after he wakes up from a nap or when he finishes eating or drinking. The pad will train a dog where to go but his body is still immature and it is up to the dog owner to do his part in the dog obedience training. Until a puppy matures, he will go potty frequently, especially after eating and sleeping.

5. Potty pads are beneficial when you use them with a reward system for correct behavior. When your puppy uses the pad area, praise him. When he has an accident, lower your tone of voice but keep it soft, telling him, "No-no" and place him gently on the pad. Hollering at a dog over a potty mistake is a poor way to train a dog and it may encourage anxious urinating problems, making housebreaking more difficult.

6. Puppy potty pads make toileting dog obedience training easy. After your puppy is a few months old and he is consistently using the potty pad area to eliminate, place a pad outside and lead your puppy out after he eats or when he awakens. Eventually remove the inside pad and he will understand that he is to potty outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• Housebreaking is only one aspect of good dog obedience training. Consistency is an important factor when you're trying to train a dog to use the bathroom in a certain place.

Resources

• Order puppy-training pads online.