My tip for the day:
Throw away the puppy pads and train your dog to pee outside. Puppy pads create an extra, unnecessary step in housebreaking.
If the ultimate goal is to get your dog to pee outside, then why do people insist on training the dog to pee inside? No wonder so many small dogs are confused about where to go to the bathroom.
Newspapers are a bad idea. Puppy pads are a bad idea. Fake indoor grass for dogs is a bad idea.
Cats use litter boxes. Dogs pee outside.
What do you think?
(This pup is my mom’s dog, Sophie.)
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August 14th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I agree – I’ve never used them. I always feel like they make the humans lazy. Whenever they don’t want to walk the dog, leave a pad/grass/whatever. I don’t like ‘em.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
What an incredibly adorable puppy! It has a very human expression.
August 14th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I completely agree!
August 16th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Agreed. The reason I always push my clients to avoid puppy pads like the plague is two-fold:
1- It’s often very difficult to train dogs to use the pads in the first place. Dogs like a bigger area to eliminate.
2- Many dogs that initially do well with the pad training will often revert as they get older. Many dogs will start to realize “why go all the way to the other side of the house to go potty?” and they’ll start to go around the house. They’ve been taught to go in the house so many will stop discriminating about where.
August 16th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I’m so glad you agree! I see so many little dogs that have puppy pads. They do use them, however the also pee everywhere else in the house.
August 19th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Hello Everyone! I disagree with this article because i’ve used puppy pads to potty train 2 pets successfully. In order to teach the dog to pee outside, i gradually moved the pads to the door and the outside! Puppy pads also worked for my friend who lives in NYC. Sometimes she can’t bring her dog outside due to weather, but the dog doesn’t feel guilty about going on the pads in the house.
Make the decision for yourself!
August 19th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hi Courtney. Thank you for sharing your opinion!
August 21st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I had never used puppy pads until we got Biggie. He came trained on puppy pads, which was nice at first but he also went on newspapers that were left on the floor and also doormats or small carpet mats on the floor.
Generally I agree with your post about puppy pads, I think it adds unnecessary confusion to the dog, which some dogs get over and some don’t.
In NYC with a puppy, though, you have to use your best judgment. Depending on your neighborhood, some sidewalks are FILTHY and having a pad when the pup hasn’t finished his shots can sometimes be really helpful. Or maybe it just gives Mom some peace of mind.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Yeah, you make a good point. Would you use the pads again with a new pup?
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:12 am
I so smiled at this… being an Aussie, I thought only Americans can come up with this… why would you put a nappy on a dog!To be honest I have never heard of such things
but then I read the last two and thought there may be some benifits in different environments. I also have the luxury of wide open spaces…
Good post Lindsay and great feedback from the readers
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
I’m spoiled as well. We open our back door and we have a large field. Me using puppy pads would be ridiculous!
August 29th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I feel as though I have to use puppy pads right now. My puppy is recovering from parvo so we have to keep her in the house for a while now
August 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Sorry to hear that. I hope your puppy is doing better.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
I just moved into an apartment with my blue heeler who has always had a yard. She’s a little paranoid cos she used to be a pound puppy. So she does her business next to the pads. I do walk her multiple times a day pooper scooper in hand and she’s gone outside twice in four days. Baby steps:-)
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
I’d get rid of those pads and take her outside, but I trust that you’re doing what’s best for your dog and situation.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
It’s not a permanent solution. Just so she has a place indoors for release when I’m not there. I’m thinking of nixing them altogether.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I won’t give my dog permission to go to the bathroom indoors under any circumstances. It’s a good way to create bad habits. But every dog is different.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Disagree. I have a 4lb chihuahua that is crippled and cannot walk. It’s best to us pads or paper for her. Pads and paper are a great solution for super small dogs and people, like myself, in apartments with no quick outdoor access.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
If it works for you and your dog, go for it!
March 8th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
your dumb. some people have this thing called a life. you know where they have to leave all day and go to work or school or whatever the situation is, and nobody is home to take their dogs out? yeah well puppy pad are actually good for this type of thing. maybe you should think a little more before you post dumb things
March 8th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
“Your dumb.” Nice.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I have a 3 month old pit/boxer mix and I live in a apartment I have used the puppy pads for the simple fact that while we are working on potty training I would rather her release herself on those instead of on my carpet. She is very good about only going on those. She is crated all day while I am at work so when I let her out she runs right to the puppy pad then I take her outside.
I believe these have saved my carpet a many messes.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
If it works for you, then that’s fine. I hope it goes just as smoothly when you try to transition to the dog only going to the bathroom outdoors. Many people fail to train their dogs to stop using the pads, but sounds like you won’t have that problem.