House training is an essential part of owning a dog, but did you know that you have options other than taking your dog outside?
Dogs can be trained to use the bathroom on a pad indoors, and this type of training is not just limited to puppies…
Dogs who have already been house-trained can learn how to use a pee pad, and it can end up being pretty convenient for you as their owner…
So in this article, we’re going to learn how to train a housebroken dog to pee on a pad, and we’ll be going through the following information in detail…
- Why You Might Want To Use A Pee Pad
- How To Train Your Dog To Pee On A Pad
- Common Pee Pad Training Mistakes
In the end, you should have a good idea of the benefits of training your dog to pee on a pad…
And you’ll be able to train your dog how to use a pee pad using a couple of different methods…
Let’s start by discussing why you might want to use a pee pad…
Why You Might Want To Use A Pee Pad…
In a word, convenience. It is easier to have your dog use a pad than to take them outside on a rainy or snowy night…
If you are away for a long period of time, your dog will naturally need to use the bathroom…
And having them trained to use a pee pad means you’ll have a consolidated, tidy mess to clean up when you do come home…
On top of that, dogs who are crate trained have a nice, dedicated area to do their business so their blankets can remain pristine (if they’re in a large-sized crate or kennel).
How To Train Your Dog To Pee On A Pad (2 Methods)…
There are two common methods that can be used to train a housebroken dog to pee on a pad…
The first is called the “Outside In Method”, and the second is called the “Inside Out Method”…
Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, but I’m going to go through both of them for you step-by-step…
After that, you’ll be able to determine which one is going to be right for you and your dog…
The Outside In Method…
Step One: Identify What Your Dog Likes To Pee On…
Start by identifying what your dog likes to pee on… Is it a certain texture of grass from your lawn? Is it a specific potted plant that lives in your yard?
Whatever it is, bring it inside. Choose the space where you would like your pee pad to be placed and cover it with a generous amount of plastic…
Then simply place the patch of grass or potted plant on the plastic.
Step Two: Introduce Your Dog To The New Pee Area…
Eventually, your dog will ask to go outside because he’s a good boy (or girl) and is already housetrained…
When that happens, clip on his leash and take him over to the spot that you have already set up for him…
This will more than likely confuse your dog, and he will probably pull toward the door to go outside…
Just try to stay patient and wait him out, and when he finally pees on the familiar object, reward him with a treat (like cheese) and lots of verbal praise.
Step Three: Clean Up The Area…
Make sure to clean up the mess and make the area tidy before bringing your dog to go potty in that area again.
Step Four: Repeat… And Repeat Again…
Dogs learn through repetition. So each time he asks to go outside, take him to his new spot…
Make sure to reward him every time he pees on the familiar object and immediately clean up any messes.
Step Five: Introduce The Pee Pad…
Once your dog is routinely going to his dedicated spot to do his business, place a pee pad over his familiar object…
Again, your dog will probably be confused by another change to his bathroom routine, but stay diligent…
He will soon discover that the pee pad is covering his familiar object and do his business on the pad…
Be sure to give him a treat and lots of verbal praise when he goes on the pee pad, and then you can dispose of it.
Step Six: Remove The Familiar Object…
Once your dog has caught on to peeing on the pee pad, you can remove the familiar object…
And once he is using the pad exclusively, feel free to remove the plastic from the floor as well.
The Inside Out Method…
Step One: Introduce The Pee Pad…
Take your dog outside as usual, and when he goes to the bathroom, subtly slide the pee pad underneath him…
Reward him with treats and lots of praise for going on the pee pad, and continue this until it becomes a routine activity for your dog.
Step Two: Lay Down The Pee Pad…
Before your dog asks to go outside, lay the pee pad in the spot where he usually goes potty…
Take your dog out as usual, but lead him to the pee pad to do his business. Now he might try to resist and opt for the grass…
But if he does, don’t scold them and try not to react. If he pees on the pee pad, reward him…
Continue this until your dog consistently pees on the pad in his usual spot.
Step Three: Put The Pee Pad Anywhere Outside…
Before your dog asks to go outside, lay the pee pad anywhere, and make sure it’s in a spot that he doesn’t normally use…
If he manages to go potty on the pee pad instead of the grass be sure to give him a treat and lots of praise.
Continue this until your dog consistently pees on the pad in multiple spots outside.
Step Four: Try It Inside…
Once your dog is used to peeing on the pee pad in multiple places outside, try moving it inside.
Choose a dedicated spot for the pee pad, and when your dog asks to go outside, leash him up and take him to the pee pad instead…
Your dog will probably try to pull for the door at first, but try to wait him out and be patient with him…
And when he does go potty on the pee pad, be sure to reward him with a treat and verbal praise…
And just continue praising and rewarding him when he goes on the pee pad until it becomes habitual for him.
Common Pee Pad Training Mistakes…
Not Instituting A Bathroom Phrase…
This is something that should have been done during your dog’s original house training, but if it was not, it is never too late to put a potty phrase in play…
It should be something simple, such as, “Let’s go,” or, “Go potty,” and it should be repeated every time your dog needs to go to the bathroom so they draw an association between the word and bathroom time.
Not Watching Your Dog’s Body Language…
If you are bringing in pee pads to curb frequent accidents in an otherwise house trained dog, realize that those accidents may be because you are not paying attention to your dog’s body language…
Dogs cannot talk; instead, they use behavior cues to let us know what they need…
So pay close attention to your dog’s body language and take them directly to the pee pad when they show you they have to go.
Not Giving Enough Praise…
There is no such thing as too much praise when your dog uses a pee pad correctly…
Make sure to reward them every time they get it right and give them verbal praise in a happy and excited tone…
Dogs learn to associate their behaviors with rewards and then they repeat that behavior.
Punishing Your Dog For Not Using The Pee Pad…
Dogs should always be trained using positive reinforcement. Any negative reinforcement only makes them afraid of you…
If your dog is not hitting the pee pad every time, simply clean it up and do not acknowledge the behavior…
Remember, just withholding a reward is enough to eliminate an unwanted behavior in your dog…
So if they don’t get it right, just move on and remember to reward them extra the next time they use the pee pad correctly.
Final Thoughts…
Teaching a house trained dog to use a pee pad can be a tough chore, but never fear because it can definitely be done…
Simply use the “Inside Out” or “Outside In” method while avoiding the common mistakes…
And reward that good behavior after each positive experience and your dog will be using pee pads full time in no time at all.