How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly


How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads

Potty training a puppy is one of the most challenging things someone could do. However, we’ve already talked a lot about potty training, so what makes this post so unique? Well, we have never answered a fundamental question that many people ask, which is how to potty train a puppy on pads.

If you want to learn more about this topic, and you’re interested in reducing your plastic waste and find more eco-friendly solutions, then keep on reading this how to potty train a puppy on pads blog post.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |


How to potty train a puppy on pads – Recall potty training steps

We’ve previously talked about potty training multiple times. However, today I want to mention and discuss something that I have never mentioned before.

You probably already know from the title that I am going to talk about pads, but before we discuss that, let’s recall the most important highlights of potty training. Why? Because a lot of it will still apply when you potty train your dog to use pads.

Positive Reinforcement

First things first, let us recall positive reinforcement. Yes, you’ll still need to use this technique. No, you can’t escape the “ turn a blind eye to mistakes” part.

In case your new to the world of puppy potty training or simply forgot what that is, I am going to redefine positive reinforcement for you.

Positive reinforcement is the process of modifying your puppy’s behavior by acknowledging and rewarding their good behavior, but ignoring and overlooking their unwanted behavior.

It is important to always be in a mindful state of mind because if you don’t, you’ll easily lose patience. If you lose patience, you won’t be able to overlook the undesired behaviors and might end up scolding or punishing your puppy. We don’t want that to happen, so try to incorporate some yoga for mindfulness into your daily routine.

Let’s go back to the first half of the definition. How exactly does one reward a puppy for their good behavior? When the puppy pees in the designated area, pat them and praise them. Offering them treats after petting them builds a stronger reward system.

If you catch the puppy going to the bathroom in an area that is not the designated one, carry them to their bathroom spot, use a command phrase like “ Go potty”, then reward them when they finish.

The frequency of the bathroom breaks

You should take your puppy to where they are allowed to go to the bathroom frequently. This frequency is simply how old your puppy is in months, so if they’re three months old, then you should carry them to their bathroom spot every 3 hours.

Don’t forget to use a command phrase and reward them after they finish doing their thing.

If you want to read an entire post on puppy potty training, then check out my How to Potty Train A Puppy Fast blog post.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |

How to potty train a puppy on pads – Acknowledging that some tactics are not always practical

Now, I will admit that taking your puppy to their bathroom spot every two, three, four, or even five hours isn’t convenient.

If your puppy is two months old, that means you’ll have to take them to the bathroom every two hours. This basically means that you’ll have to sacrifice a good night’s sleep.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |

Also, taking your puppy to their bathroom spot every two hours as well as after every time they play, eat, or sleep is so counterproductive. You probably won’t be able to get anything done.

Even if other family members help, it could be a bit overwhelming. I am not saying that it is impossible, I am just hinting at a more convenient solution that I will mention later in this post.

Perhaps you live alone and you don’t work from home. You’ll come back to find your house in an absolute stinking mess. What are you going to do during the first few months of your puppy’s life? Don’t worry about having a funny-smelling house because I have a solution for you.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |

How to potty train a puppy on pads – Introducing the solution; aka, PADS!

Let me introduce you to the solution that will vanish your distress away, the pads!

Pads are like diapers, but for the floor. These are super convenient when you can’t be around a puppy for a period that is longer than a couple of hours.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads

If you’re wondering how you are going to potty train your puppy to only go to the bathroom on these pads, the answer is quite simple. You’re mostly going to use the strategies I mentioned earlier in this post.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |


How to potty train a puppy on pads – How to use pads?

You’ll start by putting the pad in the area of your choice. If you live in a big house, consider having multiple designated bathroom areas, especially since puppies have small bladders and might not be able to hold it for so long.

But how do you get the puppy to use it? Apply the same rules and tactics used to potty train a puppy outside the house. Using pads might even make the potty training process a bit easier because the pad seems to look a bit unique when it is laid on the floor.  Follow these steps

  1. Stick to carrying your puppy whenever it is time for them to go to the bathroom and placing them on the pad.
  2. Say the command phrase, such as Go Potty, while pointing at the pad the puppy is standing on.
  3. If the puppy plays with the pad or walks away, you might need to use a harness to guide your dog to stay on the pad. To learn more about harness training, read my Dog Training Harness: Ultimate Guide blog post.
  4. After they poop, praise them and give them some treats.

But what if you’re still training your puppy to use the pads, and you don’t have time to carry them every single time they need to pee? Then, all you need to do is create an indoors playpen for your puppy.

In the play-pen, you can place their crate that has a comfortable mat inside it, one of their toys, some water if you’re going to leave them in there for a couple of hours, and of course, cover the entire floor with pads.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |

How to potty train a puppy on pads – Use pads that are eco-friendly

Disposable pads are convenient; however, they’re not eco-friendly. After a puppy pees on them, they will get thrown away immediately. This increases your plastic waste very drastically.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads

You will use and throw multiple pads per day. It is true that we now have disposable pads that are highly absorbing that they could last all day. However, throwing even one disposable pad every day will have a very negative impact on the environment.

Plastic waste is negatively impacting our environment, so why not try reducing the amount of plastic we use? We can’t boycott all products that contain plastic. However, we could significantly reduce our use of plastic by eliminating one-use disposable items.

If you’re now in a dilemma and unsure of which cause is worth fighting for- the environment or a stink-free house, then I have the perfect solution for you. Why not use a reusable pad?

Yes, these do exist. Now you can do your part in saving the environment, enjoy a clean house, and cherish your moments with your puppy.

The only con they have is that they must get washed daily, but that is a small price to pay for such an innovative spin on pads. Speaking of prices, you will save a lot of money using a reusable pad.

A pack of disposable ones almost cost the same a single reusable one. However, you’ll go through and purchase multiple packs, while still using the reusable on. So in the long run, you’ll be saving a lot of money by getting a reusable pad.

If you’re wondering about the efficiency of these pads, it is almost the same in both types. So we can say that they tie in this area. Let’s summarize and compare disposable and reusable pads.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |

How to potty train a puppy on pads – Disposable vs reusable pads.

Convenience: The disposable pad wins this round since you simply throw them away after they’re used. You have to wash the reusable pads daily.

Price: On the long run, reusable pads easily wins this round.

Eco-Friendliness: Reusable pads win again. By reusing the pad over and over again, you’re going to reduce your plastic waste significantly.

Efficiency: It is a tie.

So it is obvious that reusable pads are the champions in this competition. If you’re interested in trying a reusable pad for your dog, consider trying PADSMART™. This is our Washable Fashionable Reusable Pee Pad. Feel free to check it out on our store here.

How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads
How to Potty Train A Puppy on Pads And Be Eco-friendly |

That’s it for today’s post. Have you ever tried using a pad? If so, are you a huge fan of the disposable pad? Or are you an eco-friendly enthusiast who uses a reusable pad?

If you have any potty training questions, feel free to leave them in the comments down below.

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