How to Pad Train a Puppy & How Long Does It Take?
Whether you're new to dog ownership or have raised several dogs in the past, puppy potty training is always a point of contention for puppy parents. After all, even the easiest dogs can be hard to train for proper bathroom etiquette.
Fortunately, there are plenty of tricks and techniques that you can use to housebreak your dog. One such method is potty pad training, which has grown in popularity over the last decade. If you want to get started with puppy pad training, here's what you need to know:
What Is Potty Training?
Potty training is the procedure of teaching your dog to use its bathroom in a particular environment instead of anywhere inside the house. The potty training process can be accomplished through crate training or taking your dog out at specific times throughout the day (for example, after breakfast or dinner). Put simply, potty training is just about teaching your dog where they’re allowed to relieve themselves.
What Are The Benefits Of A Successful Potty Training?
Potty training success can save you time, money, and energy. Not only is it likely that your puppy will be more comfortable when he's done his business outside, but he'll also be healthier for it after successful potty training.
Additionally, potty-trained dogs tend to have fewer health problems such as urinary tract infections and constipation than those who aren't trained properly. Potty training success is also good for you as puppy parents and for your dog's mental health. It gives them something to do with you to bond together, and it sets up a routine that makes life easier for both of you.
When Should I Start Potty Training A Puppy?
You should start your puppy's potty training as soon as you get young puppies. The earlier your puppy starts, the quicker your puppy will be trained. Puppies can be potty-trained from 12 to 16 weeks old, but a young puppy learns faster than adult dogs, and most young puppies are ready for full housebreaking by eight weeks of age.
If you've adopted an older dog, don't worry, it's still possible to train them. Although your dog’s potty training may take some time and effort, with consistency and patience, an older dog can become fully potty-trained just like a puppy can be.
How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Puppy?
A puppy's full house training usually takes four to six months, but it can take up to a year for some puppies. Size is a factor to consider. Smaller breeds, for example, have smaller bladders and faster metabolisms, needing more frequent visits outside. Another factor to consider is your puppy's past living situation.
Also, your puppy will have their own unique personality too. Some dogs pick up on puppy training quickly. In contrast, others may need more training time and practice before reaching full potty training proficiency.
The best way to get a sense of how long it will take you and your pooch to train together is to start small with easy steps like more frequent potty breaks every hour or so and slowly increase their frequency as they get used to them, and then decrease again once they've got the hang of things.
If you're working alone but have someone else who can help out with these early stages, they can take over while you relax. Just make sure everyone knows the proper training process so everyone's crystal clear on expectations going forward.
How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Dog?
Potty training your dog can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the dog and their previous experience with the process. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to speed up the process, but ultimately it's up to your time commitment each day how long it takes.
The best way to know if your dog is ready for potty training is by paying attention to their signals and watching for signs that they're about to go. If you see any of these signs, you'll want to start working on training right away:
- If your dog starts sniffing around or circling in an area where they've been before
- If they start squatting or lifting their leg while standing
- If they squat or lift their leg while walking around
The more consistent you are, the faster your puppy will learn. The longer your puppy can hold it between bathroom breaks, the better. The most important thing to remember is that accidents are expected, and the best way to teach your puppy not to pee in the house is by rewarding them when they do good.
Where Is The Best Place To Start Potty Training A Puppy
When you start to potty train a puppy, you want to choose a quiet, non-distracting potty area. This will be the room in your house where the puppy will be spending most of their potty time while getting used to their new home and learning what is expected from them.
The area should be away from people and other pets so that there is no distraction when they go about their business. Also, you want it to be a room that is not used for anything else so that it doesn't become messy or cluttered with things like toys or food bowls.
If possible, pick a room with an indoor and an outdoor door, such as through your garage. This will make it easier for you when teaching your dog where to do their business by allowing them access outside without letting them run around inside unsupervised.
How To Pad Train A Puppy
And, as with most things in life, it's easier if you have a plan such as a potty schedule (including a potty break) on how to pad train a puppy. So here are some steps you can take when it comes time to potty-train your pup:
Choose The Ideal Dog Crate For Your Puppy
When purchasing a crate for your pup, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, the size of the crate shouldn’t give enough space for your puppy to urinate in and rest on the other side. It should only have enough room to lie down. This helps prevent puppies from urinating in the crate and reinforces the timed training.
Your puppy should also be comfortable in their new home. This means having enough room to stretch out their legs. This is where clear dog crates from Hiddin shine.
Acrylic has many benefits: it's durable, easy on the eyes, and lightweight, making it ideal for transporting if needed. Moreover, acrylic crates usually have a door that opens easily so you can get your dog in and out without struggling with a stubborn clasp (or worse yet, one that breaks). With these features, you can be assured that your pet is safe from accidents.
Determine The Appropriate Training Pads For Your Puppy
When choosing suitable training pads for your puppy, it's essential to consider a few factors. Firstly, you'll want to make sure the training pads are easy to clean and transport. If you can't quickly get rid of training pads after being used, they aren't the right choice.
It is also helpful if the training pads are small enough to easily fit in your home or car. Depending on where you're using them, you may need more than one type of training pad, so think about how often it will be necessary for them to be transported before deciding which ones would work best for your needs.
In addition to these practical considerations, other factors such as cost and durability should also help inform which brand or type of disposable training pad might work best for your needs as well.
Pick A Designated Spot For Your Training Potty Pad
When you're ready to train your puppy, you'll want to pick a designated spot for the training pads. Make sure it's easy to clean and doesn't have anything that will make it sticky or hard for your pup to get down on its paws.
You should also be able to check this area frequently. And finally, it should be within reach of the door so that when you take them outside, they can easily find the potty pads if they have an accident while leaving the house.
You might also consider picking a spot with an existing rug or carpet since puppies tend not to want to walk over things like that when they're trying their best not to mess up. Of course, this isn't always possible, though.
So if nothing else works, then just try whatever feels right for yourself and your pet; as long as everyone feels comfortable using the area, everything should turn out fine regardless. This is one of the most critical parts of pad training puppies, so don't skip this step.
Supervise Puppies When They Are Out Of Their Crate
Another thing you should know about puppy pad training is that it's not just about teaching your small dog how to use the potty pads. It's also about supervising them while out of the crate and ensuring they don't have potty accidents or chew on anything inappropriate.
The best way to do this is by keeping an eye on them when they go outside of their crates and staying close by when your puppy has free reign in the house or yard. This will allow you to intervene before they dig holes, bark uncontrollably, or develop separation anxiety because of boredom (which may lead to destructive chewing).
Use An Acrylic Gate For Your Puppy During Puppy Pad Training
If you use puppy pads for training, consider getting an acrylic dog gate. Acrylic dog gates can be used to keep your puppy in a specific area and as a barrier preventing them from accessing certain areas of the house. They come in many different sizes and designs.
In addition, these acrylic gates are clear. Therefore, your puppy feels less separation anxiety while still keeping them safe. It also gives the pet parents a perfectly clear view of their pet without any visual obstructions.
At Hiddin, we have the Clear Freestanding Pet Gate Panel. This makes it easy to use them to block off an area you don't want your puppy accessing, such as the kitchen or living room, until they are fully trained on staying away from these places when you aren't home with them.
You can also purchase other styles, such as the Zig-Zag type or the Wall Mounted Clear Pet Gate, so that no matter how big or small your home is, there will be a size perfect for yours.
Reward Good Behavior And Avoid Punishing Bad Behavior During The Process Of Potty Training
When potty training, it's important to reward good behavior and avoid punishing bad behavior. This is true whether you're using positive reinforcement or negative punishment.
Positive Reinforcement: RewardsRewarding your puppy for good behavior can be as simple as giving them a treat or patting them on the head when they do what you want them to do. Also, speaking positively about their good deeds will help encourage them to continue doing the same throughout their potty training process. For example, if your puppy goes in his designated potty area outside, then you could say "good girl!" and give her a treat as a reward for doing so well.
Negative Punishment: Avoiding PunishmentPunishing your puppy for doing something wrong during this process (like relieving themselves indoors) by scolding or hitting them is not advised because it teaches them that they won't get rewarded if they make mistakes. Instead of punishing bad behavior like this, try avoiding the situation altogether so that he doesn't have access inside until he knows how to use an indoor spot instead of going inside where he shouldn't go at all.
How To Know Switch From Potty Pads To The Outdoors
The answer depends on whether or not your dog has already learned about going outside to potty. If your dog is already well-versed in this behavior, it's okay to stop using the indoor potty pads and just let them go outside.
However, suppose your dog isn't yet comfortable going outside for bathroom breaks. In that case, it's best for them to keep using their pad until they get used to going outside.
It also depends on where you live. If you live in an area where there are a lot of people passing by at all hours of the day, then it's probably better for your dog if they continue using their pad indoors until they get used to being out and about more often.
Make sure your pet is comfortable with the process before making the switch. It might take some time for them to be completely comfortable with coming inside after pottying outside and vice versa. Once they become comfortable with both tasks and seem confident doing them, it's probably safe for you to start using pads in a designated potty indoors area while still using your yard as his preferred bathroom spot.
Conclusion
The puppy pad training process is both simple and complex. It's easy to follow the steps we've outlined here, but it will require some patience and dedication from you. Most puppies can fully transition from puppy pads to outdoors within two weeks. Finally, remember that every dog is different, so some may take longer than others. Don't get discouraged if yours takes more time than expected.
If your new puppy is potty training and you're looking for a place to find the perfect clear pet products to help the training process go smoothly, look no further than Hiddin. We've got everything you could possibly need, from pet gates to dog crates and even collars and leashes. So if you're in the market for some new puppy potty training supplies, check out Hiddin.