Dog Training Pads - The Good and The Bad

Teaching a dog appropriate behavior can be a difficult task, especially when potty training him. And that's where dog training pads come in handy.

For people that live in high rises or other places where taking their puppy outside for training can be problematic, dog training pads may be the perfect solution to their problems. Dog training pads are also good for those times when you just can't make it home it time and your dog has no place else to go.

Dog training pads let you train your puppy inside by giving him a specific place to go inside the apartment. This is much better than the old way of using newspaper. To help with the training, you can also buy chemicals that you sprinkle on dog training pads to help your dog recognize that the pad is the spot to urinate or do their business.

Dog training pads will typically come in packs of 10, 20, or 40 pads. They will come in different sizes as well. So, if you have a large dog that you're potty training, make sure that you are getting pee-wee or small pads. For an example of inexpensive training pads take a look at www.cheappuppypads.com.

Another good alternative to newspaper is a system such as wizdog.com. This consists of a plastic pan and fitted grates. According to the manufacturers, "waste dispenses through the grate onto newspaper or a pee pad, separated from your dog's paws - No more wet paw tracks throughout your house! Solid waste stays on top of the grate, so you never have to touch it. Just flip the grate, and it's gone.". Other manufacturers have similar products.

4 Signs That Your Puppy Needs to Go

Just like a child, a very young puppy's body hasn't yet matured enough to be able to control his elimination processes. But there are typical times that the average puppy feels compelled to "go". So, to minimize "accidents", you'll have to watch for these signs:

1) When he first wakes up in the morning

2) Approximately 15 minutes or so after a meal

3) After a bout of medium to strenuous exercise

4) Whining of scratching at the door

Problems With Using Dog Training Pads

There are drawbacks to using dog training pads. If your puppy learns to eliminate on these pads, he may become confused when eventually taken outside to do his business, which will require a bit more re-training to teach him to eliminate outside instead of inside. Therefore, for as little confusion as possible, wean him from the dog training pads as soon as you're able to.

So even though dog training pads are a good alternative to newspaper and the like, unless there's a good reason for training your dog indoors, you should avoid the pads and instead train him to go outside.

No Yelling

In the course of training your puppy, there will be puppy accidents. Just accept the fact that it's part of the training and you'll be ok. There are plenty of products on the market for cleaning up after an accident. Simply get one with enzyme action. Eventually, the mistakes will dissipate and your puppy will be trained.

And never use punishment for house training. It doesn't work. More often then not, it will simply encourage him to "go" when you're not around. If you catch him in the act, just say "no" firmly, so he knows not to do it. But don't yell, shout, or get angry. It's counter productive.

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