I’m just going to come right out and say it, I hate wee wee pads! As a dog trainer I’ve seen so many potty training programs derailed by the use of wee wee pads. In some cases people just don’t know any better. But other people are looking for a short cut. There is no short cut to potty training, its hard work, and 24/7 until your dog gets it. Another thing people don’t realize about wee wee pads is that you still have to teach your dog to use the pad and not go anywhere else. Wee wee pads don’t potty train your dog for you. So, if you’re going to go through all the trouble to teach your puppy to go potty in one particular area, and nowhere else, why not just teach him to potty outdoors?
O.k., for the sake of argument, let’s just say you own a Yorkie and you live on the 22nd floor of an apartment building in Chicago, and it’s the middle of January. You, my friend, have my blessing and are more than entitled to use wee wee pads for potty training. If it were, me I would too! But here is sunny So Cal there’s just no reason for wee wee pads.
I’ve also seen people place wee wee pads all over the house like throw rugs, which only serves to confuse the puppy – “where exactly is it o.k. for me to potty”?? “Looks like everywhere.” What happens when you finally decide to get rid of the wee wee pads because you’re tired of them?? That’s right, the puppy goes potty where the wee wee pads used to be, or on just any old rug or bathmat on the floor. Then there’s the fact that most puppies will simply chew up the wee wee pads out of boredom, and potty on the floor anyway.
So forget about wee wee pads, forget about making things easier for yourself, forget about short cuts. Get your puppy on a potty training program that is consistent and easy for your puppy to understand. Supervise your puppy, confine your puppy, and teach your puppy where you want him to go potty and your puppy will reward you with a reliably house trained dog.
Thanks for sharing. I have a puppy. He was born 12/07/11 and I’ve had him since he was about 12 weeks. He started off on puppy pads with the breeder so I had no problem getting him to use them. But I’m trying toget him off. Problem is I work in federal office building so bringing him to work is a no go. Good thing is I work 4 days out of the week and three days off. I crate him at night and take him outside as soon as I wake up and once again before I leave since I noticed he’ll pee when he first wakes up but will poo maybe 30 min – an hour later. While I’m at work I leave the pads down in one area that’s blocked off in the house, leaving him with food, water, and toys. I make the water available because it gets humid in DC during the summer and like most major cities, rush hour an be hell on some days. When I get home I take him out. I restrict his water after 6 since bedtime is at 7 or 8 anyways. On my off days, I take him out when I wake up, and I avoid using the pads. I’ve even implemented the potty bell that he’s starting to catch on to use. He will walk down the staris on his own and ring it. There have only been a few times he hadn’t or I was too slow to move and we had an accident. 🙁 I know it takes time, but do you think we are on the right track? I definitely want to get him off the pads but since I can’t bring him to work or go home every hour, the pads are my option. I probably won’t be able to have someone take him out while I’m at work until my father retires in about a month. I just feel like the pads stunt his growth but will only come in handy during a tornando, thunder storm, or hurricane watch in the area. Thanks for your help. Great blog. I’ve faved it.
Sounds like you’re doing a great job! Because you are gone for much of the day, you must leave your puppy somewhere to go potty. It may take you a little longer to complete the job but you’ll get there!