Training puppies and understanding their behaviour can be a challenge for any owner, especially when it is about potty training the dogs when they are little. In this regard, puppy pads are a great help because the puppies are just like babies, which means that in the first months of life they do not have a very big bladder. Which is why they need to go to the toilet much more often than an adult dog. Their training in this case can take a little longer, which is why a variant has been created to help along the way.
What Are the Puppy Pads and Why Are They Useful?
The puppy pads are products specially made to help dogs and even their owners. They play an important role especially for dogs that do not have constant access to an outside space and must be used to potty training inside. These products help to avoid soiling the floors and unpleasant odours but also to keep the overall cleanliness of a home.
Of course, it is recommended to take your puppy outside when it needs it, but there are some cases that do not allow going that frequently outside. The American Kennel Club says `For example, with very young puppies, it’s necessary to make frequent trips outside. That might be too challenging for elderly owners or apartment dwellers. Or, if you do not have a backyard and your dog’s toilet area is a public place, you might want to limit your puppy’s exposure until they are fully vaccinated. `
A big advantage of these products is that they come in large packages of 50 pieces at acceptable prices. That means you pay a low price for a product that will last a long time.
What Are Puppy Pads Made Of?
These pads are made of different materials, but most of them have a few things in common that are essential:
- Starting with an impermeable layer, it has a role in not allowing the urine to pass further to the floor or carpet.
- After that is the absorbent or superabsorbent gel layer. This is a special gel that absorbs the urine and removes as much as possible the unpleasant odours, thus keeping the surfaces clean.
- And as a first layer is the non-woven layer that has a soft surface allowing urine to pass into the gel interlayer. This material is either disposable or cleans up quite easily.
All materials used in a puppy pad are non-toxic, completely safe for all dogs and with a high level of absorbency.
How to Choose a Puppy Pad
The first feature you should consider when purchasing puppy pads is the size and absorbency. Depending on the size of the dog, the size of the pad is chosen, as for the absorption grade, it is recommended to be as high as possible to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Then there are two types of pads, but here, strictly the owner's preference comes into play somehow. There are disposable pads and reusable pads that are washed just like any other fabric. The disposable pads contain a special absorbent gel that was specified previously that does not allow the urine to flow on the floor and absorbs the unpleasant odours. The reusable pads are not as efficient as the disposable ones because they are not as absorbent. These are perfectly fine for occasional use and smaller dogs.
Furthermore, the quality of the materials used in the manufacture of these pads is very important because you must be quite careful when buying such a product that it does not contain ingredients that could be toxic to your puppy. Also, the material must be resistant and durable when you choose a reusable pad.
How to Properly Use a Puppy Pad and How to Make Your Dog Use It
The correct use of a puppy pad is essential to be able to advance in the training process, but also to be able to keep the home clean.
The first thing to consider is where you choose to place the puppy pad. It is recommended that this place must be as isolated and quiet as possible so that the dog feels comfortable and is not frightened by the agitation in the rest of the house. Ideally, a corner of the house as close as possible to the door is exactly what is needed to ensure comfort for the dog. But at the same time, the place should be free from crowding because the dog cannot focus on its needs if there are too many distractions around.
Next is how you can teach your dog to use the pads. Initially you can start with an incentive in the form of a spray that has a specific smell that encourages the dog to go to the puppy pad. Use this method every time you know your dog should use the pad. Usually this happens after he eats, or he plays.
Rewarding is a key gesture because when the puppy sees that he is being praised and rewarded for what he is doing, he automatically believes that he is doing a good task. So, if you reward him every time he uses the pad, he will understand step by step what the process is.
This might be a long process, but you must be patient. Also, for your dog's safety and maybe yours, you should clean or change the pad often, especially if it is used frequently. An already wet pad may discourage the dog from using it.
Conclusion
Puppy pads are essential when you want to potty train your dog, but also in situations where it is not possible for you to take your dog outside very often in a day. There are many options for this product, disposable, or reusable, for small, medium, or short dogs and so on. Their advantages are the fact that they can contribute to the cleanliness of the house, but also in the training process.
When you start a training process with your dog, you must be aware that you will need a lot of patience, you may have to clean the house more often than before and, of course, you will be subject to an additional expense. But with time both the owner learns to be patient and the dog learns to use the puppy pad. And then your only worry will be to buy the best pad for your dog with natural ingredients and materials that are non-toxic and with a high level of absorbency.
