For new dog owners, it can be difficult to know when to take puppy pads away. Puppy pads are a great way to train your dog to go outside and can help housebreaking immensely.
However, once your dog is properly trained, you don’t want them pottying in the house anymore! So, when is the right time to take puppy pads away? Keep reading for some tips.
When To Take Puppy Pads Away and expect your dog to go outside instead?
Typically, you can begin to phase out puppy pads around the same time that you start teaching your dog to walk on a leash. This means that your dog is already somewhat accustomed to going outside and doing their business.
If you’ve been using puppy pads in conjunction with leash training, then you can begin to take the pads away once your dog is consistently going potty outside.
Of course, every dog is different and some may take longer to train than others. That’s why there isn’t one answer that can work for everyone.
If you’re unsure about when to take the puppy pads away, it’s always best to consult with a professional dog trainer or your veterinarian. They will be able to give you specific advice based on your dog’s individual needs.
In general, though, taking away puppy pads is a process of slowly reducing their availability until your dog no longer needs them.
So, if you’ve been using them in your home, try removing them from one room at a time. Once your dog is successfully pottying outside, you can remove the pads entirely!
What are some signs that your puppy is ready to stop using puppy pads?
There are a few key things to look for that will indicate that your puppy is ready to stop using puppy pads.
First, you want to make sure that they are consistently going potty outside. This means that they are using the bathroom on a regular basis when they are taken out and not having accidents inside.
Second, you want to make sure that your puppy is able to hold their bladder for longer periods of time. If they can go several hours without needing to use the restroom, then they are likely ready to stop using puppy pads.
Finally, you want to make sure that your puppy is no longer attracted to the pads. This means that they are not trying to potty on them or playing with them as if they were toys. If you notice any of these signs, then your puppy is likely ready to stop using puppy pads!
How old should your puppy be before you start taking away the pads?
As we mentioned before, every dog is different and will learn at their own pace. That being said, most puppies will be able to start phasing out puppy pads by around six months old.
This is when they are typically able to hold their bladder for longer periods of time and have fewer accidents inside.
Of course, if your puppy isnt quite ready to give up the pads at six months old, that’s okay! Just continue to work with them and consult with a professional if you need help. They will be able to guide you through the process and help you determine when your puppy is ready.
How To Gradually Take Away The Puppy Pads?
Now that you know when to take the puppy pads away, it’s time to learn how!
Step 1: Put the puppy pads in a smaller and smaller areas
The first step is to start confining the puppy pads to a smaller and smaller area. This could be done by putting up baby gates or moving furniture around so that the only place they can go is on the puppy pad.
Step Two: Incorporate a Dog Litter Box
If you have been using puppy pads, chances are your dog already knows how to use a litter box. If not, don’t worry, it’s easy to teach them! Just put the litter box in the same area as the puppy pads and slowly move it towards the door until it is in its final location.
Step Three: Praise Your Dog
Whenever your dog goes on the puppy pads or in the litter box, make sure to praise them. This will let them know that they are doing something good!
Step Four: Be consistent
The most important thing when it comes to taking away puppy pads is to be consistent. If you are not, then your dog will get confused and may start going to the bathroom in other places around your house. So, make sure to stick to the plan and you’ll be successful!
How often should you praise and reward your pup for successful potty breaks outdoors during training?
You should praise and reward your pup every time they have a successful potty break outdoors. This will help them to know that they are doing something good and will encourage them to continue doing it.
Rewarding your pup with treats, petting, or verbal praise will also help to build a positive association with going potty outdoors.
If you only praise and reward your pup occasionally, they may not understand what they did that was so special and could become confused or discouraged. So be sure to celebrate every success!
If you are using positive reinforcement to train your pup, then you should also be consistent with the amount of praise and rewards that you give.
This means that if you praise and reward your pup for going potty outdoors one time, you should do it every time they go. This will help them to understand what behavior you are trying to encourage and will make the training process more effective.
So be sure to be consistent with your praise and rewards, and your pup will be well on their way to success!
What should you do if your puppy has an accident in the house during training?
If your puppy has an accident in the house during training, it is important to clean it up immediately. This will help to prevent your pup from returning to that spot and going again.
It is also important to remember that accidents happen, and you should not punish your pup for them. Instead, use the accident as a learning opportunity and be sure to praise your pup when they go potty in the appropriate spot.
With time and patience, your pup will learn where they are supposed to go and accidents will become less and less common. So hang in there and keep up the good work!
Are there any risks associated with taking away the puppy pads too early or too late in a pup’s life?
Yes, there are a few risks associated with taking away the puppy pads too early or too late in a pup’s life. If you take them away too early, your pup may not be able to hold their bladder for long periods of time and may have accidents inside the house.
If you take them away too late, your pup may get used to going on the puppy pads and have a hard time transitioning to going outside and your pup may get used to the pads and not want to give them up.
This could lead to a lot of frustration on both your parts. The best thing to do is to talk to your vet and get their opinion on when the best time to take away the puppy pads would be.
What are some common mistakes people make when trying to train their puppies not to use the pads indoors anymore?
Some common mistakes people make when trying to train their puppies not to use the pads indoors anymore include:
Not being consistent with the rules
If you allow your puppy to use the pads indoors sometimes, they will get confused and it will be more difficult to train them not to use them.
Not praising or rewarding their good behavior
If your puppy does something you want them to do, make sure to praise and reward them so they know that they are doing something right. If you don’t do it your wait for when to take puppy pads away and the time required by a puppy to develop sense will increase.
Not being patient
It takes time and patience to train a puppy not to use the pads indoors, so don’t get frustrated if they have accidents or slip-ups along the way. Stick with it and eventually, they will get it!
Not having a designated potty area
If you want your pup to learn to go potty outside, you need to have a designated area for them to do their business. This could be in your backyard, or even just a small patch of grass near your front door.
Not taking them out often enough
Puppies need to go potty A LOT – usually every few hours. If you’re not taking them out frequently enough, they’re going to have accidents indoors.
Not paying attention to their body language
Puppies will give you signals when they need to go potty, so it’s important to be aware of these cues and act accordingly. If you see your pup sniffing around or circling, take them outside right away!
Punishing them for accidents
This will only make your puppy scared and confused and is more likely to lead to more accidents in the future. If your pup has an accident, just clean it up calmly and try to do better next time.
Not cleaning up accidents immediately
If your puppy has an accident in the house during training, it is important to clean it up immediately.
This will help to prevent your pup from returning to that spot and going again. It is also important to remember that accidents happen, and you should not punish your pup for them.
Instead, use the accident as a learning opportunity, and be sure to praise your pup when they go potty in the appropriate spot.
Taking away the puppy pads too early or too late
If you take away the puppy pads too early, your pup may not be able to hold their bladder for long periods of time and may have accidents inside the house.
If you take them away too late, your pup may get used to going on the puppy pads and have a hard time transitioning to going outside.
So, by avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to successfully potty training your puppy!
Do all dogs eventually learn to go outside?
Most dogs eventually learn to go outside, but some may never completely stop using the pads indoors.
For those that do learn to go outside, it usually takes a few weeks to a few months of consistent training for them to get the hang of it.
Every dog is different though, so just be patient and keep working with your pup and they will eventually get it and you will know exactly when to take puppy pads away conviently.
How often should you throw away puppy pads?
You should throw away puppy pads when they get soiled or wet. Some people like to have a few spare pads on hand so they can quickly replace them as needed.
Others prefer to wash and reuse the pads, which is also an option. Ultimately, it is up to you how often you want to throw away or replace the puppy pads.
Puppy pads can be a great tool to use when potty training your puppy. Just be sure to use them correctly and be consistent with the rules, and your pup will learn where they should go to the bathroom in no time!
Conclusion
In the end, I hope now you know When To Take Puppy Pads Away and some helpful tips for Potty Training Your Puppy. If you have any questions please leave them below in the comments and I will get back to you asap! Thanks for reading.
FAQs
Can I use puppy pads long-term?
The answer to this question depends on your individual circumstances. If you have a small dog that stays inside most of the time, then puppy pads may be a good solution for you long term.
However, if you have a large dog that spends a lot of time outdoors, then puppy pads are probably not going to be the best solution for you in the long run. You will need to talk to your vet about what the best solution is for your individual pet.
Should I change the puppy pad every time?
It depends on the size of the dog and the amount of pee. For a small dog, you might be able to get away with changing it every other day. But for a bigger dog, you’ll probably need to change it every day.
If you have a puppy, you might need to change the puppy pad more often. Puppies tend to pee more frequently and in larger amounts than adult dogs.
So, how often should you change the puppy pad? It really depends on your individual dog and their bathroom habits. But as a general rule of thumb, you should probably be changing it at least once a day – or more if necessary.
Where should you place puppy pads?
There are a few things to consider when deciding where to place puppy pads.
First, you’ll want to choose a spot that’s easily accessible for your dog. They should be able to get to the pad without too much trouble.
Second, you’ll want to choose a spot that’s not too close to your home. You don’t want your dog to start associating the pads with your house and start peeing indoors.
And finally, you’ll want to pick a spot that’s out of the way of foot traffic. You don’t want people accidentally stepping in your dog’s accidents.
