Puppy pads - do they confuse a dog about going outside?

They reverse the training. The dog would not know a puppy pad from an expensive rug.

@janbb I agree with @josie. If you’re gone less than 8 hours, crate them, they rarely potty in crates, and if they do, it’s contained so it doesn’t ruin your house. Of course let them go out before crating and as soon as you’re home.

That was my feeling too. He mainly goes on walks though and I want to get him to go regularly in a part of the yard. Any tips on that?

We trained our chihuahua with them. They did not work and in my opinion using a crate is the way to go. Pads will just confuse your poor pup.

@janbb Is your yard fenced so he can go out and do his thing? If you want him to potty in a specific part of the yard, this sounds gross, but spread some of your own urine in that area and take him to it, he will start going there after smelling it (usually.)

If you use the pads correctly, it will help in training the dog. The pads are treated with a scent that simulates the smell dogs are looking for when going to the bathroom.

It takes a month or two for the dog to get the idea that the pad is where he does his business. Once the dog starts to hit the target on a regular basis, you can then put one or two pads outside in the backyard. The dog will be drawn to the pad by association. Then you can pick up the pads when home and only put one or two down when you go out.

Our four year old basset was trained on puppy pads. We never had to crate her. Now if we have to go out for longer that four hours, we put two or three pads down in the hall. If she has to go, 100% of the time she will use the pad. She may use the pad once or twice a month. Most of the time she waits. We use the pads that are washable. This cuts down on cost. And, because they are not paper, she does not shred them.

They do not mistake an expensive rug for the pad unless the dog has already left his scent on the rug. Our dog always used the pads, not the rug.

We started off with puppy pads with Daisy because she was so young and tiny and we adopted her in December, so we were worried about the cold, but we chucked them in less than a week. Once you want them to go outside, you have to transition from the pads by gradually moving them outside and then taking them away to show the pup it’s okay to pee and poop outside. Screw that. We just took Daisy out and she did just fine – 90% house-trained in about three months.

I know that this is a one-off thing for you just because of the weather, but since Frodo is mostly trained, I wouldn’t want to confuse him by allowing him to use the pads when it’s cold outside. He’ll be just fine outdoors for the few minutes it takes for him to do his business. I know that Daisy pees and poops in quite a rush when it’s raining or particularly cold, so she’s hardly out there for any time at all. You don’t have to walk him to let him go outside. Even if you don’t have a yard, take him to the nearest grassy patch and let him do his thing. And please clean up after him!

@livelaughlove21 That’s kind of where I’m at with it. He is 90% or so house trained too although he doesn’t indicate when he has to go but he does hold it. However, he is often so excited to be on yard patrol duty (we call it yard work) when he is let into the yard that he doesn’t always go then. This morning he went barreling out and I think peed but pooped on the den rug later. Luckily, he only eats kibble so his poops are very discreet.

I only used newspapers at first, to protect the floor. I took him outside every time he went and replaced the paper.

Now that he is old and partially incontinent, I use plastic runners in the hall, which he goes, and clean up whenever necessary.

@janbb Lucky! Daisy only eats kibble as well but she has big poops that can stink up the neighborhood. Thankfully she now only poops in the house when she absolutely can’t hold it, usually because Josh ignored her whining at the door one too many times. Bad husband! :)

@livelaughlove21 You know, we switched to NutriSource salmon-based food and it reduces the size of the poops and they’re consistancy is like elephant doo, or other plant-based doo’s, break apart. Supposedly this means they gain nutrients from it that are much healthier than grain-based diets. Their coats are gorgeous, too!

Our trainer seemed to think so and my dog is now trained to just go out and go to the bathroom right away so cold days like this you are not stuck outside waiting for the dog to do his business.

Update: He is getting very good and will generally go out and “do his business” when I tell him to do so. Occassionally, he does poop on a certain part of the den carpet. Still does not ask to be let out to go.

No not at all.

I had puppy pads for my puppy he still went out when I was here at home and barked at the door to let me know he needed to go.