Is potty training a puppy anything like potty training a toddler?
Well, yes… in a way. Except that, hopefully, the puppy will be quicker to get the message!
Working on the assumption that the human year is equal to seven dog years – at least to start off with – the puppy will be a young adult before the baby even leaves the toddler stage.
An increasing number of owners swear by puppy training pads. They tell us that, having tried various other methods, these pads are streets ahead because there are no more messy paws to contend with, no more horrid smells of stale (or even fresh) urine, and best of all, no more sheets of soggy wet newspaper to dispose of.
These pads are undoubtedly a great breakthrough in the world of puppy training.
Dog loos, of the type which can be dug into the soil and become an integral feature of the garden, are great for outdoor dogs. But indoor dogs need something else.
One type of puppy training pad comes with rubber feet to stop it moving around while the dog is emptying his bowels and/or bladder.
The Nugi Indoor Dog Litter Tray comes with a special washable pad to absorb the unit. We have been given to understand that after a month or so of taking the puppy to this pad, he will usually start going there by himself.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have also introduced some of these pads. Theirs come in packs of 40 and are ultra-absorbent with the manufacturers claiming that they are the perfect way to keep the puppy hygienically house-trained and dry.
Another possibility is the Canac Keep Off formula which comes in the form of a crystal gel with a lovely citrus scent. With cats and dogs hating the smell of citrus one squirt is enough to keep the little sweeties away from areas where you definitely do not want them to ‘perform’.
Having said that, be sure not to squirt anywhere near the training pads, or the puppy will just walk off in the opposite direction, thus defeating the whole object of the exercise.