Do you remember potty training your puppy? Oh boy, what fun! Endless hours were spent telling little poochy to ‘Go Potty,' while you hung around on grassy street corners and in dog parks.
And then… you didn’t have to do that anymore. Your best friend was trained, a pleasure to own, easy to walk, he was all grown up, and you didn’t even realize it had happened.
Where did the time go?
The Problem: Adult Dog Potty Training
Where there are dogs, there are puddles and plops - that’s just basic science! But where do they happen? Usually outside thank goodness, although there are times when you need to do things differently.
What are you going to do with your fur baby if you’re too sick for walkies?
How about if your little guy has an injury that limits his mobility?
Or the boss needs you to work late, and you only find out last minute?
The list can go on and on, but really, life just happens! And if it’s happening to you right now, you have my sympathy and also a solution.
The Solution: Adult Dog Pee Pads
No matter what the reason is for needing to potty train an adult dog, the steps to success are nearly always the same. To prepare for training you need to first:
- Use Dog Pee Pads - You can buy dog pads online or at your local pet store. Placed on the floor or on the wall at a 90° angle to use as a male dog pad solution, the best dog pee pads are super absorbent, have stay put tabs and are leak-proof for super easy clean-up.
- Decide where you would like to locate the pads - The best place to put your dog’s potty pads to start with is on a wipe-clean surface like tiles, linoleum or even polished wood. Laundry rooms, bathrooms and kitchens are usually the ideal location.
If you only have carpet, don’t worry, there’s an easy way to protect it. Just put a piece of wood, board or even tarpaulin underneath in case of accidents at the beginning.
Five Step Plan: How to Potty Train an Adult Dog
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Location
Decide on a space for your dog pee pads and lay them down, don’t forget to use the adhesive tabs to keep them in place.
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Command Word
Whether your pal knows a command word to trigger potty time or not, you’re going to start using one now. If you can start this training while Fido is going potty outdoors that’s great, but if not, no worries, your pal isn’t just super cute, he’s super smart too and will soon understand what you mean.
Every time you want that little poopster to go potty, use the command word. ‘Go Potty’ or ‘Hurry Up’ are good ones, but I like to say ‘Pipi Maintenant’ in a very French accent, it keeps things fresh!
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Routine
Some folks find it easiest to be really organized about this stage in their fur-ever friend's life, I could say they get a bit ‘anal,’ but I wouldn’t do that!
Feed meals at the same time every day...routine
Feed the same food every day...routine.
Take him to potty pad when he wakes up...routine
Take him to potty pad when you would normally walk him...routine
Take him to potty pad before bed...routine.
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Leash work
Clip a leash onto yourself and your dog, if he makes a move to go potty, you need to guide him straight to that pad. It’s way too easy to get distracted at just the wrong moment.
Don’t let that little rascal pee near the door when you’re not looking, if you feel a pull on the leash, you just drop everything, go over to the pad and say the command word. Repeat this time and time again until he gets the hang of it.
An alarm can help you keep track of time if you’re snowed under with work, or there’s something really good on TV, set the alarm for when you think he’ll next need to go.
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Positive Reinforcement
We know you love your dog and chat to him all the time, and tell him he’s clever when he does something cute, but you have to up your game if you want potty training to be a quick and fun success.
We are talking mega positive reinforcement here, not just a pat on the shoulder and then you quickly clean up. There is no praise greater than potty time praise.
Let your little guy see that the rules have changed, now he does his business indoors, and he’s amazing to adapt. What a superstar!
Dogs have been known to squat and pretend to go just to get that extra special praise that only comes from using the pee pad!
Good Luck. We’d love to hear how it goes for you and feel free to send us your questions on troubleshooting.
Ready to start potty training your adult dog? Try a free sample of the WizSmart adult dog pee pads and see the difference the right pad can make when it comes to keeping your dog and your home clean!
