How to use adult underpads for potty training

For all the joy and excitement of bringing home a new puppy, potty training can be enough to make you wonder what you were thinking. In fact, one of the most popular questions on the internet is how to potty train a puppy. The goal of potty training is simple, but the details can be confusing, like whether to use adult underpads or even an indoor doggie bathroom. 

Having your dog go outside is the ideal solution, but potty pads can sometimes play a role in successful potty training. 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 don’t have a backyard and your dog’s toilet area is a public place, you might want to limit your puppy’s exposure until he’s fully vaccinated. So, if you want to include adult underpads or indoor potties in your puppy’s house training routine, read on for tips on how to potty train a puppy on pads. 

It’s easy to get frustrated with your new puppy when potty training is taking longer than you expected. But it’s essential to be patient during this process. Remember, potty training takes time. Don’t expect more from your puppy than he is able to deliver. The following points will help you keep your cool:

• Decide what size of disposable underpads best suits your puppy’s needs
• Consider an indoor “litter box-type” dog bathroom
• A puppy can’t control his bladder until he is 16 weeks old. So as much as you might like him to wait, he simply can’t.
• A puppy can only hold his bladder as long as his age is in months plus one hour. So, a four-month-old puppy can only hold it for five hours. That includes during the night as well.
• Every breed is different. For example, a toy breed might need more frequent potty breaks due to a fast metabolism and tiny bladder.
• Every puppy is different, even within breeds. Your first puppy might have been potty trained in a few weeks, but your next one might need months.