PUPPY AND DOG TRAINING, HOUSEBREAKING, HOUSE BREAKING, PUPPY POTTY TRAINING, PUPPY BOOT CAMP DELRAY BEACH, BOCA RATON, BOYNTON BEACH, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

Housebreaking or Pad Training?

Which is better? This is a question we're asked constantly. Though we personally feel that potty outside is best, our answer is: it depends upon your needs and lifestyle. For example, if you live in an apartment building, it would be beneficial to use potty pads, versus asking a puppy or dog to "hold it" while you navigate the hallways to get to an elevator and then outside to a potty spot. Not many pups can hold it that long! Additionally, if you travel frequently with your dog, it would be nice if he or she could have the option of a pad if you spend time in airports and hotels. If you have any disabilities which would prevent you from walking your dog, pads are definitely a good choice. However, we only recommend pads for small breed dogs.

Though pads do offer an element of convenience, you need to know that pottying inside on a "paper square" is not a natural thing for a dog to do. Therefore, if you want your dog to use pads, we believe that it's vitally important for you to begin this training at no later than 10 weeks of age. The reason is simple: because it's an unnatural potty situation (dogs prefer to potty outside), if you wait too long to train him or her, then it will be difficult - if not impossible - for your pup to grasp the concept. They will not understand that it's "ok to potty inside on this paper square"....but not ok to potty on "this area rug, or chair, or bed, or wall-to-wall carpeting, etc". Instead, the pup will claim your entire home as their toilet and it will become a potty free-for-all. That is the biggest downside of pad training; you have a limited window of opportunity to successfully train. On the bright side, should you change your mind about pad training your dog, it is possible to transition your pup to potty outside.

If you have a yard (or any access to grass) then we highly recommend that you consider housebreaking your pup. We also suggest using potty training bells - this is the method we use ourselves. Potty bells are available in most pet stores and online. You hang them on or near your door and teach your pup to ring them to signal he or she has to go potty. There's a specific training technique for the bells - and it really does work!

If you like the concept of pad training, but don't want to deal with soiled pads inside your home, another potty training option is to merge pad training with potty outside and training bells. This is perfect if your only outdoor space is a patio or balcony. You could use potty pads on your patio (put them into a frame or tape down the corners to prevent them from blowing away) or, there are "Potty Patches" available which can be either a patch of real or artificial turf placed within a washable base/tray. You'll then do the method for housebreaking with the bells, but instead of taking your pup into a yard or for a walk, you'll take your dog out to your patio/balcony to relieve themselves on their potty patch or pad. Note: if your pup is very tiny, it could possibly slip through balcony railings. There are many types of safety screen or net products you could attach to your railings to prevent this from happening.

Whichever way you decide to go, please be as patient as possible! Every dog learns at their own pace. Even the smartest pups take awhile to be completely trained. In the meantime, if we can be of any assistance to you, contact us anytime!

Best of luck!

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