Are Indoor Pee Pads For Dogs A Bad Idea?

Are indoor pee pads for dogs a bad ideaI admit that before I understood the reasoning behind using dog pee pads I really couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to train their dog to go to the bathroom indoors. It was ignorance on my part, of course. Without giving it a fair thought I immediately concluded that this was a gross concept. Training your dog to pee in the house…why would anyone do such a thing?!

That was just an initial reaction, however. And, prior to us taking on our very small, elderly, Maltese foster dog that has frequent potty accidents if not watched like a hawk. Once we had a pup like this in our house I realized that dog pee pads were looking like a darn good idea. A great idea, in fact!

Of course, there are many reasons people opt for pee pads for their dogs, and since I at one time questioned their use, I thought others might too. So, for all the skeptical people out there wondering why dog pee pads are even a thing, or for those of you on the fence about whether or not to use them, here are some common reasons they can become your best friend.

Why Use Dog Pee Pads?

  • Dogs with health issues, or elderly dogs, that can’t get outside easily
  • People with health issues that can’t easily access the outdoors to let their dog out
  • Living in a high rise building (pee pads may also be used on a balcony/outdoor patio)
  • Small dog breed that is difficult to potty train outdoors
  • People that work long hours and can’t expect their dog to hold it that long
  • Small dog breeds that shiver, or have issues stepping on ice, while eliminating outdoors in winter months

Are indoor pee pads for dogs a bad ideaShould Dog Pee Pads Be Used For Housetraining?

If you use pee pads in the interim, just until your dog learns to eliminate outdoors, it’s very possible that once you take those pee pads away you will now be faced with your dog peeing in the house. For this reason, I would recommend only using the pee pads for one of the reasons stated above, and only if you plan to keep using them. Some people, when gone for extended hours, do use them inside their dog’s crate (at the opposite end from their sleeping area), in hopes that they’ll use them if needed.

Does the Attractant in Dog Pee Pads Work?

Some dog pee pads are treated with an attractant to entice your dog to pee on them, and some are not. Some of the attractants used are the scent of things such as a grass or ammonia. However, I can tell you first hand that the scent does not automatically mean your dog will be attracted to it. Getting a dog to use pee pads will take the same types of training methods used to potty train a dog outdoors. You can read my article about training a dog to use pee pads HERE.

Are indoor pee pads for dogs a bad ideaIs There an Alternative to Dog Pee Pads?

Some dogs, and pet owners too, may prefer the idea of (affiliate link) real grass over a dog pee pad. These grass patches are delivered to your home in a box and get tossed after a week or so’s worth of use, at which point a new patch of grass gets delivered. They can be a bit more costly, but may be a more desirable option for dogs that are fussy or had been accustomed to eliminating on a grassy area. They can be a great alternative since they tend to absorb odor nicely, and there is no hassle of picking up used pads off the floor and replacing them. Other pro’s are that they are eco-friendly, can be joined together for larger dogs, and are dirt-free in the case of those digging pups!

 

 

 

 

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