[Effylicious]

Hi! I'm looking over the best ways to housetrain my baby, and I'm wondering what would be better: to train him to go outside, or on a peepad? See, right now it's summer, so I am home with him almost all day, but come Sptember, I'll be at school for 7 hours or so. We have a very large backyard, but because of the school issue [and nobody else will be home either] I wonder--would it be better, in your personal opinions, to yard or pad train him? Thanks in advance!

 

[sullysmum]

Mine use both

 

[Cooper]

Outdoors, definitely. If yours is a puppy, you may want to use the potty pads as a training tool, that way he knows to use them instead of the carpet if you're not home.

The vet and trainers told me that puppies can hold their bladders for up to 8-9 hours, one hour per their age in months. A 4 month old pup shouldn't be expected to hold it more than 4 hours. After 8-9 months, the pup should be able to hold his or her bladder for 8 or 9 hours with no problems. I took away the potty pads when Cooper was about 10 months old because I was coming home and there was no potty on the pads - and he was waiting by the back door doing the pee dance! LOL

If you have a back yard, then training to go outside would be best for both of you. But using the potty pads is helpful in that training, especially if you're not home and he's got to go.

 

[Effylicious]

Thanks so much for a quick response!

So a mixture of the two, like taking him outside when we're home, but leaving the pads when we're not?

That sounds like a good idea to me--meanwhile, does anyone have a specific brand of pee pads that are good for them? I have heard the Out! is good.

 

[Cooper]

I just bought the store brand or whatever was there and cheap. But luck was on my side because from day one, Cooper wanted to go potty outside so he rarely used the pads. Someone else might be able to suggest a brand that can hold liquid better than the cheap-os.

 

[TuckersMom]

Just don't get the Hartz brand. Several of us on the forum found that our pups would drag this particular brand around and tear them up, too. Don't know why but it's true. :?

 

[Effylicious]

Just don't get the Hartz brand. Several of us on the forum found that our pups would drag this particular brand around and tear them up, too. Don't know why but it's true. :?

We tried the Hartz on our Yorkie when he was younger...he did exactly what, so we sort of swore off pads, not realizing it could be the particular brand. I just don't trust Hartz products..horror stories and whatnot.

 

[Ms_P]

You might want to start with one of the brands that has the scent added that's suppose to attract them to potty on.
After he gets the hang of it, you can switch to a cheaper brand.

Also, you didn't say where you live.
It gets really cold here in the winter usually, and I don't take mine outside when the temperature gets down in the teens and below, so the pads are a must in the winter.

 

[sullysmum]

I use several different kinds, the puppy ones you get in Wilkinsons, real baby change mats, and incontinence pads for a bed ( they were the best),and folded towelling.

 

[amykate]

I use the pads for my baby. I use the Out! brand simply because they're more absorbant than any of the others I've tried. I got mine at Wal-Mart (a bag of 32 pads for around $7). I tried Hartz and Ol' Roy and both of them seemed to be the equivalent of newspaper. You lift the bad to dispose of it and the pee just gathers in a big puddle under it. ukeright:

I also use a puppy pad holder for mine to keep Josie from tearing them and dragging them all over the house--they're very useful! I ordered mine from PetsMart.com and I think it was about $15.

Good luck! :wave:

 

[xx-nathalie-xx]

Mine use both [/quote

ditto

kisses nat

 

[Jayne]

Tyson just goes outside i dont use anything indoors atall only cos i havent got too much room and the less the better!

I take him out like every two hours or more and he sleeps through the nite without needing toilet atall. we have had a few accidents indoors but i just take him straight outside and show him the grass, he is learning and almost pees on command outside now!!

 

[luvmydogs]

We also do both. Bella is really good at doing her business on the pads while we are not home. When we are home she demands to go outside! So it works out for us.

Leslie

 

[chimom]

I am a huge fan of pee pads. When I had my previous chi, I worked full time and was sometimes gone for 10 hours at a time. As she got older and developed some health issues, she had a lot of accidents in the house. I started with the pads from the first day I brought Jazzy home, and she started using them almost immediately. She's 11 months old now, and is trained to go outside but she will also use the pads during the night or if I'm not home. It is such a relief to be able to go barefoot in the house and not worry about stepping in dog pee. :lol: I was also very grateful for the pads during her recent bout with diarrhea. There is no way I would have been able to get her outside in time.

I also use the Out brand from Walmart and have never had any problems with leakage. Think they run about $6.50 for a pack of 32. I've tried some of the more expensive brands, but I couldn't tell they were any better.