Puppy Pads: Which Type of Puppy Training Pads is Best for Your Pup
House training puppies is something that requires patience and the correct tools. Puppy pads are an indispensable utility in housebreaking your puppy, but they come in two different forms: disposable and washable. Each type of puppy training pads has its own strengths and weaknesses. Discussing these will help you make an informed decision as to which type of pad you want to deal with in training your puppy. Different breeds of dog require different methods of training, especially depending on the size of your puppy as it grows. Most owners want to use an indoor solution and then move outdoors once their puppy is large enough, but for smaller breeds like Yorkies and the Maltese, permanent indoor solutions may be required.
If you only need training pads for a small duration while your puppy learns to use a designated area for their business, it may not be cost effective to purchase washable puppy pads, since they will be phased out once your puppy is housebroken. A large pack of disposable training pads will only cost you around $15, while purchasing a pack of washable pads will run you as high as $40. As you can see, the cost difference is quite significant. However, if you plan on using pads as a permanent solution for your dog, washable pads could potentially save you money. Even though the washable pads cost more initially, if you will be using them frequently they will eventually pay for themselves over the span of your dogs life.
For the environmentally conscious who are raising a puppy, washable pads also present another advantage. There is less waste and chemicals involved in producing washable pads and since they are washable, there is very little waste in using the life of the pad. Washing and laundry costs do need to be taken into consideration, but if you are using environmentally safe laundry detergents as you would with your clothes, there is really little difference in washing puppy pads.
The downside of using washable training pads is that they stink to high heaven, since you want to do a load of them together. They collect all the feces and urine that your dog creates and if you only wash a group of them a week, when it comes time to do that load, the smell could be overbearing. This is additionally true if you store them inside the house until it is time to wash them. This factor is one reason many people choose to use disposable pads, so they do not have to deal with this situation.
For those who want to use washable pads, having a proper storage container to hold the pads until they are ready to be washed is a must. The cost of this container must be figured in as a cost of using reusable puppy pads, since if you do not store them in a proper container, the smell will travel through your whole house. The best solution to this problem is storing used pads in a lidded plastic garbage can. If you do not feel as though you can deal with the smell of puppy pads each week, then you might want to consider the disposable option. Dog urine is especially strong in the heat of summer, so keep that in mind as well.
For those who want to use disposable pads, one factor you may not take into consideration is how much puppies love to chew. Your puppy made discover that the training pad is more fun to chew and shred than it is to use it as a toilet training area, which can present a problem for your training. If your dog sees the pad as a toy instead of an area to do its business, then training could be severely hampered. To prevent this from happening, ensure your puppy does not use the pad as a toy and do not encourage such behavior. Any time your puppy picks up anything that is not a toy, take it away, tap its nose and promptly give it an acceptable toy. This will train your pet that certain things are not to be used as toys, including training pads.
Washable pads are nice because they are a great way to help train your puppy without the possibility of your dog being able to shred them. However, because they tend to stink and require immediate attention, washing them daily can become a habit. These are just a few of the dog training tips you can follow to help train your puppy to use a certain area for his business, but you should definitely choose the method that is most comfortable for you.