I’ll admit it: I’m a lazy dog owner. I never owned a dog until five years ago, and I heard all the stories from friends about the constant demands of dog ownership—from grooming to those dreaded middle-of-the-night potty breaks. “No thanks,” I thought. “Not for me.” I didn’t want to lose sleep, rush home from hanging out with friends, or be tethered to daily walks just so my dog could do his business. Is it possible to avoid all of that? Yes! And it’s much easier if you start with a puppy.
Setting Up for Success
First, you’ll need a collapsible fence that you can adjust in size and shape. Next, and most importantly, get plenty of pee pads. Start by placing two pee pads side-by-side, then enclose them precisely with the fence. This will be your puppy’s “living quarters.” Keep their food, water, and bed inside this area. Your puppy will stay here 24/7, except when you take them out to play. When you do play, make sure to place a clean pee pad nearby. The key is to consistently train your puppy to use the pee pads, whether they are inside or outside their living quarters.
As your puppy grows, gradually increase the size of their living quarters, covering the entire area with pee pads. Pay close attention to where your puppy tends to do their business most often. Monitor this for a few weeks to see if they consistently use the same spot. Once you feel there’s a consistent pattern, slowly and gradually remove one pad at a time every few days, while still monitoring their habits. Eventually, you should have only one pad left in the living quarters, and your puppy should consistently use it for all their business. Once this is accomplished, you can remove the entire fence and allow your puppy to have free roam of the house.
The Freedom of a Pee Pad Trained Dog
It’s been five years since I first implemented this method, and my dog is 100% pee pad trained. He’s so incredibly reliable that he’ll be playing happily in the backyard, then come inside, use his pad, and go right back out to play. The advantages of having a fully pee pad trained dog are truly life-changing. You genuinely get your freedom back. If you have to work late, or decide to stay out a little longer with friends, there’s no frantic rush home. Your dog is fine.
Traveling also becomes incredibly easy. When staying at a hotel or Airbnb, you don’t have to worry about your dog having an accident in the room or scrambling to find a suitable outdoor spot in an unfamiliar area. All you have to do is lay down a pee pad in your temporary accommodation, and your dog knows exactly what to do. It’s stress-free for both of you, opening up a world of possibilities for dog owners who value convenience and flexibility.