Dog Pee Pad Problems: Why They Stop Using It & How to Get Your Dog to Pee on Pad Again
Okay, here's my blog post about the dog pee pad situation, written in a casual, personal style:
So, my little furball, Buster, used to be a champ with the pee pads. Seriously, he got it right away when he was a puppy. Made house training so much easier, especially since I live in an apartment. But lately? Total miss-fest. He'd sniff the pad, maybe circle it a few times, and then...bam...pee right next to it on the carpet. Drove. Me. Nuts.
Figuring Out the "Why"
First thing I did was rule out any medical problems. I mean, if he was suddenly having accidents, it could be a UTI or something, right? So, off to the vet we went. Got him checked out, and the vet gave him a clean bill of health. Okay, so it wasn't medical. Good news, I guess, but also frustrating because I still had pee on my carpet.
My Troubleshooting Steps
Next, I started playing detective. Here's what I went through:
- Changed the Pad Type: I wondered if he suddenly hated the brand of pads I was using. Maybe they changed the scent or something? So, I bought a different brand, a totally different texture, even. Nope. Still peed next to it.
- Location, Location, Location: Maybe he didn't like where the pad was. I tried moving it to different spots in the apartment. A little closer to the door, then a little further away, then near his bed...still no luck. It was like he was actively avoiding it.
- Cleanliness Freak-Out: Dogs are pretty clean, usually. I thought maybe I wasn't changing the pad often enough. So, I started changing it immediately after he used it, even if it was just a tiny bit. Still...nothing. He Just walked and pee on other clean place.
- Back to Basics Training: This was the tough part. I basically had to re-train him like he was a puppy again. I took him out to his pad every hour, on the hour. Lots of praise and treats when he even sniffed the pad. And, of course, even more praise and treats when he actually went on it.
The Solution! (Finally!)
It took a few weeks of consistent effort with going back to the basic training, but he finally started using the pad again! I noticed befor he stop using pad, the pad wasn't stay at the same spot. I think he has some kind of "memory" on where he should pee.
So I added a pad holder. It keeps the pad from sliding, and it also seems to give him a more defined "target." It is such a silly simple thing, but It really helped.
I'm still keeping a close eye on him, and I make sure to praise him every time he uses the pad correctly. It's a work in progress, but we're definitely back on track. Hopefully, this helps someone else out there who's dealing with a similar pee-pad mystery!
