Potty training a puppy can be frustrating. Because going out every hour is not practical for you, you would rather use a pee pad, training pad, puppy pad, or potty pad. It frees up your time and protects your home from bad dog odor!
But what should you do if your dog won’t pee on the pad anymore? If your dog was previously trained to go potty on pads but now, they suddenly stopped using them, then something is surely wrong.
Find out the benefits of using puppy pee pads and why your dog has suddenly stopped peeing on the pad. We also explore the solutions to these problems, as well as other tips for dog urination issues.
Why You Need Pee Pads
Why use a pad when you’re potty training your pooch?
Although many dog owners have problems with using potty pads for their dogs, here are some benefits of using a pee pad for your dog.
Pee Pads Make Potty Training Easier
Teaching your dog to do their business outside isn’t always practical, especially if they need to stay indoors when you’re at work all the time.
With the pheromones in pee pads, your pup is attracted to them, meaning you won’t have to spend time and energy trying to get them to go outside.
Once you establish a safe place inside for your dog to pee, there’s no need to worry about sticking to a potty schedule.
You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that your dog is not trying to hold it in while you’re not around.
However, make sure they still get time outdoors for exercise and mental stimulation!
Puppy pads also make cleaning up after accidents faster and easier. You don’t have to scrub and use deodorizers.
Just throw the pad away and replace it with a new one.
Pee Pads Protect Your Home
Many dog owners worry about their home having pet stains and foul odor. You can avoid this once you teach your dog the appropriate place to pee indoors.
As mentioned, pee pads have a pheromone that attracts puppies to use them, so they will be less likely to soil your couch!
They also contain materials that neutralize odor.
Try these American Kennel Club’s Pet Training and Puppy Pads. Available in five scents, these training pads have six layers that can quickly absorb pee without leaking.
They can also eliminate bad odor and are antibacterial!
Why Your Dog Doesn’t Pee on the Pad Anymore
Specific issues compel dogs to stop peeing on a pee pad all of a sudden. Here are some possible reasons why your dog pees outside the training pad now and some solutions to help solve this problem.
Your Dog Needs Training
Most dog owners assume that once they see their dog peeing on the pad, it means it will stay that way forever.
Learning a behavior requires lots of repetitions to grow strong.
Here’s how to effectively train your dog to use a pee pad:
- Take your dog to the pee pad, with or without a leash, and reward them every time they pee there.
- Take your dog often there, like every 45 minutes at first. You can also try 1 to 3 short sessions a day.
- Stop your dog every time they go potty elsewhere in the house by keeping them leashed and near you all the time.
When you’re not around, you might also want to confine them to an area covered with pee pads.
This way, you are setting them up to succeed by making the intended target larger.
Your Dog Has Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection can be the reason why your well-trained dog suddenly stops peeing on their pee pad.
A UTI in dogs is an infection usually caused by bacteria. Bacterial UTI affects 14% of dogs throughout their lifetimes.
Female dogs are more likely to get UTIs than males, but male dogs may still get them.
Aside from peeing outside of the pee pad, other signs of UTI in dogs include:
- Bloody and/or cloudy urine.
- Straining or whimpering during urination.
- Frequent accidents.
- Wanting to go out (for dogs who are used to peeing outside).
- Licking around the urinary opening.
- Fever.
Unfortunately, there are times when dogs do not show any symptoms of UTI. That is why you should always seek the help of a vet.
Your veterinarian is the person best equipped to deal with this situation. Go to them immediately before the UTI worsens into poisoning, kidney disease, cancer, or stones.
Your Dog is Already Old
Old dogs cannot control their bladder anymore. They may also be experiencing cognitive dysfunction, where they forget what they learned from previous training.
Cognitive dysfunction also makes it tough for them to remember new training.
If your dog is having a hard time moving to one place to pee, change the placement of the pad.
If it still doesn’t work, the best thing to do is be patient with them and the cleanups.
Your Dog Has Behavioral Problems
Urinating outside the pad when they have been trained not to do so is a sign of a behavioral issue in dogs.
Are they feeling anxious or stressed? This usually happens when you moved homes.
An uncomfy environment can unsettle your dog, leading to them relieving themselves in unusual ways.
If your dog stopped peeing on the pee pad, try to find out what triggered them.
Are there changes in the environment that might be worrying them? Do they look like they are in pain?
Other Tips for Dog Urination Issues
Here are other tips to resolve dog urination issues.
- Training. Try crate-training your dog. Teach them to rest in their crate for a short time. This will help them build bladder and bowel muscle control. It will also help you predict elimination when you take them out of their crate.
- Routine. Schedule access to food and water at the same time every day. This will also help you predict when they will need to go.
- Potty Training. If you’re potty-training your dog with multiple pee pads, remove one pee pad at a time for a few weeks.
- Hygiene. Put a clean pee pad down more often. Your dog probably doesn’t like to step where they peed, so they pee elsewhere. Encourage your dog to keep using the pads by changing them often.
Go Back to Basics with Your Dog!
If your dog suddenly acts like they do not know how to use a puppy pee pad, then it might be time to go back to the basics of potty training.
However, make sure that they are not experiencing UTI or behavioral issues.
Some dogs stop peeing on their puppy pads because of medical conditions, behavioral problems, or old age.
With a puppy pee pad, you don’t have to take your dog out all the time! You also don’t have to worry about pee stains and bad odor in the house.
Take your dog to the pee pad and reward them every time they pee there. Also, try to stop your dog every time they go potty elsewhere.
