We all need a companion from time to time. Someone excited to greet us after work, a small soul that will make us smile even in the most difficult of circumstances, and perhaps a true sidekick that will remain with us for years to come. There’s a good reason why dogs are called man’s best friend. We have evolved together; our history as a species is tied to one another and all cultures of the world, without exception, have formed a special and deep connection with our four-legged friends.
Do you live in a small apartment, and do you want to break the monotony of daily living with the help of a cute pet that will remain with you no matter what? In that case, like millions of others before you, you could consider purchasing, or even better, adopting a pup. Compassionate, friendly and always ready to cheer us up, pups, regardless of breed, can reduce the feeling of loneliness and anxiety we always experience from time to time, and become lifelong companions that will become a staple of our household.
Their energy is oftentimes infectious, and with proper training and socialisation, dogs should have no problem adapting to your lifestyle and routines. But (and there is always a but), the journey at first will not be exactly easy. During the first few months of life, your pup will need a lot of care, and in order to reduce his destructive tendencies and protect both him and your household, you will need to invest in accessories like training pads.
Why Exactly Go for Puppy Training Pads?
Well, it’s quite straightforward, isn’t it? Unlike cats, which have a natural instinct to bury their waste, dogs cannot exactly control their bodily functions in the first months of life, and they will, unfortunately, have potty accidents. Now, a small leak on your laminated floors from time to time is not the end of the world. After all, it’s part of being a dog owner. But no one wants to own a pup that has made a habit of destroying all your dwelling’s carpeting.
Top-quality puppy pads are one of the most useful and versatile accessories you can purchase to encourage your dog’s behavioural development. Puppy training pads provide a designated space in which your dog can relieve itself, and with time, they will help establish good habits and make it easier for your pup to start learning how to control its bodily functions and hold it in until you can go for a walk.
There are alternatives, sure. In an ideal world, in the first weeks or months of life, you should walk your dog around once every hour or leave him outside in 30-minute increments. But not everyone has the luxury of a backyard, or the free time required for frequent walks. Puppy pads are necessary to give your pup an accessible potty option in times when going outside is not possible. Plus, they can also be a way to monitor your pup’s urine or stool for early signs of illness.
How Long to Use Them?
Puppy pads are fantastic training tools, and they will be required during the first months of life, times in which going outside is impossible, or in instances in which your dog is introduced to new environments. That said, they are not a permanent solution. Most dogs should be at least partially potty trained after around four months. Some dogs might have more issues than others, but in general, after around 120 days, most pups should no longer have accidents.
You can utilise puppy training pads even after this period, if you weren’t around that much during the first months of your pup’s life, and you want to expand on its potty training. But, generally speaking, most instances of puppy pads’ usage should stop at around the six-month mark. You don’t want to have a dog that’s reliant on training pads to relieve itself.
Puppy training pads, however, are not always suitable only for young dogs. Around 30% of large-breed dogs will, in their twilight years, suffer from urinary incontinence. When I was young, my childhood dog, a German Shepherd called Bruno, actually had this issue, and it was difficult to manage at first, as he was visibly upset about having accidents in the house after a lifetime of daily walks. We eventually had to utilise puppy pads and teach him, once again, to use them. Was it pretty? No. But it was the only way to keep the floors clean.
So, What Types of Puppy Training Pads Can You Purchase?
Perhaps the most convenient are those of the disposable kind. Their main benefit is the price. A pack of 50 disposable training pads, from a brand like Dunny Pads, should cost you no more than $27. Do you want to purchase the products in bulk, like, let’s say, four packs at once? In that case, you can probably get 200 pads for less than $90.
Disposable pads are convenient, they are highly absorbent, they are available in pretty much any pet shop, and they are easily storable. That said, if waste and environmental impact are among your concerns, there are other alternatives to consider. Reusable training pads could represent a better value, as they don’t require constant repurchasing, as it’s the case with the disposable ones. They absorb liquids well; they are eco-friendly and they are machine washable.
That said, let’s be honest for one second, they are not exactly the most convenient of solutions, and washing them constantly could get old fast. Personally? I would go for an artificial turf pad. The advantage of these pads is that they mimic the appearance of grass, and they help puppies transition to outdoor potty habits a bit faster than usual. They are typically more expensive, that’s true, but in most cases, these extra costs could be well worth it. Your pup deserves the best after all.