Sunday, October 11, 2009

Puppy Training: Pads vs Crates?
No matter how you train your dog, the inevitable fact remains that you will have to clean up after them when they go potty. Some pet owners are immediately drawn to using puppy pads or training pads because it seems like an appropriate target that will teach a new puppy to go potty. However, puppies can very easily "miss" the pad or mistake a rug for a pad.

Properly house training a puppy extends beyond just your own home. What if you bring your puppy over to another home? A puppy pad trained pup may find a rug or a piece of furniture so exciting that it will soon be too late to catch him and stop him before it's too late. Overall, the puppy pad becomes a very confusing mechanism since it makes it okay for the puppy to go potty indoors. After learning how to go potty inside, it is difficult to correct if you ultimately want to teach your puppy to go outside for potty.

Training pads are appropriate to use as an aid for puppies if they haven't completed their shots yet, or for dogs who are ill or in recovery who aren't able to go outside. For training purposes, pads are of great use, but if your goal is to properly housebreak your puppy, it is best to ditch the pads for crate training.

The crate provides more than a durable and environmentally friendly alternative, it is also something that dogs are intrinsically drawn to: a den-like environment. They want to be in their own sheltered space when they are winding down and catching a snooze.

The crate can be also be used as an aid in potty training. Quickly, your puppy can learn where each appropriate potty spot is. A crate where your pup sleeps, eats, and plays would not be as enticing to soil. By creating these associations, your puppy can understand the message you are sending to them.

Overall, puppy pads can have a negative affect if used as a crutch in potty training. Pads should only be used when there is a vulnerability involved and your dog cannot be let out to go potty. Crates not only double as a cozy den for your dog, but it can also be a positive association in properly potty training and housebreaking your dog.

Whichever method you choose, it is important to stick with it. Most dog owners have a difficult time because they try too many methods, take too much unsolicited advice, and end up with a confused dog who doesn't know any better. Remain consistent and use positive reinforcement.

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1 Comments:

Blogger MEDNET Direct Corp. said...

Try using the puppy pads in crates. You get the best of both worlds and you won't be stuck cleaning messy bedding if your pet has an accident in the crate.

November 17, 2009 8:01 AM  

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