How To Train Your Older Dog To Use A Pee Pad - Wag!

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The Set Up MethodThe Set Up Method1 VoteThe Familiarization MethodThe Familiarization Method0 VotesThe Verbal Cue MethodThe Verbal Cue Method0 VotesIntroduction

Your dog has been in your life for as long as some of your kids. You’ve seen him grow up from the energetic ball of fur he was when he was a puppy to the older and more subdued dog he is today. He’s an integral part of the family. With age though has come health problems. He’s no longer able to make it for long walks or great distances to go for a pee. He either ends up giving up before you’ve managed to get him to a suitable toilet spot, or he relieves himself on your floors. You’re not the biggest fan of cleaning up pee and it doesn’t give the house quite the smell you’d like either.

Training him to use a pee pad only comes with benefits. It will save you considerable time taking him out to go to the toilet. It will also save him from pain and discomfort if he can no longer make the trek to the bathroom.

TopDefining Tasks

The good news is, training your pooch to use a pee pad is pretty easy. He may be aging, but don’t let it be said that an old dog can’t learn new tricks! You simply need to incorporate the pee pad into his toilet routine. That means consistent use and as few slip-ups as possible. You’ll also need to take steps to make the pee pad as inviting as possible. Treats or toys will go a long way to motivate him to embrace his new toilet patch as well. If he’s still pretty receptive you could see results in just a week. If he’s really old and stuck in his ways then you may need a few weeks to fully affect change.

However long it takes, it will be worth it when you have a straightforward clean-up, instead of a soaked carpet. You’ll also help keep him comfortable if he’s got health conditions.

TopGetting Started

Before you get to work, you’ll need a few things. A pee pad will, of course, be the first essential. You’ll also need a generous supply of mouth-watering treats or his favorite food. Simply break the food into small, easily digestible pieces.

The hardest component is time. You need to set aside time in the morning, midday, afternoon and evening, to ensure a consistent routine. With such a time sacrifice also comes with the requirement of patience and an optimistic attitude.

Once you have all of that, you’re ready to make a start!

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The Set Up Method

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Enclosure

Place the pee pad in a location he’ll be comfortable in. Placing it against a wall with some degree of privacy is a good idea. If he has three walls around him he’ll feel even more at ease. It’s best to get the position right from the beginning, you’ll get much quicker results.

2

Easy to clean

Make sure it’s easy to clean. You may want to keep it close to a sink, drain or trash can. All of this will stop you carrying a wet pad throughout the entire house every day. This will save you time and ensure consistency for him.

3

Size

Pick a pad that is the right size for him. If he’s a bigger dog he’ll need a bigger than average size. If it’s cramped he won’t feel relaxed and comfortable and you’ll find it much harder to convince him to use it regularly.

4

Privacy

Make sure it’s in a place where he’ll got some privacy. If there is constantly people walking past it, he won’t be able to relax. You wouldn’t want people staring at you when you go to the toilet, and neither does he.

5

Easy access

Also make sure he can get to the pee pad easily. If he has to trek half a mile to get to it, he may opt for the lazy option and use the floor instead. Also, try and keep it away from where he eats and plays. Nobody likes going to the toilet where they eat, not even dogs. The corner of a utility room if often a sensible choice.

The Familiarization Method

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Introductions

Put him on a leash and walk him around his new toilet. Encourage him to sniff and take an interest. Do this at least a couple of times a day for a few minutes. The more he’s used to it, the more likely he’ll be to use it.

2

Get animated

When you’re around it, talk in an animated voice to get him excited. If he sees it as somewhere he can feel happy and relaxed he’ll be more inclined to use it. Dogs mirror their owners' behavior so he’ll look to you for approval of the pee pad.

3

Routine

When you think he’s likely to need the toilet, put him on a leash and walk him to the pad. Encourage him to go, but also make sure you give him some privacy by facing the other way. If he’s always at the pee pad when he needs to go he’ll soon get into the habit of using it.

4

Reward

When he does go, make sure you give him a tasty reward. A treat or his favorite food will help cement it as his new favorite toilet location. The better the reward the quicker you’ll see results. Also give him plenty of verbal praise.

5

Don’t punish him

If he does pee outside or somewhere else, don’t punish him. His bladder will already be getting weaker because he’s older, you don’t want him to start peeing out of fear. This will make it even harder for him to control it and go where you want him to.

The Verbal Cue Method

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Routine

Make sure you take him to the pee pad regularly, whenever you think he’s likely to need the toilet. 20 minutes or so after meals, the morning and the evening are all likely times. If he’s always at the pee pad, he’ll be much more likely to use it.

2

‘Go pee’

As he starts to pee on the pad, give a ‘go pee’ command. You can use any word or phrase you like. Just make sure you give the command in an upbeat, high pitched voice. You want him to associate this command with good things and relaxing.

3

Reward

As soon as he’s finished his pee, give him a tasty treat and some praise. He’ll soon start associating the verbal cue with going for a pee on the pad and a delicious reward. Soon the command alone will make him charge for the pee pad to relieve himself in the hope of food. Practice this every day for a few days.

4

Bring forward the cue

After several consistent days of using the verbal cue, start giving the cue before he goes for a pee. By this point he’ll associate the trigger with the pee pad and his bladder will probably automatically start to relax. Continue to reward him after he goes.

5

Practice

You now simply need to practice this every day. If he has any slip-ups, clean them up calmly and make sure you get him to the pad next time. He’ll soon start naturally using the pee pad to go to the toilet, at which point you can top using the verbal cue and you can cut out the treats.

Written by James Barra

Veterinary reviewed by:

Published: 11/21/2017, edited: 01/08/2021

More articles by James Barra

• How to Train Your Dog to Stop Barking
• How to Train Your Older Dog to Walk Calmly on a Leash
• How to Train Your Blind Dog to Walk Down Stairs

Training Questions and Answers

AbbyChihuahuaSixteen YearsQuestion0 found this helpful0 found this helpful

Abby has always used a pee pad. She got hit by a car the vet checked her and said she was fine except a cut above her eye. Now she refuses to us the pad instead is going in the floor. I can’t have her using my carpet how do I stop this and get her using her pad again?

Dec. 7, 2023

Abby's Owner

HazelPitbull terrier mix11 yearsQuestion0 found this helpful0 found this helpful

Since Hazel had a UTI she seems to have more urgency to pee and has had a few in house accidents, up to now she has always urinated outside. The UTI was treated successfully by her Vet. If I introduced wee wee pads would she still pee outside and only use them when necessary?

Oct. 25, 2023

Hazel's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

1128 Dog owners recommended

Hello, I don't recommend introducing a pee pad because it could lead to confusion; however, you could set up a specific area you can close off as needed to put an disposable real grass pad in for her - the grass pad and designated location could help her keep the distinction between inside and out and transition more easily to using the grass pad. Setting up an exercise pen can create a distinctive area to place grass pads down on, to help separate that area from the rest of the home in pup's mind, then leave the door to the exercise pen propped open so they can go in and out of it to use it, giving treats when they go potty there. Disposable grass pad brands: www.porchpotty.com www.freshpatch.com www.doggielawn.com Amazon carries some of the refills also. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Nov. 29, 2023

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