Poll? Pee pads, yes or no?

Well I'm the weirdo who uses them and doesn't think they are a big deal. When we got Rory at 8 wks, we lived in an apt and I didn't feel comfortable taking her to the grass downstairs to potty before she had enough shots because there are so many different dogs using the same grass. So in the beginning we trained her outside on the balcony with pee pads. There was no problem when we made the transition to the grass outside. It was never an issue. We still kept pads around if she decided she needed to pee at 3 am or they were easily set inside next to the door when it was raining when she would not go outside. At the apartment she was always crated when we were gone and let out midday by my friend who would walk her. We just moved to a house and dont have the convenience of having my friend nearby anymore. We do not crate her anymore but gate her off in part of the house. I do not feel comfortable just leaving her in the backyard all day nor is there a place where we could put a dog run that she could get to during the day, so we leave a pee pad out while we are at work. She only pees on it, she will only poop outside, her choice. And I'm pretty sure she only pees on it if she feels she has to go NOW because she prefers to go potty outside and she always has. I just feel more comfortable giving her a spot to pee on if she does have to go. It is also convenient still when it rains because she does like to go out. I guess it's just not a big deal to me, they get thrown away when we get home from work and there aren't any out when we are home. There isnt a mess to clean up, they dont leak or anything. So this is what works for us right now.

I've never used them until I brought Agnes home.  She is old and incontinent.  It is not always possible for her to hold it even four hours until I get home for my lunch hour.  She may even have to go 2 or 3 times in that period.  I can't afford a dog walker to spend the better part of a day at my house waiting for her to have to pee.

I set up an area where I put down a plastic runner that I cover with pee pads; the area is gated off, so she can only go there.  She will pee there if she has to, but now does everything she can to make it outside.

I change the pad she wets every time - I don't let it sit all day and ferment.  It is a hassle, but seems to be a better compromise than her peeing on the carpet or hardwood floors.

 Personally, I'd much rather just teach my pup to use the bathroom outside.

 However, with my first dog, Lindsey. Who had lost control of being able to hold it in, we did use a pee pad for him. I think it's okay in that situation. 

If you're trying to train your pup, and using both the pee pad method and trying to teach them to go outside, I think it'd just get too confusing. 

We used them with Maggie as a good transition to potty outside.   We got her to go strictly on the piddle pads, then, slowly shrank the area of piddle pads until they were gone and she was pottying outside.

 I would never use pee pads, and I would never train a dog to purposefully eliminate in the house.

Pee pads are a godsend for us.  We live in a flat/apartment and it's not practical to let Gemma in an out because our garden is several yards away from our front door, downstairs.  We take her out a couple of times a day and, as she gets older, she is 'holding on' for longer and waits for her walk.  We have the flat on the market and are hoping to buy a small house so that she pop in and out whenever she wants to and won't need them.    NOTE:  I'm not quite sure why this piece of text is written in italics?

Did you know that rabbits use them too?!?  My friend brings her rabbit indoors to play every evening and he pops along to the pee pads whenever he wants to 'go'!  Cute!

tenna

 I would never use pee pads, and I would never train a dog to purposefully eliminate in the house.

 

I wouldn't either, now.  But, someday, when I'm 85, and can't manage to get my dog out quickly, or down a long hallway (maybe even with an elevator and another long hallway between slow me and the outdoors), I may reconsider.  I work with elders, and have seen them struggle with situations just like this as they try to keep their animals and satisfy apartment managers who would like to drop all the animals off a cliff when they soil the hallways because the elder can't get them out in time...  Special circumstances demand different solutions sometimes:-)