Puppy Pads: Why Are They a Great Idea?

A puppy is both a blessing and a huge responsibility. Dogs and humans have an emotional bond that’s unrivalled in the animal kingdom. We love our pups, they love us back, and together we can form a partnership that will last for years to come.

Who in Australia didn’t grow up surrounded by animal companions? Loyal, affectionate, intelligent, and funny, dogs are the most popular pets in our country, and for good reason. But they can also be challenging.

Pups, at least in the first few months of life, need constant supervision. They have a sleep schedule that will make even a toddler scratch their head, and they have no control over their bladder. Sure, maybe you are not the biggest fan of that carpet you received from grandma. But do you want it to get ruined? Probably not.

Your pup, in the first few months of life, will have their fair share of accidents. It’s just their nature, and it’s part of the journey of being a pet owner. But just because they cannot help it, doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it.

Puppy pads, when purchased from your local pet store, can be a way to instil a routine in your dog, speed up the potty training process, and also give them a safe space in which they can afford to be vulnerable.

The Main Reasons for Getting Pet Store Available Puppy Pads

The first reason is quite obvious, isn’t it?

While you undoubtedly love your pup to bits, nobody wants to clean up waste from the carpet or spend thousands on the services of a contractor because your pup had an accident on your solid wood floors.

Pet store available puppy pads give dogs a designated space in which they can do their business, and if you don’t have access to outdoor space or your pup isn’t yet done with their vaccination, then their purchase is pretty much mandatory.

But let’s say you do have an outdoor space available, and your pup is old enough to have finished with vaccines. What if it starts raining?

Walking my dog is probably one of my favourite activities. But there are few things I hate more than the smell of wet dog and the feeling of getting drenched while walking in the rain. Sometimes, when the weather outside is really bad and I don’t want to walk my pup in harsh conditions, I let them use high quality puppy pads. Is it ideal? No. But I really hate the alternative.

Reusable potty pads are fantastic for emergency situations in which you can’t let your dog go outside. They are great for travelling, they become necessary if you are unable to come home and walk your pup, and, at least in the first few months of your dog’s life, they will be one of the greatest tools at your disposal.

It takes a while for dogs to become fully potty trained. And until you can be sure that accidents are no longer a possibility, potty pads are a fantastic thing to have in your house.

What Type to Choose?

There are two main types of pet store available puppy training pads: single use and reusable.

Let’s start with the benefits of reusable ones. While they have higher upfront costs, these types of potty training pads can be utilised pretty much indefinitely, so they represent a better financial deal in the long term.

Sure, they become less appealing if you want to machine wash them. But if you do it by hand, they can be a better deal.

Additionally, most reusable puppy training pads are a bit thicker than the single use variety, and therefore have better absorption properties.

Personally, I don’t prefer them because washing a pee soaked training pad is not fun, and single use ones are already affordable enough.

Single use training pads might not be the most cost effective option available. But they are good enough, great for travelling, convenient, and most importantly, you just throw them in the trash, so you don’t need to wash them.

Yes, because of this, they are less eco friendly than reusable pads. But at least in my case, I prefer to pay a bit more in the long term than to handle my pup’s potty smells for longer than necessary.

How Come They Are Even Necessary?

Go to any pet store and ask them what their most sold product is. Chances are, puppy pads will always break the top five.

But why?

Cats, for example, don’t need to get potty trained and are more than happy enough to use a litter. Pups are different from kittens, as they don’t have a specific, ingrained instinct to bury their waste. Nor does their bladder control develop as fast.

Most pups, regardless of breed, can’t hold in their pee for longer than two hours. Cats, on the other hand, are fully capable of using a litter after they turn one month old.

It’s a big difference.

Most dogs are fully potty trained only after at least three months of walks and conditional training. But even then, occasional accidents are still bound to happen until the pup reaches adulthood.

Pet store bought puppy training pads are not exactly the most glamorous of purchases. But they are necessary, as the last thing you want is to live in a place that has the unmistakable musk of dog pee.

We’ve all been guests in a place like this, at least once, and let’s face it, it’s never pleasant.

Puppy training pads are widely available both from online shops as well as from any local pet store. They are cheap, characterised by their convenience, and represent an accessory that you can keep in your house for occasional situations in which walking your pup is not possible.

So, why not go for them? They are cheap enough to be worth it.

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