Diapers Q&A

Dog diapers???

How can I convince my mom that dog diapers are not the best option for potty training our dog? She says she wants absolutely no accidents on the carpeting if she can avoid it. I'd rather crate train. What do you say?

Public Comments

1. Well see ur mom's point ... u don't want ur house smelling like dog poop... How u buy a dog house (if already don't have one) and have the dog sleep outsided while potty training and when in the house have him wear a diaper... once it's trained let him go wild in the house!
2. Definitely crate train. It's the fastest and easiest way. Diapers are for human babies, not dogs. They can create a whole mess of health issues for the dogs, not to mention the expense and hassles associated with them. And, there's no guarantee, even with diapers, that the dog won't have an accident once the diaper is gone. A diaper will not teach the dog to go outside, it will just prevent the mess from hitting the carpeting. Therefore, you would never be able to trust the dog, for the next 15 or so years, and have to deal with diapers for that length of time - I doubt your mom would want to do that. Definitely crate train: First and foremost, when you cannot watch the dog, i.e., at night or when you are not home, the dog needs to be confined to a crate or very small area. A dog will not soil their “home”, as they don’t want to be near it, either! As soon as you get home, or when you get up in the morning, put the dog on leash, and walk them outside to a spot where you want them to go. Always go to the same area. This will become their potty spot, and will make things a lot easier for clean up. As you go outside with them, tell them to “go potty”. They will soon learn what this means, which will help in the long run. As soon as they go outside where they are supposed to, a lot of praise, petting, and an occasional treat. This will reinforce that you are happy with them. Do this praise immediately, as a dog’s attention span is very short and if you wait, they will be happy you are praising them, but they will not know why you are praising them. If the dog makes a mistake and goes in the house – If you are there and see them start to go, tell them “no” in a firm voice, immediately take them outside to their potty spot. If you do not see them actually in the act, then do nothing. Scolding the dog after the fact will not teach them, as they will not remember what they did and will not know why you are angry. Do not give the dog food or water within 2 hours of bed time. Get the dog on a schedule as soon as possible for feeding and potty times. The dog’s internal system will soon learn this schedule and they will be able to wait until their scheduled time.
3. You can't put diapers on a dog just because she doesn't want no accidents, you can never prevent that, accidents always happen, not only by pets but also by people (dropping wine, soda, liquids), pets need to be potty trained and taken out to pee often to teach them to go outside, just tell your mom that she has to understand that the diapers are not the right answer, the dogs are never going to learn to go outside as time goes on. Also they might get rashes and it might get more expensive, with meds and vet bills.
4. explain to her that dogs would need their diapers cleaned like babies would but explain how just plain nasty it would be to clean the mess from the dog three or four times a day. this would mean bathing the dog drying and starting with a fresh diapers. this can result in skin problems. i would rather pick up a present with a paper towel then scrub after its been smooshed into its hair.
5. diapers are not training,,, and they are cruel... walk the dog every half hour and when you cannot watch it,, crate it.. crate training is far better,,,, just like using a playpen/crib for an infant,, to keep them safe and sound when you cannot monitor them...( and just like a crib/baby,, do not over crate)
6. This will be harder with an adult dog than a puppy, because he will have to "unlearn" his bad habits. He is going inside because carpet is more comfy than grass, and it's more convenient. But that said, it's not very hard to stop it. I had great success with crate training. Have the dog sleep in a crate, and as soon as he wakes up, take him outside to go. It is crucial that you go with him. Pick a phrase, like "go potty" or "hurry up". Say this several times in a calm voice. As soon as he goes, act like it's the best thing in the world, say "good potty", and pet him or give a treat. If you catch him doing it inside, say no and immediately take him outside to finish, then give praise. He will learn quickly. Don't scold for accidents that you did not actually witness; the dog will not understand. If you are persistent, your "old dog" can learn this new trick before you know it.