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Has anyone trained a potty-trained dog to use a pee pad while they are away?

Hi all,

This may seem like an odd question, but I am curious if anyone has trained their dog to use a pee pad while they are gone. We have a very lazy, adult greyhound who is a retired racer. He gets plenty of exercise and he is well potty trained and we arrange for a dog-walker while we are at work to come mid-day to let him out, so there are no major behavioral issues.

But I still feel guilty while away and hope that he isn't sitting at home, needing to go. Has anyone set up pee-pads in a basement or somewhere so that the dog always has a location that they can go when someone is not there to walk them? He is getting older and I can't help but worry that he may be sitting around in discomfort.

I don't want to un-do his potty training as he is wonderfully behaved, but am wondering if this is a potential option to give him that freedom. He's too tall for a doggie door - it would be about large enough for a toddler to walk though! So that, unfortunately is not an option.

If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know.

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Try the dog door! They look tiny but you’d be so surprised!! I had a 150lb Rottweiler and she fit through it, you’d never think tho. I’ve fit through it too after locking myself out of the house haha. cheers & good luck

Constance V.

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Jessica N.

I use them for my dog/dogs and they do great. I put one down by the door if I'm going to be gone for awhile. My dog will only use it if she really needs to. Otherwise, she prefers to go outside. They're also great for winter when it's just too cold outside for little paws.

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Kim I.

We trained our then 2 year old mini poodle to use pads during one particularly brutal winter where he refused to go outside and he used them for a couple of months. Now, almost 5 years later, we keep pads out in our extra bathroom and available for him, but he refuses to use them since he won't get to run around outside if he does. Sometimes he'll hold it in for 12+ hours if both my fiance and I end up working late, just to get to go outside.

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Lea, Louise, Rick & Leila P.

I would be hesitant to use potty pads consistently as it may encourage him to use them instead of go outside. If there's someone available to let him out when you're gone, I say that's a much better option.

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Has anyone trained a potty-trained dog to use a pee pad while they are away?

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