Is your dog a good candidate for house training with a diaper?
Firstly, find a well-fitting and comfortable diaper. For male dogs that just have urine accidents, the Male Wrap can be a perfect version of the diaper as it is easier to put on and take off. For female dogs, you have several options. Take some time to find what works.
Next, it is important to teach your dog that wearing a diaper is a positive thing. This way, your dog is not frightened by the process or doesn’t become upset when you approach him/her with dog diapers. Do this by being patient and taking it slow with your dog. Utilize treats during the process of putting the diaper on. In the beginning, it might be helpful for a second person to give your dog the treats while you position the diaper on your dog. If your dog tries to wiggle out of the diaper once it is on, try to interrupt, and then reward your dog for calmness. If after some time, you find that your dog really dislikes the diaper, it may not be worthwhile. In that case, try potty training your dogs using the basic house training protocol (without puppy diapers).
Can You Use Puppy Diapers for Potty Training?
This is a more complicated question. It’s natural to think diapers should be used for potty training puppies because we use them to potty train human children. However, puppy diapers should never be used as a substitute for puppy pads, crate training and regular house training. Teaching your dog that it’s OK to go potty in a diaper in the house might result in them thinking it’s OK to go potty in the house period. You don’t want that.
However, a puppy diaper can serve as a helpful safeguard while potty training. You can put your pup in a diaper when you know they might be unsupervised for a short period in your house. This way, you can avoid any messy and smelly accidents getting on your floor. Some puppies are prone to urinating when they get too excited – so a diaper may be helpful if you know your dog is going to be particularly excited, such as when having guests enter the home.
Puppy diapers have lots of utility. They can save your home from a lot of damage. However, that does not mean they are perfect. Here are some issues with puppy diapers that should be considered before using them on your dog.
Most dogs are not going to adjust to puppy diapers right away. They may not like the feeling of the diaper or the feeling of having more constricted movement. Over time, your dog will likely adjust to the feeling of the diaper. It’s just like when you put a harness or sweater on your dog for the first time – they won’t like it at first. When it becomes a regular practice, dogs usually become desensitized to it.
Puppy diapers, particularly the disposable kind, are expensive to replace. They are a specialty tool. There are reusable diapers available, but even with those, you must invest in the right cleaning products and buy multiples so that you always have a clean diaper on hand. For this reason, puppy diapers should be looked at as a temporary solution and not a long-term one.
Puppy diapers are designed to fit your dog’s body, but that does not mean they are perfect. Dogs are very active, so the diapers might slip or fall. Closures can become loose or break. A dog who does not like the feeling of a diaper may easily loosen it or rip it clean off.
Not only human babies experience diaper rash. Dogs can experience diaper rash from a puppy diaper. Rashes occur because too much moisture is being held too close to the skin, there is chafing or irritation from the diaper, and other reasons. These rashes can become infected if they are not addressed right away, which is not ideal.
Can dogs wear diapers all the time?
In incontinent dogs, it may well allow that pet to be around a lot longer with the family as the pad can be changed and kept clean. Dog diapers are a good idea as long as used for the right reasons and not as an alternative to training the dog to go to the toilet outside.
Puppy Potty Training a Female Dog using a Diaper and The Housebreaker
If you decide to use a diaper while house training your pup, you should watch closely for signs that he’s going in the diaper and immediately take him outside, says Up for Pups. Remove the diaper and show him where to go, and use treats and praise for reinforcement when he goes where he’s supposed to.