I’ve had a lot of foster dogs to house train recently and also happened to have a few dog diapers laying around for product testing. I got to wondering if using the diapers as an aid for potty training dogs would be effective. After testing my theory and putting them to use, I discovered that dog and puppy diapers can be very helpful in many cases!

Is your dog a good candidate for house training with a diaper?

• Is your dog or puppy mostly house trained, but hasn’t got it quite down yet? The diaper is more useful in potty training dogs for those towards the end of the house training process. For instance, your dog readily goes potty outside and only has one accident a day.
• Does your dog do well with wearing things and being handled? This method works best for dogs that don’t tend to fuss about being handled and typically won’t mind wearing puppy diapers. If you don’t think your dog has this kind of personality, you’re probably better off skipping dog diapers and sticking with traditional house training methods. For male dogs that just have pee accidents, the Male Wrap can be a perfect version of the diaper as it is easier to put on and take off.

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).

The right time to begin using dog diapers is when you are almost 100% certain that your dog won’t have an accident in the house. The diaper is helpful in the following ways:

• Helps prevent floor, carpet, and furniture messes. Lingering odors can be difficult to remove and can further delay house training.
• Lets you know with certainty that your dog has had an accident and that you need to give him or her less freedom. Often with little dogs, they have accidents that go unnoticed for some time. The use of diapers can keep this from happening.
• Makes going potty in the house somewhat uncomfortable for your dog, which can help discourage him from “going” in the house altogether.
• Helpful (and courteous) to use when visiting new places, as dogs are more likely to have accidents at new locations. It is also important to remember to give your dog less freedom whenever you’re somewhere new.

If your dog has an accident while wearing dog diapers, it means that you need to:

• Give your dog less freedom in the house. Do this by utilizing a crate, tether (only when you are home), exercise pen, or by gating them to a smaller area.
• Take your dog outside more often for potty breaks (up to once an hour during the day).
• Reward with an extra tasty treat whenever they successfully go potty outside.
• If the accident is happening by the door, consider teaching your dog to use a potty training bell for dogs so they can signal you when he/she needs to go out.
• Clean the diaper regularly and wash/dry your dog to prevent a rash and general discomfort. Having spare dog diapers on hand is helpful.

Just remember that I am proposing the use of a diaper for house training as an add-on to a traditional house training program — which uses prevention of accidents and rewards for going potty outside. The dog diaper will not allow you to skip all the “hard work” that goes into house training, but it can help with clean-up and consistency.