Coworker/relatives think pee pads are gross
 

So, Howie is 100% trained to use potty pads. For me it just didn't make sense to train him to go outside.. I live in an apartment, he's the first dog I've ever had and I wasn't sure I could properly train him to go potty outside given the circumstances, and I'm a wuss - there's nothing appealing to me about dragging myself out of bed at 6am in 15 degree weather when the sun isn't up yet to take him potty. Also, Howie has the freedom to go potty whenever he wants regardless of whether I'm home or not.

Well, here's the point of my post. I get a lot of crap for using the potty pads. One woman that I work with brings up the potty pads and how gross she thinks they are at LEAST once a week. She makes comments about how nasty it is that Howie "poops in the house." This coming from the woman whose greyhound has to wear a pair of male boxers every single day because he pees all over her house when she's at work. My relatives all make snide comments about the pads at holidays and my mom said that afterwards two of my aunts made snide comments about it on the phone to her.

Does anyone else on here have this problem? If so, how the heck do you deal with it??

I have had people comment about it too and I have learned to just ignore it. It's just Simon, Hallie and myself that live here and we are fine with it. If people don't like it well then they should stay away :)

Yes to pee pads!
 

I have pee pads in my house.. I even have them in three different places.:rolleyes: If company doesn't like it then it really doesn't matter to me if they come over or not. I don't understand why it seems to bother these people so much. Maybe you could ask "Why do you care so much?" or "Why does it bother you so much?" :confused: I'm at a point in life that these kinds of things are just not something I entertain so much. Try not giving it to much of your time either :) Sometimes it helps if I just say to myself "Idiot" & move on :D

I have had many people look and make faces but my grandma usues them for her dogs so I figure, who cares! :p

What's the difference between having a pee pad or cat litter -- seems like the same thing to me only the litter sometimes smells alot worse

^ I agree with you 100%!!!

Not all dogs like to go outside, and for these little guys, the pads are definitly better for them when the weather is colder, or if it's pouring rain outside! There are tons of times that I wish Rocky was pad-trained, I think it would be soo much easier!

My husband really doesn't like the pads either. He says they're gross, but I know that if I made Lily pee outside all the time, she'd have accidents because she's so used to the pads! I just have the pad in one spot and try to have it out of sight. I guess it's gross for some people because it's so out in the open or maybe some people just aren't used to pads. I know I wasn't familiar with them until I got Lily.

Bottom line, it's your house and those people don't pay your bills.
You like potty pads for all the right reasons.....weather and convenience.
I'd rather use them then have floors and carpets destroyed.

Tell 'em if they don't like it, don't come over. I'm sure that you keep the pee pads changed frequently, it's not like you let the poo and pee sit there:confused: They'd really hate my house, cuz I have a pee pad in the KITCHEN:eek: *gasp* :eek: It's changed when it's needed and it never smells in my house at ALL, so I know that with you having only one dog, it can't be stinky:laugh:

Just ignore them, or make fun of one of their "things" that they do:laugh:

It's your house and your dog(s). Rebel and Lucy both use pee pads and have regular times to go outside to play in my backyard. The pee pads are great because Lucy sleeps with me and if she has to go, she does and then comes back to bed without waking me up.

Rebel has really picked it up as well because he's learned by example. I love them and if anybody says anything.....well, don't come back!

:p Noone has ever had the nerve to mention Toto's pads!! As long as they are clean and there is no smell [I wouldn't put up with the smell myself], it would infuriate me if someone criticized them. :) I would hate going out at all hours, in bad weather, etc. and I'm sure Toto wouldn't like it either. They are just soooo much more convenient. ;)

I probably wouldn't ignore it if it continues, if it was an isolated comment then you could ignore it but since she continues to bring it up you need to put her in her place. You know how if you ignore a bully they get worse and worse, well she is a bully or she wouldn't keep insulting you. I think the next time she says that you should punch her in the nose...lol...just joking. Tell her to mind her own business that at least your dog doesn't piss his pants. BTW I use potty pads too and my house never stinks and I always pick up the poop when she does it (or she will pick it up for me and bury it under her blankets). I have also had nasty rude comments toward potty pads from family and even here on YT. Some one even commented that if someone is so lazy that they use potty pads then they don't need a dog. For me it doesn't have anything to do with laziness. I use them for many reasons. I am not going to take her out in temps in the teens and 20's-she is only 2.8 lbs. And when it is wet outside and my yard is muddy then I don't want her to get muddy and bring that into my house. When it is warm and dry outside I will let her go out to potty. But all I have to do is open the patio door and let her out into the fenced yard...if I lived in an apartment I would use potty pads all the time like you do...it only makes sense for you to use them. Some people are not happy unless they are putting someone else down.

I agree I use them for my two and I don't care what anyone thinks.

I will ask the Lord to give me the perfect words. I will say the true. Tell them how it make you fell, that you don't want to hear those comments again.But pick the time when you are not up-set about it,like at work after a good lunch :coffee2: etc.

The cat litter ALWAYS smells worse!!!

Honestly right now I'm using pee pads to prevent the occasional accident.. but I prefer to take them outside as much as possible. I don't really like spending the money on them and they're not that cute to look at :) hehe.. but that being said.. I don't think anyone has the right to talk that way about your methods of training. Your dog potties in one spot reliably and that is much better than most people can say! If she thinks it's gross.. well that's her silly issue. I'd tell her to mind her own business personally!

Does this co-worker have any children? If she does, did she use diapers? At least the pee-pee pads aren't wrapped around our furkids butts!

What's so gross about it as long as it get's replaced on a daily or twice daily basis?

When it all comes down to it, it's your house. Tell that lady (& your family) to get a life!!! My family always has something negative to say...is yours the same way?;)

My roommate and I have piddle pads in the kitchen and right next the kitchen in the dining room (which we've converted to the computer room.) I'm sure if my mom saw the piddle pad in the kitchen she would freak!!! But we're both college students and I can count on one hand the amount of time that we've actually cooked in the kitchen!!! :)

Whatever gets little Izzie to stop peeing on the carpet is going to be the method of choice. Right now, it's putting the piddle pads at their current locations (sometimes!) She's only 11 weeks old, so going potty outside is out of the question.

I would probably say: "Gross? Well sure it's gross. So is the bathroom right after you drop a load. But we get over it." Well, maybe I wouldn't say it, but I would think it. ;) Some people worry too much about what other people (and dogs) do.

I use pee pads too. It's not even hidden (like in a bathrom or tucked under a table...). Well, whenever I have company, I change it as soon as there's a drop of pee on it. No one never complained... But if they were, it's not really their business and my house IS clean and smells clean, you couldn't tell there's a dog here. Cat litter smells waaay worse, so do birds, even guinea pigs if you let it 'slide'

My Rocky just learned how to potty outside but i also live on the third floor in a apartment as well. When it's not so cold out i do take him out in the morning, but i dont have the luxury to stay home and be with him all day to take him outside to potty. I unfortunatley have to go to work so he used the pads as well. Who ever makes a comment about you using the pads ask them if they would be willing to stay home with your pup in case it needs to use the potty they can take your puppy outside for you lol:D. The nerve of people it's your dog your house if you dont have a problem with it neither should they you are not asking them to change the pads for you lol

We use a square of newspapers (with plastic and old shower curtains beneath). Ozzie never would use the pee pads. He only liked to shred them!

He was paper-trained from puppyhood and we could never completely get him to ALL outside. So much so, that when we took the papers up, he would still go on the floor in that spot ... so we put them back and they've never left. They get changed multiple times a day and the stuff below gets replaced regularly. We need to buy stock in Lysol and Oust because whether it smells or not, it gets sprayed.:) And the kitchen floor is scrubbed every other day --more if it's warranted.

As for the snide comments, a dog wearing Boxers? Yeah, THAT's normal.:p
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, right?;)

I love the picture in your post #6, would you share where it came from?
Thanks

I will share my expertise in matters like these
 

I would tell that lady that at least my dog has sence enough to use them. Shes just jealous because her dog is to big to use them. Maybe you should say I would love to come to your house & get a lesson on how its better & more sanitary to let a big dog pee in my husbands boxers then on a pad which is made for dogs for that purpose that is easily thrown away. It is the same concept as disposable diapers for a baby except better because the dog goes to it so you dont have to clean there butts:D Which again goes to show dogs are smarter then kids,lol. People always say you must not have kids when I say stuff like that, but I do & thats how I know-exstensive research :p I really have two wonderful kids, but I wiped their butts alot more then I wiped my dogs so Dogs Win Again LMAO. I dont like that lady at your office so if you tell her off add at the end "& by the way Rachel doesnt like you" The pads are wonderful for small dogs that are left alone for extended times, for apartments, for extreme weather. That lady needs to hire a dog walker. Shes to cheap to buy pads or pay a dog walker is her problem. As far as family I just say I'm sorry you feel that way & if you want you can kiss my butt right here (point where you desire) Ifthey know it bothers you they will continue & if your mom doesnt like them she may just say others agree trying to prove her point, but if you just say the pads are here, they are staying & point again they will drop it & learn to except the pads. Its really very scientific see pointing at your butt + not caring what others think x's MCsquared ='s they will learn to shut up:) This calculation works for me in every life experience.

Whatever works for you, it's your business. I prefer to have my pet potty outside.
I do envy those of you who do not have to go out at night in the winter
but to me it's what I prefer. So I suffer but that's my decision.

Carol & Buddy

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

I have to say that I personally prefer the outside method. That said, I also have to say that I don't live in an apt. and have to deal with stairs and such. I live in a fairly decent climate where it's not a big deal to go outside pretty much year round and Tatum really just runs right out to the grass and right back inside with me sometimes just standing at the door. If all those things were different, I would consider using pee pads. I'd just prefer to not see them laying around my house.... clean OR dirty (my personal choice). One of the reasons I would never have an indoor cat (beside the fact I have no choice because of severe allergies anyway!).... that litter box can be nasty if you aren't fastidious about cleaning it.

All that said, I would not make those kinds of rude comments to people who do choose the pee pad method. I think if the situation was out of control and the house stunk and the pee pads never got changed, I might be inclined to wrinkle my nose at them but I still would not tell them how to run their house. What's worse? Pee pads you can change or the smell of urine all over the house where the dog has had accidents?

I'm so sorry you have to endure snide comments from your family. It's one thing for a co-worker or stranger to make a comment like that ... but it hurts more when it comes from your relatives. :confused:

But don't let them get you down. My mother and father never had an issue with potty pads ... in fact, they thought they were a great idea! But a co-worker once made a comment about how they're gross and my house must stink or urine and crap. I immediately corrected her and explained my situation (even though I don't HAVE to explain to anyone) but I did it so that she would never bring it up again (and she never has).

Basically, I have 3 pee pads down. When my dogs poop (and I'm home), I immediately pick it up with a piece of toilet paper and flush it down the toilet. I change their pads first thing in the morning, immediately when I get home from work and before I go to sleep at night. I throw my grabage out every single morning (even if it's barely full) because it has the pee pads in there -- granted, there is no poop on the pads because I flush them but I don't want that urine smell sitting overnight in my garbage can). I also have FOUR (4) Yankee Candle scented plug-ins in the room where the pee pads are (I usually use the Macintosh Apple scent -- yum! :D). In addition, every morning (for about 15-20 minutes) and every night (again, for about 15-20 minutes), I hope my patio doors just to air out the house and get rid of any possible scent that might be lingering.

pads
 

There is nothing about dogs that gross me out..but I can't stand alot of what so called humans do....

I am always polite and tell the person it is good thing they do not have a potty pad, trained dog or they would be grossed out all the time...and I tell them if they freak out at dog hair, then they better go home, because they might find one in the food...that is why I love dog people, we understand each other and accept the fact dogs poop and we might find a hair in the ice tea..LOL