Short answer: To get a puppy off puppy pads, phase them out gradually instead of pulling them all at once. Reduce the number of pads, slide the remaining ones closer to the door you use to go outside, take your puppy out more often (after meals, naps, and play), and reward every successful outdoor potty with praise and a treat. Most puppies make the switch in two to four weeks with a consistent routine.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. Puppy pads are a handy starting point, but the goal is a dog who reliably potties outside. Below is the simple, low-stress method that works, plus the small mistakes that keep puppies stuck on pads.
Why move a puppy off puppy pads at all?
Pads are useful early on for apartment living, tiny bladders, and bad weather. The trouble is they teach a puppy that going to the bathroom indoors is acceptable. The longer a puppy uses pads, the stronger that habit becomes, so an intentional transition to outdoor potty training builds the long-term behavior you actually want and cuts down on accidents in the house.
How do you phase out puppy pads step by step?
1. Reduce the number of pads
If you have pads scattered around the house, cut back to one or two in set locations. Fewer options nudge your puppy toward a single, predictable potty spot.
2. Move the pad toward the door
Every day or two, slide the remaining pad a little closer to the door you use to go outside. This builds the association between needing to potty and heading for the door.
3. Increase outdoor trips
Take your puppy out on a schedule: first thing in the morning, after every meal, after naps, after play, and right before bed. Young puppies generally can hold it about one hour per month of age, so a 3-month-old needs a break roughly every three to four hours (per the American Kennel Club).
4. Add a potty cue
Use a consistent phrase like "go potty" each time you head out. The moment your puppy finishes outside, reward it immediately so the cue and the outdoor spot get linked in its mind.
5. Remove the last pad
Once your puppy is heading to the door and reliably going outside, take the final pad away. Keep the outdoor schedule steady for another couple of weeks to lock the habit in.
What is the fastest way to reinforce outdoor potty training?
Reward timing is everything. Praise and treat your puppy within a second or two of finishing outside, not once you are back indoors, or they will not connect the reward to the right behavior. VCA Animal Hospitals recommends supervising closely and rewarding immediately during house training.
For rewards, small, low-calorie, single-ingredient treats work best because you will be handing out a lot of them. At Bully Sticks Central we make 100% natural, single-ingredient chews that are fully digestible, contain no rawhide, and are ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, so they are gentle on a puppy's stomach during a stretch of frequent training. A bully stick sized for puppies also gives a teething pup something safe to chew during crate time between potty breaks.
How do you handle setbacks and accidents?
Accidents are normal. When you catch one mid-stream, calmly interrupt and carry your puppy outside to finish, then reward. Never punish after the fact, it only teaches a puppy to hide where it goes. Clean accidents with an enzymatic cleaner so no scent marker is left to draw your puppy back to the same spot.
If progress stalls, you have usually moved too fast. Add a pad back, shorten the time between outdoor trips, and rebuild from there.
How long does it take a puppy to stop using pads?
Most puppies transition in two to four weeks with a consistent routine, though full reliability and bladder control often come closer to four to six months of age. Small breeds and easily distracted pups can take a little longer, so stay patient and keep the routine identical day to day.
The takeaway
Getting a puppy off puppy pads comes down to three things: fewer pads over time, a pad path that leads to the door, and fast, consistent rewards for going outside. Keep the schedule steady, keep training upbeat, and your puppy will be fully potty trained outdoors before long. Pair the routine with 100% natural, single-ingredient training treats and you have everything you need.
Preston Smith is the co-founder of Bully Sticks Central, which sells 100% natural, single-ingredient dog chews made from 100% real meat, fully digestible, with no rawhide.
This post was last updated at July 16, 2026 10:52
