House training is all part of the experience of raising a puppy.
But your hardwood floors and carpets don't have to suffer for it.
What you need is a set of puppy pads.
Puppy dog training pads are absorbent surfaces that can save you from stains, scrubbing and the headaches that come with them.
These pads come in reusable and disposable varieties.
Much like with cloth and disposable diapers, the difference is in convenience vs.
environmental friendliness.
However, in this case, disposable diapers are not necessarily more expensive than reusable ones, considering that some puppies can be trained in less than a month.
On the other hand, six months worth of training pads can add up to a hefty price, especially if you choose the higher-quality disposable pads.
The quality of the pad can be determined by various features.
The basic things to look out for are their capacity to absorb, their size (relative to the size of your puppy) and whether or not they have a non-slip backing.
Other useful but less essential features include the ability to neutralize odors and the ability to attract dogs when its time for them to relieve themselves.
Another option is to use a puppy pad holder.
This is a larger initial investment, but it can be used together with cheaper puppy pads if you're having trouble housebreaking your pet, or if you plan to have more dogs in the future.
Thankfully, pet owners can now purchase these online through select pet supply shops.