Pets Marketing Email Template

Hi Diane, your plan is here

A gentle, step-by-step transition crafted for sensitive adult dogs.

Hi Diane,

Thanks again for your patience while I checked in with our team. Below are some detailed, step-by-step tips that many pet parents have found helpful when transitioning an adult dog from disposable paper pads to reusable cloth pads like Potty Buddy.

1. Start with a very small change

Because dogs can be sensitive to new textures and smells, we want the first change to feel almost unnoticeable to her.

• Place the Potty Buddy pad under her usual disposable pad, exactly where she normally goes.
• Make sure the disposable pad on top looks and smells just like her usual setup (same brand/size if possible).
• Keep this setup for several days so she gets used to the Potty Buddy being there without any pressure to step on the cloth.

Only move to the next step after she is reliably using the disposable pad in this new setup.

2. Gradually expose the Potty Buddy surface

We want her paws to start feeling the cloth, but still smell and see the disposable pad she trusts.

• Cut a small window (about the size of your hand) in the middle of the disposable pad so a bit of the Potty Buddy shows through.
• Tape or secure the edges of the cut pad so it stays flat and doesn't flap or move.
• Leave the rest of the disposable pad intact so it still smells and looks familiar.

If she's nervous, start with a very small opening and slowly enlarge it every few days.

Watch for signs of progress: if she steps on the exposed cloth at all, even once, quietly praise her and offer a small treat right after she finishes.

3. Use scent to encourage her to go on the cloth

Dogs are guided heavily by smell, so we can use that to our advantage.

• Save a small piece of a soiled disposable pad (urine only, not stool).
• Place or tape that small soiled piece directly on the exposed part of the Potty Buddy.
• This tells her: "This is the right bathroom spot."

Each time she uses the pad correctly, you can again move a little bit more of the scent onto the cloth and less onto the remaining disposable paper.

4. Slowly reduce the disposable pad

Once she's occasionally stepping on or using the cloth area, you can begin phasing out the disposable pad.

• Make the opening in the disposable pad larger every few days so more of the Potty Buddy shows.
• Over time, you can trim the disposable pad smaller and smaller, always keeping it in the same spot on top of the Potty Buddy.
• Aim to reach a point where only a small strip or corner of paper remains and most of what she stands on is cloth.

If she has an accident on the floor again, simply:

• Clean up calmly and thoroughly (using an enzymatic cleaner if possible, so no scent remains there).
• Guide her gently back to the Potty Buddy setup.
• Go back one step in the process until she's confident again.

5. Reward the right behavior every single time

Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful tools you have.

• Keep small, high-value treats nearby.
• The moment she finishes going on the Potty Buddy (even partially), calmly say a consistent phrase like "Good potty" and give her a treat.
• Try to avoid scolding for misses. Just quietly clean and guide her back to the pad.

This teaches her that going on the cloth equals treats and praise.

6. Make wrong spots less appealing

We also want to gently discourage going on the floor around the pad.

• Clean any accidents on the floor with an enzymatic cleaner so no scent marker remains.
• If she has a favorite "wrong" corner, you can temporarily block it with furniture, a box, or even by placing her food/water there (dogs usually avoid going potty near where they eat).

7. Go at her pace and repeat successful steps

Every dog's comfort level is different, especially adult dogs who have used one system their whole life.

• Stay at each step for several days to a week, until she's consistently successful.
• If she regresses or avoids the pad, just go back one step (for example, make the disposable pad bigger again) and give her more time.

It's perfectly normal for this process to take a few weeks. Slow and steady progress is absolutely okay.

8. When she's ready, remove the disposable pad completely

Once she's confidently using mostly cloth:

• Remove the last bit of disposable pad and leave only the Potty Buddy in her usual spot.
• Keep the same routine of praise and treats whenever she uses it correctly.

If she hesitates, you can temporarily place a very small scented scrap of a used pad on a corner of the Potty Buddy and then remove it after a few successful days.

9. If things stay difficult

Some dogs need extra support, especially if they're very routine-bound or anxious.

• If you're open to it, a virtual session with a positive-reinforcement trainer can give you customized advice for your space and your dog's personality.
• You're also welcome to update me on how she's doing. I'm happy to help you adjust the steps as her progress allows.

You're doing a wonderful job looking after your dog's needs while managing your own mobility challenges. This kind of change can take a little time, but with small, gradual steps and lots of positive reinforcement, many adult dogs do learn to love their reusable pad.

Warm regards, Sophie Potty Buddy Support Team