Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Dogster Team
Potty training can be a real challenge for dog owners. It might be one of the most time-consuming, unenjoyable aspects of raising a puppy—but it must be done. Puppy pads can save the day to protect your floors, furniture, and fabrics. Dog Care Pet Training Mat
When you’re sifting through products, you might wonder if all puppy pads are made alike. Trust us, we’re here to tell you that they are not! Quality is of the utmost importance when it comes to saving your floor and furniture. We rounded up eight of the best puppy pads on the market for your convenience. Check out our reviews so you can make an informed buy!
When it comes to all of the factors we feel make a puppy pad great, Frisco Dog Training Potty Pads meet our expectations. Because of that, they are our choice for the best overall puppy pads—and we think you will love them too.
Inside, a built-in attractant lets your dog know right where to use the bathroom. Therein are five layers to lock in wetness without affecting your floors. It includes a fast-drying quilted top, dual-layer absorbent tissue, liquid-locking pulp and polymer, and a leakproof liner on the bottom.
These puppy pads are unscented and disposable, so you can simply toss them in the trash when you’re through. You can set them in kennels, on floors, and basically, anywhere else you wish.
We feel like these would work best for the broadest spectrum when it comes to taking care of most potty training for pups. They’re affordable and plentiful, so you can take quite a time off between buys. With any luck, potty training will be over before you know it.
If you want to save money both initially and in the long run—take a peek at the Pet Parents Pawfect Washable Dog Pee Pads. These reusable puppy pads are a one-time buy—and you can alternate between both, making them the best puppy pads for the money.
We personally reviewed the smallest size, but these pads are available in the following measurements: 18” x 24”, 34” x 36”, 24” x 36”, or 41” x 41”. So, you can see that you can buy for larger breeds or cover a specific area. The price climbs accordingly.
These pads are quite the environmentally-friendly choice compared to disposables. These pads are made of a WickQuick fabric, which quickly absorbs and traps liquids inside to prevent tracking. You won’t have to worry about the pads moving, either, as they have a StickyPaw gripping backside.
In addition to affordability, we love how discrete these pads are. We don’t think you could ask for much more. However, these pads don’t contain attractants, which might be confusing for puppies.
If you want a solution once and for all for pain-in-the-neck puppy pad changes, you might consider the BrilliantPad Self-Cleaning WiFi & App Controlled Automatic Potty Pad. It is considerably more expensive than other puppy pad options, but that’s because it’s totally hassle-free for you.
This design is meant to stow away bad smells from feces and urine by sealing them each time your pup goes. It automatically replaces the soiled pad with a clean one—and even sends you a picture to let you know the job is done.
You don’t have to wait on the puppy pad smart sensors to notify you either. With the push of a button, you can change it on demand. Or, if you prefer, you can also set it to change at a specific time, thanks to the technology behind the product.
The BrilliantPad is Wi-Fi controlled, meaning you can change or view anything relating to it on the accompanying app. However, it is only designed for dogs 25 pounds and under—so, puppies or small breeds only, please.
We realize the Arm & Hammer Premium Dog Pee Pads are a little pricey, but hear us out! With this pack, you get the utmost excellence in the product in bulk, meaning you can go potentially months without replacements. Made of 35% recycled materials, we think these pads are ideal for training.
These disposables are thick and durable without leaks or tracking. They contain no harsh chemicals, using green tea polymers, which creates a gel in place of liquid within 30 seconds of contact. These puppy pads are terrific when it comes to absorption, collecting up to 5 cups of liquid per pad.
Since puppies have a smaller bladder, they go on pads more frequently, which can be expensive when you’re constantly replacing them. We were pretty impressed by the absorbency and odor control these pads offer, which is why we have to recommend them for puppies.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more permanent for a senior or pup with incontinence issues, these pads might not be the best option.
If you have a large or giant breed, you might need more floor protection than normal pee pads have to offer. That’s why we recommend these Wee-Wee Extra Large Puppy Pee Pads for bigger messes. This leakproof option has six whole layers of wetness protection, holding up to 25% more liquid.
These pee pads contain Floor Armor Leak-Proof Protection, to be specific. This system traps liquids on contact, offering 24 whole hours of total floor protection. It contains a built-in attractant that lets your dog know just where to go.
The top layer is tear-resistant, which works very well for dogs with larger claws. If you have a large breed senior, these can be an excellent solution to potty issues in the home. However, it doesn’t exclusively have to be for seniors, as it provides total protection for any age group.
There are certain breeds that never can seem to hold it quite long enough to make it outside sometimes. For these, usually small breeds, we found that the Green Lifestyles Reusable Dog Pee Pads work splendidly.
In this pack, you get a four-count of reusable cloth. If you need a little extra protection to switch out between washes, the company also offers a 6-pack. These fabrics are carefully created to soak in moisture with a leakproof backing to prevent spills or tracking.
You can put these pads on your furniture to protect your fabrics or place them on carpets. Either way, these pads work so well for those little pups that just have trouble in between outside visits. There are just enough to alternate in between washes for one dog, but you might need to upsize for multiples.
We will say that you might need some type of odor neutralizer during washes to remove the smells completely. As it sits, these pads can retain some of the smell after washes if you don’t use a product to remove the odors deep in the fabric.
Leave it to Barkbox to come out with a pee pad product that rocks—Barkbox Odorless Puppy Pads. Using activated charcoal, the odors and bad juju associated with pee pads can be a thing of the past. The combo combines with the urine to neutralize on the spot.
These pads contain layers of protection as follows: attractant, carbon technology stain and odor control, liquid to gel technology, and no-leak barriers. Each one comes with an anti-slip adhesive on the bottom to sit on hard or carpeted surfaces.
Also, each of these pads is anti-slip with tabs, meaning you can use them on hard or carpeted surfaces without issue. Inside, the liquid turns quickly to gel, so all the moisture stays inside without leaking. The company touts that their pads hold 1.5 times more liquid than similar brands.
It also comes with a bonus guide on how to properly potty train your dog—we love it. We could only mention that the anti-slip grips are no longer sticky once you place them.
Lennypads Ultra Absorbent Washable Dog Pee Pad is a well-made disposable pad that deserves some attention. It might not be quite as absorbent as some washable pee pads, but it definitely gets the job done for small breeds and little pups.
This pad contains four layers, each with a different function that keeps liquids in. Each one is oversized to accommodate extra fluid content. In fact, Lennypads are 100% leakproof with recommended use.
Discrete and efficient, these pads work in nearly any home or inside of your pup’s kennel.
On top of being highly absorbent, they are also much more attractive than disposable puppy pads. It comes in two sizes: 24” x 36” or 48” x 48”.
All Lennypad products are made in the USA. We really love everything about the overall composition and user-friendliness. However, you’ll likely want to have more than one on hand, which can be a little pricey.
Our favorite thing about Bulldogology Puppy Pee Pads is the adhesive underneath. So many times, you place a disposable pee pad down only to find it scooted all the way across a room. Many disposables are too light for slippery floors, but not for this brand—they buckle down the product fast.
Bulldogology pee pads work very well, with six highly absorbent layers. These pads are available in 50, 100, and 150-count options, but only one size—24” x 24”.
The sticky adhesive tape that comes with the pads works extremely well on hard surfaces. However, it can be very sticky, leaving a residue or ripping certain surfaces. So, just make sure to use the pads as suggested on the packaging.
We really love that this product touts a 100% moneyback guarantee, so if it doesn’t work, no worries! You can contact the company so they can work with you to make it right.
If you just need a basic puppy pad that gets the job done, you can rely on Paws & Pads Puppy Pads. They have just the right amount of absorbency but don’t slack on changing them out—as too much liquid can surely cause an overflow.
These pads would work for any space essentially, as they are 22” x 22”. It would fit in most kennel or home spaces. Also, it comes in different counts, depending on how many you’d like to buy at a time: 30, 100, and 150-count.
These pads offer five layers of protection for liquid, odors, and pheromone triggers.
This is surely sufficient if you just need a straightforward puppy pad with no special powers. However, these are genuinely baseline pads with no extraordinary absorbency or variety. They definitely work for the intended purpose, but you must stay on top of it.
Believe it or not, pee pads for pups aren’t created equal. Some are incredibly efficient, with odor protection and wetness locks. On the other hand, others might leak, tear, or not remain stationary. So, it is essential to know what to look for and what your options are before buying.
Disposable puppy pads are standard and convenient, located at nearly every department and pet store around. But are all pee pads made equal? We think not. The key to an excellent disposable pee pad combines absorbency, anti-leaking support, and anti-tracking composition.
Most pee pads are made with a layered system, creating a quick-drying top with a leakproof base. Some offer odor protection, while others offer heavy gel absorption. Nearly all disposable options also contain an attractant to let your dogs know where to do their business.
Reusable pee pads can be an excellent resource to use in place of disposable pads. You can alternate between pads so you always have a fresh one—and you don’t need to continue to purchase over and over.
Most reusable pads are washing machine-safe.
A downfall of reusable pee pads is that there is no built-in attractant. So, it likely requires training or experience to draw the dog to their go-to spot. If you don’t have the time to train a puppy to use a pee pad or go outside, you might have an extra task getting them to go on a washable pad.
We still stand by our favorite—Frisco Dog Training Potty Pads. They are ideal for getting you through the puppy stages or for serving as a layer of protection for other potty time issues. Each box contains a high count, optimal absorbency, and leakproof protection—what more could you want?
If you’re looking to be a thrift spend, look at the Pet Parents Pawfect Washable Dog Pee Pads. You can quickly alternate between the two completely washable pads. It will cut out recurring costs, making training a breeze.
In any case, hopefully, these reviews gave you the option that works best for your household.
Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
Apartment Dog Pee Pad Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature in need. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are dogs and cats.