The 9 Best Puppy Pads | Best Dog Training Pads of 2022

When your pup can’t “go” outside, these training pads will keep your home puddle- and odor-free.

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Puppy pads can be a lifesaver if your dog can’t go outside due to extreme weather, recent surgery, or simply, old age. They’re also a perfect training tool for new puppies who are in the process of being housebroken. While generic pads get the job done, some pet owners find them to be leaky, unsightly, and, worse, unable to lock in odors. By stepping up to a premium puppy pad, you can keep your floor clean and your home smelling fresh.

Because your puppy may not develop full bladder control until the age of 6 to 10 months, puppy pads can be a helpful training tool during those early stages when they’re unable to hold it until they can go outside. And small breeds tend to take even longer to master housetraining.

If your new puppy is not yet pad-trained, you can set your pet up for success by lining a confined area—a corner of the kitchen, for instance—and keep the pee pad on a surface that’s easy to clean like a tile floor. You can also use scent cues, such as an attractant spray or pads that have attractant built in or even by sopping up accidents with a clean pad to load it with their own scent. Dogs are drawn to the subtle smell of fresh grass or even ammonia (urine contains this) so they will gravitate to these aromas.

One common issue with pad training is that it can make your dog think it’s acceptable to relieve themselves anywhere in your home. To prevent this, always place pads in the same spot every time. Choose a low traffic area that is far from your pup’s bed, food, and water bowl. Never place a pad in your puppy’s crate—which is essentially their “den” and needs to remain a comfy, safe space that they instinctively avoid soiling.

You’ll likely use a few different types of puppy pads during your dog’s lifetime, or even over the course of a week. Disposable puppy pads are convenient for busy weekdays, though even eco-friendly pads claiming to be made with sustainably sourced and recycled materials are not biodegradable since they need a plastic lining on the bottom to prevent leaks. You might want to consider rotating in a washable, reusable one to save money and lower your pup’s carbon pawprint. Some are sold in two-packs—one in the wash, one on the floor.

We also included a few box-type setups on our list, which are essentially portable backyard potties. These reusable systems, which offer outdoor ambiance to appeal to your pet, consist of some type of container or tray, filled with either mulch or grass, and plastic lining.

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Pads with more layers tend to be more absorbent, resulting in fewer leaks. A few options here have four, five or up to six layers. On top might be gauze or fleece followed underneath by a plastic liner and nonslip bottom. Some also have a carbon layer to neutralize odors and absorb yellow spots.

Some puppy pad manufacturers state the liquid cup capacity per pad, while others have guidelines based on your dog’s weight or breed. As a general rule of thumb, dogs produce around 20 to 40 milliliters (ml) of urine per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 24 hours, so for a 25-pound dog, that would translate to about two cups of urine per day. Large dogs need a high-absorbency pad that won’t overflow while smaller dogs can use high-absorbency pads multiple times before they need to be replaced.

The standard disposable pad is about 22 inches square. Larger pads have more surface area to wick away moisture and promote evaporation and, therefore, have more room for multiple usage. However, oversize pads may not work for small spaces. Disposable pads have a border material that stops runoff, so if you cut or fold the pad, it’s more likely to leak.

While high-capacity pads don’t need to be replaced as often, a soiled pad can give off an odor as urine evaporates. Scented pads or those with odor-absorbing additives like activated carbon are great for keeping your home smelling fresh. Pads with a built-in attractant are helpful during the initial training period, but they’re not necessary once your dog is fully trained.

As I tested different pads, I learned that the cheapest option isn’t always the most affordable—flimsy pads need to be replaced more often—and not all expensive pads are worth the cost. Also, your pup may be attracted to certain brands more than others, especially those that have a built-in attractant or have a distinctive texture. You may need to try different pads until you find the one that works for your pup. These are the best puppy pads I recommend for keeping your home clean without blowing your budget.

Key Specs

The Bark Potty, a “dog park in a box,” is an environmentally friendly dog potty system that replaces up to 60 disposable puppy pads. It consists of a flat cardboard box filled with wood bark mulch that naturally attracts dogs, aids moisture evaporation, and neutralizes odor. The mesh top keeps the mulch contained and a plastic lining prevents moisture from leaking through the bottom. All components of the Bark Potty are eco-friendly: recyclable plastic tray and mesh, Forest Stewardship Council-certified redwood chips, and biodegradable cardboard box. It even comes with compostable poop bags.

Key Specs

These reusable puppy pads have four layers. On top is soft brushed fleece. Underneath is a high-absorbency layer followed by a waterproof liner and a nonslip bottom. While the fleece top can confuse dogs into using other soft surfaces like blankets and rugs as a potty area, this reusable pad features a potty pad holder with a mesh top to create a distinctive surface. The blue is highly visible to a dog’s limited range of color, so it’s easier for your pet to distinguish it as their potty area. At 35 x 32 inches, this one-size-only pad is designed for large dogs, but that’s not to say smaller dogs can’t get a lot more mileage out of one before it having to get tossed into the wash.

Key Specs

Though they’re low-cost, Pet All Star Training Pads are higher in quality than other budget disposables, absorbing up to two cups of liquid per pad. They’re suitable for most breeds, though you’ll need to use more than one per day for medium to large dogs. They have a puddle-wicking top sheet to keep paws dry, an absorbent core with a built-in odor neutralizer, and leakproof bottom liner. There’s a built-in attractant to aid training.

Key Specs

Made up of five layers that include a gel-forming polymer, odor-absorbing activated charcoal, and a leak-proof polyethylene-liner, Glad Activated Charcoal Training Pads quickly absorb puddles and neutralize odors so your pup gets multiple uses per pad. The activated charcoal also eliminates unsightly yellow spots on pads that are slightly used but not ready to be replaced. These also contain a pheromonal attractant so your pup knows where to “go.”

Key Specs

While no puppy pad is totally biodegradable, Pogi’s Training Pads are as earth-friendly as disposable pads can get. Made of six layers, its top one is comprised of renewable bamboo fiber complemented by fluff-pulp filling from sustainable pine, with a plant-based Biohybrid leakproof liner. These pads also contain a honey-based attractant to direct your pup where to do their business.

Key Specs

Adult dogs that have never used puppy pads typically don’t take to them quickly, posing a challenge to pet owners who move into an apartment or who need to keep their dog on bed rest after surgery. Four Paws pads contain both a pheromonal attractant and a grass scent to encourage your outside-only dog to give them a try. They’re also a good choice for puppies who are new to pad training.

Key Specs

DoggieLawn is just what it sounds like—a backyard in a box. It consists of a flat cardboard box filled with hydroponically grown grass, which means it’s grown without soil. The living grass sod absorbs urine and odor for up to four weeks (solids must be removed daily) and then it can be disposed of in your household trash or compost. The real grass helps attract adult dogs that have never been pad trained, and minimizes confusion for puppies because it reminds them of the outdoors, rather than any other indoor surface. The DoggieLawn is disposable, free of plastic, and environmentally friendly, but it should be used with a washable plastic tray (purchased separately) to prevent leaks.

Key Specs:

The Pet Loo from Petsafe is a reusable indoor potty system for dogs. It comes in three sizes—small, medium and large—and consists of a synthetic grass mat, heavy-duty plastic base, and a drawer that contains a disposable “Pee Pod” tray that works with Wee Sponge powder that absorbs urine and solidifies into a gel. While the disposable Pee Pod trays and Wee Sponge powder refills can be pricey, some reviewers successfully used other materials such as kitty litter in their Pet Loo. Others found the grass pad itself to be low-quality but were able to cut other faux grass patches to fit the tray.

Key Specs:

WizSmart puppy pads are thicker and softer than other pads, touting all-day use even for large dogs. Made with a blend of defective, unused baby diapers and eucalyptus fiber, they’re more sustainable than most. Male dog owners will appreciate the adhesive tabs that make it possible to mount one side against a wall at a 90-degree angle to accommodate leg-lifters.

Lindsay Pevny is a pet-industry writer who has worked closely over the past decade with pet professionals to spread the word about innovations in behavioral training, veterinary care, and household products that make our pets’ lives happier, healthier, and most important, longer. Through her Popular Mechanics contributions, she features the best pet products to free up those busy shopping fingers for belly rubs and behind-the-ear scratches. When she’s not writing about pets, she’s making homemade pizza, hunting for mushrooms, and snuggling with her dogs, Matilda and Cow, and her cat Sabrina.

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