The 10 Best Puppy Training Pads
This wiki has been updated 39 times since it was first published in August of 2015. As cute as a young puppy is, messy and smelly accidents are all but inevitable. The good news is that while Fido is learning to hold it in, you can still safeguard your carpets, tiles, or wood flooring using these dog training pads. With multiple layers, super-absorbent cores, and built-in odor control, their can help prevent damage to surfaces and the need for challenging cleanups. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Iris Neat 'n Dry
2. Simple Solution Premium
3. Mednet Direct Ultra
Editor's Notes
February 24, 2020:
Not everyone agrees on the usefulness of puppy training pads; some say they are a convenience that makes having a dog easier, while others believe they prolong or complicate the housebreaking process. But, for those in the former camp, we have looked for a range of models that can help keep floors safe, whether that's from an elderly dog or a young pup with a small bladder.
Top models still include the Simple Solution Premium, thanks to the six-layer construction, and we've added the Iris Neat 'n Dry, as well. It turns liquid into a gel that's easier to contain, which leads to fewer wet messes requiring pet stain removers. There's also the Mednet Direct Ultra. They're on the pricier side, but they come in a convenient XXL size that works for big breeds. We've removed the Top Dog Deluxe, however, over ongoing concerns about leaks, as well as the Petphabet Potty, which have become hard to find. For a carbon alternative, consider the AmazonBasics Carbon, instead. They dry relatively quickly and offer a black color that's less of an eyesore than some. Finally, we've decided to add one more reusable option, the Pet Magasin Waterproof. Just like similar choices, including the Dry Defender, they can begin to smell over time, so you'll want to wash them often.
Special Honors
BrilliantPad Dog Potty No one wants to pick up smelly pads or solid waste, and with the BrilliantPad Dog Potty, you won't have to. A self-cleaning model, it wraps up the pads without any help from you, sealing them in the process to ensure there's no smell. Changing the rolls is simple and easy, although between the rolls and the unit itself, it's not exactly an inexpensive solution. brilliantpad.com
Doggielawn Grass You'll feel better about the environment with a subscription to Doggielawn Grass, which delivers the green stuff right to your doorstep. There's nothing to wash and no plastic to throw away, although there can be bugs in the turf, an annoyance considering that you will most likely place it inside your living space. doggielawn.com
4. Bulldogology XL
5. Dry Defender
6. Paw Inspired XL
7. GoGo Pet Gridlock
8. Four Paws Wee Wee
9. Pet Magasin Waterproof
10. AmazonBasics Carbon
Birth Of Puppy Potty Magic
It is still very successful today and the Wee-Wee pads are still one of the company's most popular items.
The emotional bond between humans and dogs has a legacy spanning the last thirty to forty thousand years when the earliest descendants of the grey wolf began foraging around human campsites. This forged a relationship that would transcend and withstand some of the darkest times in our own history, with the dog becoming part of human everyday life and culture.
While it is an inevitable fact that at some point in our own history, the dog was domesticated to the point where humans could breed selectively for certain physical characteristics, and have influence on a dog's behavior and training, it's a safe bet that our hunter-gatherer ancestors did not employ the use of a training pad to teach their young pups to relieve themselves on an object that wouldn't make a mess.
Prior to the 1970s, it was a common occurrence for dog owners to simply lay down sheets of old newspapers onto their kitchen floors to allow puppy to relieve herself without the pee going everywhere. The problem with this old-fashioned method of housebreaking was the mess it created. Urine would easily soak right through newspaper and onto the floor.
Recognizing this fault, former carpet installation business operator Allen Simon began experimenting with potential products in the basement of his Puppy City pet store. In the 1970s, Simon invented what he called the Wee-Wee pad. Unlike newspaper, the Wee-Wee pad was thicker and significantly more absorbent. The pad was also lined with plastic to prevent floor damage when a puppy would go potty.
Eventually, Allen Simon transferred ownership of his pet store to his brother, Kenny, and launched his own pet products business called Four Paws, which became one of the fastest growing companies in the pet products industry. It is still very successful today and the Wee-Wee pads are still one of the company's most popular items. There are also currently several other competing brands of puppy training pads on the market with similar construction.
Practicality Meets Convenience And Peace Of Mind
Anybody who considers themselves a dog lover (and who has owned dogs in the past) knows the joys and emotional magic that occur with such a relationship. That said, a person also knows that accidents are not only inevitable, but that a puppy will have to learn the best places to go potty. The rug isn't one of them. With patience, training, and the proper encouragement, you'll have your new furry best friend potty trained in no time at all. Dealing with a few accidents here and there is a very small price to pay for the amount of love, time, and appreciation you'll gain from the experience. The training pad is simply an additional tool to make that job a bit easier and fun as your puppy grows.
The puppy training pad is also beneficial for both elderly humans and dogs.
There are two main types of puppy training pads available: disposable and washable. Disposable pads are often treated with scents so that the smell doesn't become overpowering when puppy relieves himself. Disposable pads are also easy to pick up and toss away into the trash. Washable pads are certainly cost-effective and they're sometimes more durable than the disposable type, so they're more difficult for a puppy to chew or tear apart. Depending on the brand, training pads can be constructed with plastic borders and absorbent cores to prevent pee overflow or leaks.
So what are some of the advantages to using training pads? First, consider your lifestyle. If you have to leave your home for an extended period of time, a training pad is an excellent alternative for your puppy, so that he doesn't have to wait until you get home to go outside. That may not be optimal in every case, but it certainly helps in a bind.
Additionally, if you live in an apartment complex without access to a grassy area or park around the property, the training pad will provide a safe place for your puppy to relieve himself. If you do live in a home with a backyard or if your apartment building has grassy areas for potty training, then the pad can be an equally excellent tool for introducing your dog to the outdoors. In this situation, the puppy pad can be placed outdoors in an area that you prefer the dog to go potty (on the grass) to familiarize him with the outdoor environment.
Once he gets used to relieving himself in that location, the pad can then be weaned away gradually in place of real grass. The puppy training pad is also beneficial for both elderly humans and dogs. If walking becomes increasingly difficult for the both of you, the pad is a good alternative for the dog to use.
The Best Puppy Training Pads
Persistence is key when bringing a new puppy into one's life. The training pad must reflect the dog's size and needs. For example, a training pad for a puppy Golden Retriever will need to be bigger, thicker, and more absorbent than a pad intended for a small terrier.
Do not assume that a large puppy can hold more urine than a small one before needing to go pee.
Do not assume that a large puppy can hold more urine than a small one before needing to go pee. Large puppies are just as prone to accidents and have larger bladders, meaning that those accidents are sometimes bigger. Like children, they need to learn when the appropriate time comes to go potty and under what circumstances they ought to cork it.
Absorbency makes the puppy pad particularly useful. Some of the best pads offer multiple layers of protection, as well as plastic edges, and can even turn puppy's urine into a gel for fast cleanup and disposal. Additionally, those pads with built-in odor control and darker colors remain discreet in your home without attracting unwanted attention.
Consistency matters with regard to placement of your puppy training pads. If your puppy has a designated sleeping area, for example, then it's a good idea to place the pads nearby so that he will began to associate this area (and the pad) with relieving himself.
Finally, if you live in an area that doesn't have quick access to outdoor grassy areas, then washable training pads will be of significant benefit due to their durability and high degree of absorbency.
Melissa Harr is a language-obsessed writer from Chicagoland who holds both a bachelor of arts and master of arts in English. Although she began as a TEFL teacher, earning several teaching certificates and working in both Russia and Vietnam, she moved into freelance writing to satisfy her passion for the written word. She has published full-length courses and books in the realm of arts & crafts and DIY; in fact, most of her non-working time is spent knitting, cleaning, or committing acts of home improvement. Along with an extensive knowledge of tools, home goods, and crafts and organizational supplies, she has ample experience (okay, an obsession) with travel gear, luggage, and the electronics that make modern life more convenient.