The Best Pee Pads For Dogs

Buying Guide

You’ll hear mixed opinions from experts on the use of pee pads during the training period. But as important as it can be to teach your dog to go outside, these pads can be useful to have around.

There might be times, for instance, that your furry friend can’t make it outside. That could happen if you’re gone for long hours during those early years when puppies can’t hold it as long, for instance, or if your pet is older and incontinent.

Used the wrong way, though, a pee pad can teach bad habits. If you’re going this route during training, it’s important to make sure you’re setting yourself up to move the dog outside soon. You can start by moving the pee pad to the door, then reward your dog, gradually moving the pee pad outside. Eventually, your dog will start to go in the yard even without the pad there.

For fully-trained animals, though, pee pads can be a great way to solve problems. You may have an older dog who can’t  move around well anymore due to hip dysplasia or arthritis issues. Or you may have a dog who refuses to exit the house on rainy days. In these cases, you may need to train your pet to use the potty pad indoors in addition to reliably going outside.

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• Today’s pads use innovative design technology to absorb pet odors. Some are scented and can even make your place smell better, but most at least neutralize bad odors so they can’t even be detected.
• Another feature of today’s pee pads is leak prevention. In some, liquid is immediately transformed into gel upon contact, and the underside may be designed with numerous, multi-functional waterproof layers to protect your floors. Some pee pads also include an attractant to engage dogs or a built-in color indicator so you know when the pad is wet.
• Pee pads are typically multilayered, with each layer doing a specific job. But just because a pee pad claims to have more layers than others, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s superior. More important are the tools packed into those layers to absorb urine, neutralize odors and prevent leaks.
• Some pee pads use activated carbon to neutralize odors. This is better than simply covering them up.
• Many pee pads are built with non-skid pads on the underside. This will hold the pad in place when your pet steps on it. These nonskid pads can also help with leak prevention.
• If you have multiple dogs, consider a larger pee pad that will allow multiple uses before you discard it.
• Some pee pads come in regular and heavy-duty versions. If you have multiple pets or need to go longer between changes, the heavy-duty pad might be a better option.
• Scented pee pads will help mask smells until the odor-neutralizing properties of the pad kick in. But they have the added benefit of making your home smell nicer.
• You can find quilted pee pads with an outer layer that makes them look like a blanket. This can be a better decorating option for when you have guests over.