Potty pads, also known as puppy pads or pee pads, are useful tools for teaching your puppy where to appropriately relieve itself. Since using a potty pad isn’t instinctual, training is required for your puppy to learn. Consistency is crucial in this process, helping your puppy eventually transition to outdoor bathroom habits.

Potty training a new puppy can be difficult if you don’t know what to do, but there are several aids you can use to help your puppy go potty where you want it to go.

Choosing a Potty Pad

The idea behind using a potty pad is to provide a visible, consistent area for your puppy to go potty. You’ll want to choose something absorbent, easy to clean up, and large enough for the messes that your specific puppy makes. Large breed dogs may need heavy-duty options compared to toy breeds. Newspapers, paper towels, cloth towels, and store-bought pee pads or indoor/outdoor carpet potty stations are all options.

Newspaper and paper towels can be messy and difficult to clean up after your puppy potties on them, but they are inexpensive. Cloth towels are absorbent but will need to be washed regularly, and your puppy is more likely to try to chew on it like a blanket or toy. Store-bought pee pads are the most popular option due to their absorbency, size options, and ease of disposal. If you plan to train your small dog to use the potty indoors, then indoor/outdoor carpet potty stations specifically designed for dogs are good options.

Introduce Your Puppy to the Potty Pads

Allow your puppy to see and sniff the potty pads you chose. This will help it get used to the new item so it isn’t scared of it at potty time. Let your puppy walk on the pad while you repeat a consistent command that you plan to say at potty time, such as “Go potty.”

Anticipate When Your Puppy Will Potty

While potty training your puppy, you’ll need to keep them close by so that you can anticipate when they are about to go potty. There are a few key times and behaviors to watch for that will help you anticipate your puppy having to urinate or defecate:

• Puppies usually potty after sleeping, eating, drinking, and playing. After your puppy does one of these things, you’ll want to pick it up about 15 minutes later and place it onto the potty pad in anticipation of it having to urinate or defecate.
• If your puppy starts sniffing around on the ground instead of playing or chewing on a toy, this is a good indication that it needs to go potty. You’ll want to pick it up and place it on the potty pad if it starts doing this.
• Your puppy may have to go potty every two to three hours. Get in the habit of taking your puppy to the potty pad every few hours.

Reward Your Puppy

Praise and treats work wonders with puppies. If your puppy goes potty on its potty pad, make sure you immediately praise it. This can be verbal in an excited tone of voice, by petting your puppy, or by giving it a special, soft treat reserved only for potty time.

Be Consistent

Keep your puppy on a regular schedule. This will make it easier for you to anticipate when your puppy may need to potty.

Say the same command phrase each time.

Keep the potty pad in the same place until your puppy starts going to the potty pad by itself. Once your puppy knows what to do on the potty pad, you can slowly move it closer to the door or outside where you want your puppy to eventually use the bathroom without the use of the potty pad.

Training Mistakes to Avoid

Do not encourage your puppy to pull or chew on the potty pad, eat food on it, or play on it. This may confuse your puppy as to what the purpose of the potty pad is.

Do not move the potty pad around until your puppy knows what it is for and is going potty on it consistently.

Be sure to find and use a treat that your puppy is excited about getting. This will help with the training process.

Problems and Proofing Behavior

If your puppy isn’t making it to the potty pad on time, try putting it closer to where it usually plays or eats, and then slowly move it closer to the door if you aim to eventually teach it to potty outside.

If you are having issues keeping an eye on your puppy and it has accidents when you aren’t looking, try the following strategies:

• Add a bell to its collar to help you hear where it is.
• Leave the leash on for the puppy to drag behind it, which will leave somewhat of a trail for you to follow.
• Consider putting your puppy in a crate or exercise pen to nap, which may encourage it to whine if it has to potty since dogs don’t like to mess where they also sleep.

If your puppy seems to be constantly urinating, talk to your veterinarian about potential problems that some puppies are known for having.

Bringing home a new puppy and potty training go hand in hand. Potty pads have become an invaluable part of this training process, especially if you live in an apartment or city and want to train your pup inside. The right puppy pad both encourages positive habits during housebreak training and makes cleanup simple and mess-free. 

We have no reservations about recommending Bulldogology Puppy Training Pads. They are incredibly absorbent and hold multiple cups of liquid without spilling a drop. They are also durable and didn’t tear or get weighed down when we used a combination of liquid and solid materials to test their strength.

Plus, all four corners of each pad have an optional adhesive tab. The sticker-like area helps keep the pad in place, which is great if you have a dog that likes to paw at the pad before doing their business. At times, we found that a slight bit of the adhesive tab would rip off the pad and remain on the wood flooring, but it is easily removed.

Bulldogology Premium Puppy Training Pads combine several layers of material designed to absorb liquids and pull them into the center of the pad, including an outer “attractant fabric” layer and another layer that keeps scents locked in. But it’s the superabsorbent polymer (SAP) at the center of the pad that most effectively absorbs and retains liquids, transforming a powder into a gel that won’t release liquid back onto your floor or hands.

We assessed puppy pads using several tests and five different metrics, rating each for its effectiveness, durability, scent (and how well it absorbs scents), ease of cleanup, and the product’s overall value. In our evaluation, Bulldogology Puppy Training Pads received a perfect score in every category except overall value, since they are more expensive than several other training pads we recommend.

During testing, we poured a combination of water and vinegar on the Bulldogology pad up to the maximum absorbency claimed by the manufacturer. After soaking, the training pad’s margins remained dry, making it easy to pick up with our hands. Remarkably, even touching the wet portion of the pee pad still felt nearly dry.

When lifting the soaked puppy pad off the ground, the Bulldogology pad didn’t feel like it was about to rip or was at risk of falling apart. There was no dripping, and the floor underneath was dry.

Bulldogology Puppy Training Pads also come in a range of options, including different sizes, materials, and quantities. The standard pee pads are sold in 50-, 100-, and 150-count packages. There are also XL pads that are 24 x 35 inches and are available in packages of 40, 60, 180, and 360.

Bulldogology also makes it easy to subscribe, so a steady supply of pee pads will keep coming to your door. The company also has an activated carbon version of the Bulldogology Puppy Training Pads, with an additional charcoal layer designed to more fully absorb smells (though we found the standard pads effective at scent absorption already).

The Bulldogology pee pads also incorporate a feature we were unable to test under lab conditions: a pheromone attractant. Designed to draw the attention of a puppy while housebreaking, we were unable to test whether this is a useful feature or a gimmick.

Other minor features were more obviously useful, including the adhesive tape at each corner, which kept the Bulldogology pads attached firmly to our test floor. You may find the adhesive corners very useful if your dog likes to spin in circles before they pee or if they are limping, to help prevent the pad from slipping.

It should be noted that while the Bulldogology Puppy Training Pads were our overall favorite, many of our other recommendations performed as well or nearly as well. There are a number of viable puppy training pads on the market, so don’t hesitate to try something else on this list if it’s more convenient to purchase.

Available in two sizes

Frisco Dog Training & Potty Pads are available in scented or unscented versions, along with many of the useful features found among our other recommendations, including the inclusion of a pheromone meant to attract your puppy to the pad. They have a dry paper margin and leakproof plastic liner for high absorbency and fewer messes.

The scented pads have a wildflower scent that we found to be very mild and pleasant throughout three months of real-world testing, and the pads were reliable, with no leaks or tears to report.

In our lab testing, we found the scent to be very effective at completely masking the smell of vinegar that was used in the absorbency tests. Of course, we found that many of the unscented pads were just as good at fully absorbing strong smells, so scented pads should be seen as a personal preference rather than a necessity.

The main downside to the Frisco puppy pads is their relatively limited availability. But if you already do your pet shopping through Chewy, these pads are a great all-around pick, whether you go scented or unscented.

Available in three sizes

How We Picked

Testing: We purchased and tested 20 puppy pads in our New York Lab to find the absolute best. The pads were set up side by side on linoleum flooring. Following our lab testing, we sent each style of puppy pad to a home with a dog for real-world testing.

We checked after one month and three months to get their feedback. Each puppy pee pad was rated according to five different scoring categories: absorbency, scent, durability, ease of cleaning, and value.

All of our real-world participants had at least one dog in their home who would use a potty pad, so we were able to see how the pads stood up to real dog pee and poop.

In our lab, we used measuring cups to dispense 3 to 6 cups of water on each pad. Each brand was evaluated according to its claimed capacity: If a pee pad said it could hold 3 cups of puppy pee, we rated it on its ability to absorb 3 cups. The water used on each puppy pad contained both food coloring for visibility and vinegar so that our testers could also rate the scent-tackling features, evaluating the ability of scented pads to cover up the vinegar smell and rating unscented pads for their smell absorbency. 

To test durability, we simulated solid puppy waste in combination with waterlogged pads to determine whether they ripped or leaked when lifted off the ground.

Finally, our testers rated for ease of cleaning by scoring each pad according to how well it kept the linoleum beneath dry and how easy each puppy pad was to dispose of without coming into contact with soiled portions of the pad. Testers looked for weaknesses, such as liquid running off the pad, wet floors underneath, and pads that got soaked out to the edges.

More We Recommend

Best Washable: A washable puppy pad is a great option if your puppy tries to eat or shred paper pads. Improvia’s Washable Underpads are our top pick because they’re reusable, come in three sizes, and can be machine-washed up to 500 times. We found the small size (18 x 24 inches) to be an excellent fit for a pet carrier (like the hard-sided Petmate Carrier) or pet stroller, and the medium or large pads (34 x 26 and 34 x 52 inches, respectively) to be well-suited for covering larger areas on the floor. 

Depending on the size you need, the pads are sold individually and in a 10-pack. They are made out of polyester and rayon that quickly absorb liquids and leave a dry surface within 10 minutes. The pads don’t have much of a barrier along the perimeter, so there’s always the possibility that the pad might be a little soggy when you pick it up, but the liquid won’t leak through the pad. They are unscented and suitable for dogs with sensitive skin.

Available in three sizes

Most Sustainable: If you don’t want to constantly swap out pee pads or are looking for a more sustainable option, consider the Bark Potty Natural Disposable Dog Potty Pad. This potty is essentially a small, at-home version of a dog relief area. The box shell is filled with an aromatic, antimicrobial fill that naturally kills odors. Our at-home tester found that in addition to concealing odors, it required little maintenance.

The Bark Potty Pad comes in two sizes, and the standard option felt large for a 10-pound pomeranian. During testing, the potty handled multiple uses a day with no leakage. There’s a plastic tray under the fiber pad to capture any liquid. Training a dog on real bark may also make the transition to peeing outside more seamless. 

The only potential downside to this potty is that it’s a monthly subscription service, where you receive a new fiber pad each month. Our tester found that the pad could last slightly longer than a month if needed, but thought the subscription was worth the value. “Everything is recyclable, so we use the new packaging to slip the old, used one in and send it out for recycling,” said our tester.

If you live in an apartment, this is a convenient bathroom option with no smell and minimal maintenance. The dark color also blends in well with hardwood floors. 

Available in two sizes

Best With Activated Carbon: Glad for Pets Activated Carbon Training Pads are not only an affordable option but also among the most effective we tested in both our lab and in a real home. These training pads incorporate activated carbon for better smell absorbency. 

We tested the Glad for Pets training pad with 3 cups of vinegar and water. The floor beneath stayed dry, and the pads successfully retained the moisture in their center, so the paper margins also stayed dry, making it easy to throw out and replace a pad without getting puppy pee on your fingers.

While we didn’t see a noticeable improvement in overall absorbency over non-charcoal pads, none of our testers could smell any of the vinegar we used. Our at-home tester preferred the dark coloring of these pads, and they had no complaints after three months of use.

Downsides were minor, though the Glad for Pets potty pads did take a little longer to absorb liquid than our top picks. Plus, the top layer was thin enough that some of the sticky gel squeezed through when pressed with a finger (of course, no one other than a product tester is likely to press their finger into the center of the wet puppy pad).

Available in one size

Best for Large Dogs: The Four Paws Wee-Wee Gigantic Pads measure 27.5 x 44 inches, providing substantially more surface area than almost any other disposable training pad (our best-scented pick from Frisco offers a “giant” size in the same dimensions).

For dogs that are big even as puppies, like Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees, and Newfoundlands, these larger pads can help to prevent a leak while they practice their aim.

During tests in our New York lab and in a real home, we found the Four Paws pads performed just as well as our other favorites, with the quilted lining ensuring that the floor beneath the pad stays dry, even after multiple cups of liquid have been spilled. The Wee-Wee Gigantic Pads have a generous paper margin, so you won’t get your fingers wet, and the extra surface area helps the Wee-Wee Pad soak up 5 cups of liquid without ever feeling waterlogged.

The main downside to the Wee-Wee Gigantic Pads is the price. We could find the pads only available through online retailers in packages of 8 or 18, without an option for the bulk packaging that brings down the per-pad price of many of our other favorite brands.

Available in four sizes

Popular on Amazon: Although we didn’t test this washable pee pad from Green Lifestyle, it’s a top-rated pick on Amazon, so it’s worth including in our list. Similar to the brand’s washable underpads, which we tested and recommend for use in crates only (see Other Products We Tested), these pads also effectively lock in moisture and can be reused multiple times. However, unlike the washable underpads, these pee pads have an anti-slip backing, making them suitable for use on floors, beds, and furniture.

The soft quilted material has a waterproof backing to prevent leaks and reinforced edges for durability, which the brand claims can be washed over 500 times. Some reviewers note that the white with paw print and dog bone pattern makes it easier to tell if the pad has been peed on, although we think the light color could make it harder to mask stubborn stains.

Shoppers, on the whole, are impressed by how quickly the pads absorb liquid and wick away moisture. They also like that these pads come in multiple sizes to accommodate different spaces and sizes of dogs.

Available in five sizes

Other Products We Tested

IMMCute Pee Pads: We tested 20 puppy pee pads in total, and while the IMMCute Dog Pee Pads were not our favorite for any particular category, they were still one of our highest-rated training pads and could be a good option if our other picks don’t fit your specific needs. After letting liquid soak into these pads, the floor beneath them stayed completely dry. There was no runoff and cleanup was easy. The IMMCute pee pads are available in packs in multiple sizes and configurations.

Green Lifestyle Washable Underpads: These fabric pads lock in moisture and can be washed and reused. However, there is no traction on the underside of this pad, so it slid around on wood floors, which spooked our Pomeranian tester. We would recommend it for use in a crate only, and it could be a good option for a dog recovering from surgery or struggling with urinary incontinence. 

Amazon Basics Dog and Puppy Pads: Readily available and affordable, these potty training pads from Amazon are a convenient choice. They come in three sizes, and there’s also a heavy-duty option. However, in our lab testing, the absorption capabilities of these pads fell short when compared with other pads on our list.

PUPPIBOO Washable Dog Pee Pads: If you’re looking for a potty pad that blends in with your decor, this would be a great choice. Its medallion pattern resembles a rug, though this might be confusing to a dog used to a solid pad and may encourage urinating on your actual rugs. Overall, we found the pad to be absorbent and hold up well after washes.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

Rebecca Shinners, a writer with a decade of editorial experience, recently updated this story to ensure up-to-date guidance. She is the mom to a two-year-old cavapoo named Gemma whom she trained using both disposable and reusable potty pads in a New York City apartment. Check out additional stories she has written for The Spruce Pets, including The Best Elevated Dog Bowls, The Best Peanut Butter for Dogs, The Best Cooling Mats for Dogs, The Best Dog Treats, and The Best Cones and Recovery Wear for Dogs.

A previous version was written by Andrew Whalen, senior editor for The Spruce Pets, who joined a group of volunteer testers for direct insight into the usefulness of 20 different puppy pads. Using a rigorous methodology, testers evaluated each puppy pad for effectiveness, smell control, durability, value, and how easy they were to clean up. He has tested hundreds of products in our New York product labs.

While most pet parents associate pee pads with puppies, pee pad training can be a helpful tool for pet parents with dogs of any age.  Learning how to train a dog to use a pee pad can be hugely beneficial, whether raising a young puppy, a senior dog, or living in an apartment without access to a backyard. 

Here, we’ll walk through how to train your dog to use a pee pad. We’ll outline the steps, offer helpful tips, and share methods for house-training with kindness and consistency.

Why Use a Pee Pad?

Pee pads have many benefits, including making it easier to housetrain a pet and hopefully minimizing a mess in the interim. 

Puppies may be most associated with pee pads, as plenty of pet parents use them as a transitional step before moving their dogs to outdoor potty breaks.  

Beyond puppies, though, there are other situations where pee pads make sense, including: 

• Senior or Special Needs Dogs: Dogs with certain conditions or limited mobility could benefit from having an alternate potty option within striking distance. 
• Extreme Weather: Outdoor training can be challenging for parents who reside in areas with heavy snowstorms, heat waves, and heavy rain. 
• Apartment-Living: Pet parents who reside in urban areas without easy outdoor access or yard access could benefit from a nearby indoor alternative. 

Supplies You’ll Need

Training your dog to use a pee pad takes commitment, but also the right supplies. Some essentials that can set you and your dog up for success include: 

• Leak-proof, Absorbent Pee Pads: These high-quality pads can handle the mess and attract your pet to encourage continued use. 
• Enclosed space or playpen: A space that limits roaming and creates a consistent area for your pet to look at. 
• Training treats: To aid positive reinforcement for successful eliminations. 
• Strong Cleaner: A strong cleaning product (for example, enzyme-based) that can eliminate odors quickly when accidents happen (they will!). Also, avoid ammonia cleaners that mimic the smell of urine to dogs. 

Step-by-Step Pee Pad Training

Set yourself and your puppy up for shared success by following these steps: 

1. Choose the Right Spot

• Find a lightly trafficked location that your dog can quickly navigate to, and keep the pad there without moving around too much. Consistency and building a routine can help ease the process. 

2. Create a Limited Space

• Contain the space around the pad, using items like gates or a playpen, to keep your dog confined to a smaller space so that accidents, if they happen, are easier to spot and clean. 

3. Introduce the Pad

• Show your pet the pad – early and often. Build a routine by visiting the pad after play, naps, or meals, especially if you observe signs like sniffing, circling, or whining that might indicate they need to go. 

4. Use a Cue Word or Easy to Understand Command 

• Every time your pet uses or visits the pad, use a simple command word to reinforce the association between the pad and the elimination. 

5. Praise and Reward

• Praise your pet immediately for successful eliminations by giving them a treat as a reward. Dogs thrive on positive reinforcement, and treats go a long way toward showing approval. 

6. Maintain a Consistent Routine 

• Make visits to the pee pad and the location you have it set repeatedly to build positive habits. 

What to Do If Your Dog Misses The Pad

Accidents happen and are a normal part of training your dog to pee on a pad. When they occur, here’s what to do: 

• Clean the mess thoroughly with the cleaner, removing odors and hopefully preventing future accidents. 
• Calmly lead your dog to the pad, being mindful not to punish negatively. 
• Reinforce success by using treats as rewards for good behavior. 
• Keep monitoring your dog’s efforts. If accidents occur repeatedly, explore a new setup to make the process easier. 

Gradually Move The Pad (Optional)

For pet parents who have access to a yard or other yard-like space, outdoor potty-ing may be a preferable scenario and more suitable to their lifestyle than a pad indoors for the long term.

To get there, first ensure that your pet is comfortable and can routinely use the pee pad in the first location you’ve established. Then, follow the process to transition to an outdoor situation slowly, gradually moving the pad closer and closer to the location you want them to go to in small steps eventually. 

Throughout the process of gradually moving the pee pad, maintain consistency and keep your pet’s routine similar. Use the same cue word, positive reinforcement, and praise for successes. 

Eventually, move the pee pad outdoors, and then remove the pee pad entirely once your dog can successfully navigate outdoors fully. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Cut down on potential setbacks by avoiding some common mistakes that can confuse your dog throughout the process of training on a pee pad, like: 

• Moving the pad around too soon and too often can impact the routine and confuse your pet as to where it should be going. 
• Using ammonia-based cleaners, which smell like urine to dogs and can trick them into thinking the location where they’ve had an accident is actually OK
• Lacking consistency in schedule or with praise/reward won’t allow them to understand the specific triggers that have earned them a treat. 
• Lacking patience or expecting results immediately. Potty training takes time, and patience is a must for pet parents. 

Training Your Dog on a Pee Pad: A Worthwhile Process

Learning how to train your dog on a pee pad isn’t easy. It takes time, consistent effort, and the utmost patience with your pet. But the process is worth it. 

In training your dog to use a pad, you are establishing or building toward a potty solution that suits you and your pet’s lifestyle – whether that’s for eventual outdoors elimination or long-term indoor pad use. Potty training a dog indoors is a start. Continue to reward successes and small wins, and be patient. And know that for the long term you’re building a positive relationship between you, your dog, and the living space you both call home.   

Feature Image by Aleš Háva from Pixabay

Other Photo by Tanya Gorelova/Pexels