Getting a new puppy is remarkably exciting, but it also has some drawbacks.
The most obvious downside, of course, is needing to ensure that your puppy is house-trained, so you don’t end up with ruined floors.
Puppy pee pads are designed for use when your puppy is not fully house-trained.
You can pop down some pads to protect your flooring in areas where the puppy constantly has accidents.
You can also use them for senior dogs, injured dogs, and litter box liners.
There are many options for purchasing puppy-training pee pads, so we decided to put some of the highest-rated ones to the test.
Our Top Picks
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall: American Kennel Club Training Pads | The American Kennel Club is one of the ultimate authorities on dogs, so when they made a potty pad multi-layered and fast-drying, we sat up and listened. | Check Price |
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Best Large Sized Pads: Four Paws Wee Wee Pads | The company is known for first-class pet products, and the Wee Wee Pads are no exception. These pads are a perfect addition to the line-up, made with wet-lock and oversized for extra protection. | Check Price |
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Best For Staying Dry: Pet Parents Pawtect Dog Pee Pads | These are non-disposable potty pads made with Pet Parent proprietary WickQuick fabric that prevents puppies from tracking wet paw prints through your house. | Check Price |
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Best Odorless Pads: BarkBox Odorless Puppy Pads | Packed with charcoal to help eliminate odors, BarkBox Puppy Pads work for all stages and settings. | Check Price |
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Best Reusable Pads: The Proper Pet Reusable Pee Pads | Washable, reusable, and absorbent are the characteristics of this pad. This set of pads comes with a training guide to help you through the process. | Check Price |
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Best Multi-Layered Pad: GOBUDDY Super-Absorbent Dog Pads | GOBUDDY has made a super absorbent multi-layered pad that not only has a waterproof lining but comes in either scent-free or lemon-scented. | Check Price |
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Best For House Training: Bulldogology Premium Puppy Pads | These Premium Puppy Pads come with an attractant to lure your dog to the pad, and if you’re not satisfied, this product comes with a 110% money-back guarantee. | Check Price |
How We Narrowed Down the Best Puppy Pads
While searching for the best puppy pads, we considered top brands known for their absorbency, sturdiness, value, and ability to contain a leak.
We began by looking at what experts had to say about puppy pads, in general.
We listened to dog experts like the American Kennel Club, the ASPCA, vets, and trainers.
We made sure we understood what was important in a quality puppy pad.
We also reviewed puppy pads that are suitable for all stages of dogs, including aggressive chewers and seniors.
With this in mind, we investigated other uses for pads like travel. We wanted to ensure that these pads could be used for disabled, immobile, and post-surgery dogs.
We also considered sturdiness and absorbency for this review since they may be used for more than just potty training.
We also looked at how the odor was contained because nobody wants stinky pads sitting around.
Since these may be used over a long period of time, the value was important.
Finally, we searched the internet for top puppy pee pads that dog owners everywhere loved for their furry little friends.
We looked at the highest-rated options from online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Chewy.
We tested 20 of the best puppy pads, then listed our top 7 and named 6 runners up. See which of the following pads will be right for your dog.
Read our related article on How to Stop Dogs From Peeing On Beds. Deter unwanted behavior with our quick guide!
Best Puppy Pads Reviewed
1. Best Overall: American Kennel Club Training Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 5/5 |
| Sturdiness | 5/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Dimensions: 22 x 22 x .3 inches | Weight: 6.61 pounds | Brand: American Kennel Club | Count: 150 | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- 8 layers for maximum absorption
- Scented odor control
- Backed by the reputation of the AKC
What We Didn’t Like
- Very pricey per pad, compared to some others we tested
- Some reports of leaking, but we didn’t have that problem
The highly reputable American Kennel Club serves up a bumper pack of pads to help you house-train your pup without too much time or trouble.
As with all the best puppy pads, you can choose from a broad range of quantities and scents.
Scents include Fresh Citrus, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Fresh Grass, and unscented. We choose the fresh-scented pads.
We noticed more layers in this brand than in others.
The class-leading 8-layer composition of these pads gives you the best possible protection against dog pee spoiling your floors.
Packed with quick-drying gel, all pee that hits the pads is immediately absorbed.
We loved that there’s an extra plastic backing layer, too.
This is designed to stop your pup from tracking wet paw prints around the house and minimize any leakage.
When you’re buying puppy pads, you should remember that you’re buying protection rather than a guarantee of absolutely no leakage.
While these pads are not especially cheap, we felt that we got a great overall value.
Suitable for all dogs up to 50 pounds, these are among the best puppy pads out there.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY2. Best Large-Sized Pads: Four Paws Wee Wee Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 4/5 |
| Sturdiness | 5/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Dimensions: 22 x 23 inches |Weight: ounces | Brand: Four Paws | Count: 50 | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- 24-hour protection guaranteed
- Floor Armor leak-proof technology
- Oversized for better floor protection and large dogs
What We Didn’t Like
- Some reports of leaking, but we didn’t have this trouble
- Difficult to unfold and place
- May allow some tracking by wet paws through the house
Next up in our hunt for the best puppy pads comes the inimitable Four Paws.
This company has a solid reputation for producing first-class pet products at reasonable prices.
Packed with a Floor Armor Leak-Proof technology exclusive to the manufacturer, you’ll benefit from 5 layers in this pad to keep all the pee contained.
We found their use of an attractant useful for puppies that are uninterested in the pads.
The attractant baked into the pad should help make the pad appealing to your dog. Once he starts using it, everything will fall into place.
We loved the size. These are oversized pee pads that should make a neat fit for most breeds and sizes of dogs.
We overall loved these pads, but we did see some tracking in the area of the pad when it was particularly soaked.
We felt we had to replace the pad more quickly to help prevent this. Overall, these Four Paws pads are some of the best puppy pads for large dogs you can find.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY3. Best for Staying Dry: Pet Parents Pawtect Dog Pee Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 4/5 |
| Sturdiness | 5/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Dimensions: 18 x 24 inches | Weight: 1.32 pounds | Brand: Pet Parents | Count: 2 | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Washable and reusable so they’re more eco-friendly
- Cost efficient because they’re reusable
- Great absorption and odor control
What We Didn’t Like
- Cannot be bleached
- No washing instructions were included, so we laundered them like towels
- Not slip resistant, so they need to be secured to the floor or tray
If you don’t like the idea of the ongoing hassle and expense of disposable puppy pads, why not consider some reusable ones instead?
You’ll get a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to paper with this pair of pads from Pet Parents.
They offer 7 different shapes and sizes to suit all different sizes of dogs, and they’re priced pretty reasonably.
We liked that they were made from WickQuick, a proprietary fabric, so any pee that hits the mat is rapidly absorbed.
This helps prevent your pup from tracking wet paw prints through the house when he’s done his business.
We found that the pads have many uses, from crate liners and furniture protectors to travel pee pads or housebreaking your puppy.
Just remember to wash the pads regularly, and you’re in for a cost-effective approach to house training your pup.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY4. Best Odorless Pads: BarkBox Odorless Puppy Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 4/5 |
| Sturdiness | 4/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 5/5 |
Dimensions: 26 x 30 inches |Weight: 8.8 pounds | Brand: BarkBox | Count: 70 | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Holds up to 7 cups of liquid
- Non-clip adhesive to keep it in place
- Contains charcoal and an attractant to make it more attractive for dogs to use
What We Didn’t Like
- We found that it leaks more than other pads we tried
- Weak adhesive, so it moves around a bit
- Can tear easily and had to be protected from chewing puppies
BarkBox makes some efficient pee pads perfect for puppies and smaller dogs. If you have a dog that chews aggressively, these are not the best puppy pads.
You can choose from the regular or large size and the basic or charcoal option. We tested the large pads packed with charcoal.
The charcoal in the puppy pads effectively cuts down on that foul smell of dog pee.
We found this pad is handy for training puppies, adults, or senior dogs. They also work well as travel pads or crate liners.
Wherever you take your dog, you can ensure his pee is safely wicked away if there’s an accident in the car.
These pads are highly absorbent, featuring gel technology, so the liquid is turned into gel rather than cascading all over your floor.
As long as your pup is not too prone to chewing aggressively, you’ll find these puppy pads remarkably efficient, and they’re not priced too badly either.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON5. Best Reusable Pads: The Proper Pet Reusable Pee Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 4/5 |
| Sturdiness | 4/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Dimensions: 28 x 32 inches |Weight: 1.58 pounds | Brand: Proper Pet | Count: 1| Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Washable and reusable so they’re eco friendly
- Cute pattern which was a nice change from the usual pads
- Non slip design that worked well
What We Didn’t Like
- Pricier than others we tested
- It can leak more than disposable pads
- Does not have wicking properties, so wet paw tracking was a problem
Next up, we have another washable and reusable pad which means you don’t need to keep buying expensive disposal paper pads.
The Proper Pet Store is crammed with products to make your life as a pet owner easier.
This mat is a fine example, so how does it get to work?
The Proper Pet offers a small, medium, or large mat. We found the multi-layered mat is surprisingly absorbent, though not perfect.
When our dog used it, most of the liquid was wicked away, but we had some wet paw prints in the mat area.
All reusable mats will get smelly if left unattended for too long, so we suggest rotating them regularly and keeping them laundered.
As an added kicker, you will receive a training guide to help you house-train a puppy, even if you’ve never had a dog in the house before.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON6. Best Multi-layered Pad: GOBUDDY Super-Absorbent Dog Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 4/5 |
| Sturdiness | 4/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Dimensions: 22 x 22 inches |Weight: 6.4 pounds | Brand: GOBUDDY | Count: 100 | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Nicely scented and good odor absorption
- Non-woven fabric is easier to clean
- Low cost option compared to others we tested
What We Didn’t Like
- Limited guarantee from the company
- Very lightweight and thin, giving us less confidence in it
- We had some leaking, so we had to keep it swapped out
GOBUDDY’s puppy pads are available in packs of 50 or 100. You could opt for the lemon-scented pads if you want some fragrance, but we chose fragrance-free.
The 5-layer construction offers your floors robust protection against pet pee. You get fabric, tissue paper, pulpy cotton, polymer, and a waterproof backing.
We liked the larger size, at 22-inches square, and we believe this is a good fit for most dogs.
We found this one also has an attractant.
As with all the best puppy pads, there’s an attractant built-in that will entice your dog into using these pads.
Once he initiates a routine and becomes comfortable with it, you’ll never need to worry about wet floors again.
We thought that the guarantee was a bit limited.
Although you get a guarantee with purchase, this is only valid for 90 days and only covers defects in workmanship or materials.
That said, you don’t tend to get much stronger warranties with pee pads, most often none at all.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON7. Best for House Training: Bulldogology Premium Puppy Pads
Product Ratings
| Absorbency | 4/5 |
| Sturdiness | 4/5 |
| Leak-Proof | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Dimensions: 24 x 24 inches |Weight: ounces | Brand: Bulldogology | Count: 100 | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Built-in attractant for easier training
- Blocks and neutralizes odors very well
- Optional adhesive tape to keep it from sliding around
What We Didn’t Like
- Weak adhesive so we had to use a lot to keep pads in place
- Pads are thin and lightweight but they seemed to absorb with minimal leaks
Last but certainly not least, in our quest for the best puppy pads comes a budget pack of 100 pads from Bulldogology.
When you’re trying to house-train a new puppy, it can be tough getting him to use pee pads when you’re not at home.
We like that these pads come with a built-in attractant to help simplify the process.
More absorbent than standard training pads, as your puppy pees on this, the liquid is quickly turned into gel.
We loved the fact these pads are big.
Oversized at 24 x 24 inches, you’ll maximize the chance of dry floors while giving your pup the biggest possible target.
As with all pee pads, you’ll sometimes have pads that leak, but these were overall reliable even though they feel very thin.
We felt like we got a bumper pack of absorbent and large pads at a reasonable price.
Even better? If you’re not entirely satisfied, you’re eligible for a 110% refund. That’s something we rarely see these days.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZONComparison Chart
| Ratings | Overall Rating | Absorbency | Sturdiness | Leak-Proof | Value |
| American Kennel Club Training Pads | 4.8 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Four Paws Wee Wee Pads | 4.7 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Pet Parents Pawtect Dog Pee Pads | 4.6 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| BarkBox Odorless Puppy Pads | 4.7 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| The Proper Pet Reusable Pee Pads | 4.6 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| GOBUDDY Super-Absorbent Dog Pads | 4.6 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Bulldogology Premium Puppy Pads | 4.6 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
The Winner
The American Kennel Club Training Pads are a clear winner in this category. Since 1884, the AKC has been the gold standard for dogs and dog products.
These pads performed above expectations across the board regarding absorbency, sturdiness, leak-proof ability, and value.
Read More: How Do I Know if My Dog is Housebroken? It can be difficult to tell when a dog is housebroken. Here are some signs!
How to Choose the Best Puppy Pee Pad
Luckily, there are not too many things you need to consider when you’re on the buying trail.
Focus on these elements, and you’ll find it easy to choose the best puppy pads for your new arrival.
Absorbent Materials
All of the best puppy pads are made from multiple layers.
These serve to absorb the liquid and wick it away. Look for as many layers as possible to maximize absorbency.
Sturdiness
Look for pads that are not flimsy. You want one that will not rip or shred the minute your dog steps on it.
Leak-Proof
Most puppy pads are similar.
If you’re looking to use these pads on an older or incontinent larger dog, you should shoot for some of the leak-proof ones on our list.
Reusable or Disposable
The bulk of the puppy pads we review today are disposable.
Most pet owners prefer the convenience of throwing away urine-soaked pads rather than dealing with washing and drying them.
If you don’t object to getting hands-on to save money and the environment, we reviewed several reusable and washable pads today.
It’s important to train your dog, no matter what life stage, on how to use a pee pad.
It’s important that they feel confident in the process.
Check out BarkVa for book reviews on how to train your dog.
Also, in tandem with pee pad training, you may want to check out crates for your new puppy.
Here are some reviews on BarkVA on some of the best crates for larger dogs.
Honorable Mentions
1. AmazonBasics Dog And Puppy Pads
The AmazonBasics line takes great products and delivers them at the most affordable prices.
They offer many sizes of these pee pads, and the pheromone attractant baked into these pads means training your pup to use these pads shouldn’t be tough.
Overall they weren’t much different than the Bulldogology Premium Puppy Pads which we preferred during our testing, so we recommended them instead.
2. Simple Solution Training Pads
Simple Solution’s Training Pads deliver exactly as promised.
The quilted upper layer of the pads is one of 5 layers that help to keep your pup’s pee safely contained rather than trickling all over the floor.
A leak-proof plastic lining completes a winning protective package.
Because of manufacturing shortages, the company had to change the material used for the top layer, which caused us to bump this into the honorable mention list since we are not sure how that new material will perform.
We recommended the GOBUDDY Super-Absorbent Dog Pads in their place.
3. ASPCA Dog Training Pads
ASPCA serves up some scented pads ideal for house training.
We loved the 6-layered construction of these pads that are packed with absorbent gel.
The pads should also prevent your dog from tracking wet paw prints all over your freshly-cleaned house.
The scented versions of these pads can be overwhelming and we were very put off by having the strong smells in the house.
For that reason, we recommended the BarkBox Odorless Puppy Pads as a better choice.
4. Paws And Pals Puppy Pads
The Paws and Pals Puppy Pads are expressly recommended for house-training puppies or incontinent dogs. We found they work great as crate liners.
While many pads don’t work well with power chewers, these are tear-resistant and one of your best options for small to medium power chewers.
Overall we preferred the size and absorbency of the Four Paws Wee Wee Pads.
5. Glad Training Pads
Next up are these Glad training pads available in multiple pack sizes from 24 to 300 pads. The issue we had was the unrealistic sizing and leaking.
We liked the layering of this product. The 5 layers in the pad should stop the vast bulk of pee, but we found they’re not fully leak-proof.
The pheromone attractant helped our dog use them right away, but overall we preferred the American Kennel Club Training Pads.
6. Hartz Home Protection Unscented Dog Pads
Hartz delivers some decent pee pads that are mid-range priced and include absorbent gel to keep your floors protected.
We loved the gentle lavender scent which is a refreshing change when so many manufacturers are heavy-handed with fragrance.
There are 6 layers in total so you’ll enjoy superior absorption.
Overall, though we loved the light fragrance we felt that these did not surpass the American kennel Club Training Pads, our overall top pick.
