best Training Pads for dogs
Updated December 2020
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
- As Good As It Gets
- Best On A Budget
Bottom Line
Made with 5 layers and activated carbon for odor reduction, this training pad is a pheromone attractant that lets your dog know where to go when it’s time to pee!
Accidents won’t spill over with this thick and highly absorbent pad that turns liquid into gel. It has a quick-drying surface and odor neutralizers, perfect for training pups or aging dogs.
The days of boring training pads are over with the AKC Training pad. It has a variety of natural scents and design options to make training more fun!
This washable and reusable pad is eco-friendly by reducing the waste produced from using normal training pads.
Made of natural materials, this earth-friendly training pad offers highly absorbent layers and is designed to stick to the floor to prevent any messy accidents.
Pros
High-quality product.
Very absorbent.
Effective activated carbon feature.
Super-absorbent.
Quick-drying surface.
Comes in various sizes.
Can hold up to 3 cups of water.
Good price.
6 layer pad.
Odor eliminating and anti-bacterial properties.
Natural scents and various design options.
Available in XL for large breeds.
Large size for large breeds.
Waterproof bottom prevents leaks.
Stain-resistant top.
Can be used for whelping, potty training, playpens, protecting furniture, etc.
Great value for money.
Machine washable.
Highly absorbent.
Has optional adhesives for sticking on hard floors.
Comes in a super-pack option.
Available in multiple sizes.
Cons
Can still leak when used by larger breeds.
Size too small for some breeds.
Not big enough for large breeds.
Inconsistent absorbing properties.
Can shrink after washing.
Doesn’t hold a high volume of liquid.
Thin and doesn’t hold a lot of liquid.
Smaller than other brands.
- As Good As It Gets
Glad for Pets Black Charcoal Puppy Pads
Bottom Line
Made with 5 layers and activated carbon for odor reduction, this training pad is a pheromone attractant that lets your dog know where to go when it’s time to pee!
Pros
High-quality product.
Very absorbent.
Effective activated carbon feature.
Cons
Can still leak when used by larger breeds.
Size too small for some breeds.
- Best On A Budget
All-Absorb A01 Training Pads 22-inch by 23-inch
Bottom Line
Accidents won’t spill over with this thick and highly absorbent pad that turns liquid into gel. It has a quick-drying surface and odor neutralizers, perfect for training pups or aging dogs.
Pros
Super-absorbent.
Quick-drying surface.
Comes in various sizes.
Can hold up to 3 cups of water.
Good price.
Cons
Not big enough for large breeds.
American Kennel Club Pet Training and Puppy Pads, Regular and Extra Large
Bottom Line
The days of boring training pads are over with the AKC Training pad. It has a variety of natural scents and design options to make training more fun!
Pros
6 layer pad.
Odor eliminating and anti-bacterial properties.
Natural scents and various design options.
Available in XL for large breeds.
Cons
Inconsistent absorbing properties.
EZwhelp Washable Whelping & Puppy Pad 41" x 41"
Bottom Line
This washable and reusable pad is eco-friendly by reducing the waste produced from using normal training pads.
Pros
Large size for large breeds.
Waterproof bottom prevents leaks.
Stain-resistant top.
Can be used for whelping, potty training, playpens, protecting furniture, etc.
Great value for money.
Machine washable.
Cons
Can shrink after washing.
Doesn’t hold a high volume of liquid.
Pogi's Training Pads - Large, Super-Absorbent, Earth-Friendly Puppy Pee Pads for Dogs
Bottom Line
Made of natural materials, this earth-friendly training pad offers highly absorbent layers and is designed to stick to the floor to prevent any messy accidents.
Pros
Highly absorbent.
Has optional adhesives for sticking on hard floors.
Comes in a super-pack option.
Available in multiple sizes.
Cons
Thin and doesn’t hold a lot of liquid.
Smaller than other brands.
How We Decided
The only way to know how well these training pads work was to look for online reviews and test these with the help of our MDWT pups! Here’s how it went down:
23
Models Considered
8
Hours Researched
1
Experts Interviewed
5
Consumer Consulted
Buying Guide For The Best Training Pads for Dogs
Potty training is an essential activity for any pet parent when housebreaking your new dog. Unless you want your dog to pee or poop anywhere, potty training will teach your dog where the right place of business is. It also saves your carpet and floor from any sort of mess.
Even if your dog does their business outside, there will be times that you can’t bring them out and this is where pads can help you. Aside from preventing any liquid mess, they also reduce the odors that pee have so that you don’t have to come home to a smelly place.
Housebreaking and potty training are very important activities that will benefit both you and your dog, luckily, training pads are here to help to make it easier.
Buying Guide For The Best Training Pads for Dogs
Potty training is an essential activity for any pet parent when housebreaking your new dog. Unless you want your dog to pee or poop anywhere, potty training will teach your dog where the right place of business is. It also saves your carpet and floor from any sort of mess.
Even if your dog does their business outside, there will be times that you can’t bring them out and this is where pads can help you. Aside from preventing any liquid mess, they also reduce the odors that pee have so that you don’t have to come home to a smelly place.
Housebreaking and potty training are very important activities that will benefit both you and your dog, luckily, training pads are here to help to make it easier.
Key Considerations
Caution
At the start, pups might think of these pads as toys to be destroyed. Supervise its use to make sure they don’t rip the pad and eat the materials it’s made of.
Training Pads Features
The most important feature to look for in training pads is their ability to absorb and how much it can. Training pads become useless if they can absorb liquid or hold just a small amount of it. Look for training pads that are highly absorbent and can turn liquid into a gel in a matter of seconds. Under a minute is a good benchmark.
If you have a medium or large breed, getting a pad that can hold a lot of pee is critical since these breeds have more volume than small breeds. Some pads can hold up to 3 cups of water. Pads should also be leakproof especially on the underside when they get full.
A quick-drying surface is also a great feature to look for. This reduces moisture and odor. Some pads have odor control features like activated carbon or are scented to eliminate any unpleasant smell.
A bonus feature is the attractants that some pads have. These pads have added ammonia, pheromones, or other scents that tell your pup that the pad is the best place of business.
Expert Tip
If your pup likes to chew on training pads, you can buy a training pad holder. It allows you to put the pad inside and locks it in, denying your dog any access to chew but still lets them pee on it.
Training Pads Prices
Training pads are inexpensive and often come in large packs. The quantity varied per brand. To get the most out of these pads, choose the most absorbent and leakproof option. Also, go for the size appropriate for your dog.
It will always be challenging at the start where your dog will end up chewing on your pad or not use it at all, but with patience and proper training, your dog will be able to understand what the pad is for.
Tips
- At the start of training, use verbal cues when you think your dog needs to go. This signals them that they can pee on the pad and will eventually pick up the habit.
- Always reward successful attempts, this encourages them to pee at the right place.
- Once they’ve gotten used to the pad, you can move it towards the door leading outside to encourage them to go outside when they need to pee.
- The main goal is to teach your dog to pee or poop outside the house. Training pads are temporary tools and not permanent solutions.
other products we Considered
There are many pad options in the market but only a few made our list. However, there are alternatives still recommended by the MDWT team:
So Phresh Leak Guard Quilted Potty Pads: For large dog breeds, this XL pad is big enough and can hold up to 5 cups of water.
AmazonBasics Odor-Control Carbon Pet Dog and Puppy Training Pads: If you’re looking for pads to use in your car, this AmazonBasics pad is designed to fit car interiors to make traveling with aging dogs.
FAQ's
Can I put a training pad in the crate?
Yes, you can but it will defeat the purpose of crate training. One of the goals of crate training is to teach your dog not to pee inside their crate. Putting a pad inside might encourage and confuse them.
What’s the difference between carbonized and standard pads?
Carbonized pads have an odor eliminating feature that standard pads don’t. Also, since carbonized pads are black, it masks the yellow stains that urine leaves behind so it doesn’t look unpleasant.
What pad size should I get?
Pads come in different sizes and you should get a size that will allow your dog to urinate properly without missing the target.
The Team That WOrked on This Review
Nitin Gupta
Chief Content Officer
JJ Resnick
Director of Growth
Erik Adler
Editorial Director