Should You Use Puppy Pads for Potty Training Your Dog? Experts Answer

Dog > New Pet

Ok, it’s true. Dog potty pads aren’t the most glamorous thing to have lying around. However, when it comes to training a puppy, many pet parents feel it’s a whole lot better than something else lying—er, puddling—around the home. But are training pads really a good idea? How do dog potty pads work, and what’s the best way to use them?

We’ve spoken to a professional trainer about the pros and cons of potty pads, which dogs (and pet parents) can most benefit from them, and common mistakes to avoid. We’ll also break down how to pick the best potty pad for your unique pup.

Are Puppy Pee Pads Good for Potty Training?

When used appropriately, puppy pads can be a useful tool during the potty training process. These absorbent pads give puppies a designated spot to relieve themselves, which helps to establish a potty routine.

“In theory, puppy pads are a convenient way to teach your puppy (or adult dog) to eliminate in a specific area, thus making cleanup a breeze and accelerating house-breaking,” explains Brett Reynolds, a certified professional dog trainer and the Director of Dog Care at The Dog Stop.

Bear in mind that while potty pads are a helpful tool to jumpstart potty training, especially for pet parents who can’t be home all day, they’re not intended to be a long-term solution. And they come with a few downsides pet parents ought to consider. Let’s look at the pros and cons of using puppy potty pads and how pet parents should use them.

Advantages of using puppy pads

Tiny puppies have tiny bladders. And before 16 weeks of age, they have yet to develop bladder control—so accidents are a given at this point. This makes puppy pads an attractive and practical option.

“In the first days or weeks that a puppy is in your home, they’re not familiar with the space and don’t know where the ‘bathroom’ is—so potty pads may be helpful in getting your puppy to eliminate in a consistent spot,” Reynolds tells Rover.

Pet parents may want to implement puppy potty pads if they:

• Want to protect their floors and make cleanup easier during the initial training stage
• Have a puppy who has yet to be vaccinated
• Live in a high-rise apartment where outdoor areas are not readily accessible
• Live in a region with extreme weather or temperatures
• Work long shifts
• Need to be away from home longer than a puppy can hold their bladder
• Have a senior dog who struggles with incontinence
• Have a sick or disabled dog who can’t get outside easily

  Disadvantages of using puppy pads

  The most frequently cited problem with using potty pads is that dogs can get used to them. In other words, they might think it’s okay to go in the house, and they’ll be less inclined to make the transition to pottying outside.

  “Since the pad itself mostly serves as a visual cue for where he or she should eliminate, some dogs will look for any contrasting surface in the absence of a potty pad,” Reynolds points out. “Area rugs, doormats, and articles of clothing are often targets of unwanted soiling.”

  Other downsides associated with puppy pads include:

  • They may lead to confusion about what’s an appropriate potty surface and what isn’t
  • Puppies may like to chew and shred them
  • The cost of continuously buying pads can add up
  • They can be smelly
  • Disposable pads contribute to waste and they’re not particularly sustainable