The 7 Best Puppy Pads of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Bulldogology Premium Puppy Training Pads

4.8

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Our testers recommend Bulldogology Puppy Training Pads with no reservations. 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 our testers used a combination of liquid and solid material.

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.

Testers assessed puppy pads using several tests and five different metrics, rating each for its effectiveness, durability, scent (and how well it absorbs scents), how easy they are to clean up, 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 puppy 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 your 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 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 that 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.

Price at time of publish: $45 for 100 pads

_{Scent: None | Dimensions: Regular, 24 x 24 inches; XL, 24 x 35 inches | Absorbency: Regular, 7-9 cups; XL, 7-9+ cups}

Best Washable

Pet Parents Pawtect Pads Washable Dog Pee Pads

5

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While we tested a handful of non-disposable options, the Pawtect Pads Washable Dog Pee Pads from Pet Parents were the only product that provided comparable performance to our favorite disposable options. And after three months of real-world testing, they have held up well in the wash without any signs of wear.

Described as a "WickQuick proprietary fabric blend," the material in the Pawtect pee pads was surprisingly absorbent. We found that it quickly absorbed several cups of water, pulling the liquid into the center of the pad. The main disadvantage to this design is that there's no margin around the absorbent area of the pad, so there's always a possibility that it might be a little soggy wherever you grip to pick it up.

Our testers were pleasantly surprised to find that the Pawtect pads didn't smell after absorbing vinegar. While there's no guarantee that its odor protection will work as well with dog pee, its scent-absorbing abilities seemed on par with our favorite disposable pee pads.

The Pet Parents pee pads felt exceptionally durable as well, with multiple fabric layers triple-stitched all around the perimeter of the pad. The bottom layer is a waterproof backing with a grippy, rubberized feel that held the Pawtects pee pad to the floor better than the adhesive tape included on some disposable models. It's even got enough cushion that your dog might use it as a resting mat, making the Pawtect a useful crate liner as well as a potty pad.

"It's the standout one of the fabric options," one tester said, describing the Pawtect. "It's both the smallest and best absorbing. I'm pretty impressed by this one."

At only 18 x 24 inches, the Pawtect Pad was among the smallest pads we tested, but numerous other options are available, including a jumbo 41 x 41-inch pad and circular variants up to 48 inches in diameter.

The Pawtects Pads Washable Dog Pee Pad is sold in bundles of two, so you can always have one in use and one in the wash. And, of course, the pads are machine washable.

Price at time of publish: $24 for two 18 x 24 inch pads

_{Scent: None | Dimensions: 18 x 24 inches, 24 x 36 inches, 34 x 36 inches, 41 x 41 inches, 17-inch round, 36-inch round, 48-inch round | Absorbency: 3 cups (18 x 24-inch model)}

Best Budget

Glad for Pets Activated Carbon Training Pads

4.8

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While not quite the cheapest pads we tested, there's no better budget pick than Glad for Pets Activated Carbon Training Pads, which are not only affordable but also among the most effective potty pads we tested in both our lab and in a real home.

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. 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).

The Glad for Pets training pads also incorporate activated carbon for better smell absorbency. 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 have no complaints after three months of use.

Price at time of publish: $32 for 100

_{Scent: None | Dimensions: Regular, 23 x 23 inches; jumbo, 28 x 30 inches; giant, 30 x 36 inches | Absorbency: 3 cups (regular)}

Best Scented

Frisco Dog Training & Potty Pads

4.9

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Frisco Dog Training & Potty Pads tested just as well as our top picks, 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 similar dry paper margin and leakproof plastic liner as many of our other faves. Plus, the Frisco pads are available in a scented or unscented version.

Our favorite of the scented pads, one lab tester described the Frisco pad's wildflower scent as "very mild and not at all aggressive." After three months of real-world testing, our at-home reviewer found these pads to be reliable, with no leaks or tears to report.

Another tester said they were "impressed" by how well the scent covered the vinegar smell included in the water we used during 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. Frisco also offers an unscented version of their Dog Training & Potty Pads.

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

Price at time of publish: $36 for 150 pads

_{Scent: Wildflower, floral, unscented | Sizes: Regular, 22 x 23 inches; XL, 28 x 34 inches; giant, 27.5 x 44 inches | Absorbency: Not listed}

Best for Large Dogs

Four Paws Wee-Wee Pee Pads

4.7

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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 our tests in our NY lab and in a real home, we found the Four Paws pads to perform 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 helped the Wee-Wee 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.

Price at time of publish: $20 for 18 pads

_{Scent: Unscented | Dimensions: 27.5 x 44 inches | Absorbency: 5 cups}

Best of the Rest

IMMCute Puppy Pee Pads

4.8

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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. Check out these training pads if other recommendations on this list don't fit your specific needs.

We found them to be an especially good alternative to the Amazon Basics Dog and Puppy Pads, which we also tested. While the Amazon Basics scored on the upper end of our test and are perfectly usable pee pads, we found them to be less absorbent than our recommended picks—getting waterlogged to the point that it was hard to pick them up without getting our hands a little wet. The IMMCute pads are similar, with a similar price, but held up better in our tests.

We still found the floor completely dry beneath after letting liquid soak into the pads. Plus, there was no runoff when we lifted the pads and the paper margins stayed dry, so we never had to get our fingers wet.

The IMMCute pee pads are available in packs in multiple sizes and configurations.

Price at time of publish: $30 for 40 XL pads

_{Scent: Unscented | Dimensions: 22 x 23 inches, 28 x 34 inches, 30 x 36 inches, | Absorbency: 8 cups}