This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Personal stories describe our experience with pad types, not hands-on tests of the specific products linked below. Listing details were checked on October 15, 2026; performance claims have not been independently tested.
The first week our puppy Qiqi came home — two, maybe three months old — her first pee landed squarely on the floor. I pressed a disposable puppy pad into the wet spot to pick up the smell, carried her over, and let her investigate. The next day she found the pad by herself. That is our experience, not a promised training timeline or a test of any named product below.
As Qiqi grew up, she stopped using pads and waited for outdoor walks. I tried growing a patch of real grass on our balcony. She used it occasionally, but it yellowed within about a week despite rinsing. I cannot establish why it died or predict how a commercial grass system would perform. For us, that patch was an occasional backup rather than our everyday toilet.
The useful choice is between types, not an unsupported universal winner. Consider access to an appropriate toilet spot, your dog's preferences, supervision and how you will handle cleaning. For the broader arrival routine, see our First 30 Days checklist for a new dog.
Quick choices: match the type to your situation
Limited outdoor access: disposable pads may be a practical indoor option when you can replace soiled pads and supervise chewing. An indoor pad does not remove the need for suitable toilet opportunities or a transition plan if outdoor toileting is your goal.
Listing to compare: Pupiboo disposable training pads — 23 × 23 in, 100 count. The linked ASIN's title identifies this size and pack. We have not measured absorption or tested an attractant's effectiveness.
A reusable setup with washing and drying space: washable pads may suit your routine if you can keep clean, dry replacements available. Whether they cost less depends on purchase cost, replacement needs, laundry and local utility costs.
Listing to compare: Eterish washable pads — 36 × 41 in, 2-pack. The linked listing describes machine washing, then low-temperature drying or air-drying. Follow the supplied care label for the actual cycle and detergent; no number of guaranteed washes has been verified.
A dog that prefers a grass-like surface: consider real grass or artificial turf, but introduce either gradually. Real sod and artificial turf are different materials, and a dog may not accept them equally.
Listing to compare: SSRIVER artificial grass pad — approximately 51.2 × 31.5 in, one pad. The listing identifies one artificial grass pad. A tray is not confirmed included; do not assume this is a complete tray system. Its care instructions describe cleaning with soapy water; follow the supplied instructions and check how drainage and floor protection will work in your setup.
The three ASINs above match the identified listings as checked on October 15, 2026. Marketplace variants can change. Confirm the selected size, pack contents and supplied instructions before ordering. Listing descriptions are seller information, not our product-performance test results.
Compare disposable, washable and grass options
On smaller screens, swipe or scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Type | May suit | Cleaning and replacement | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable | A setup where used pads can be replaced promptly | Dispose of soiled pads; allow for ongoing purchases and waste | Usable area, backing, fit in any holder and chewing risk |
| Washable | A household with a workable laundry routine | Wash as directed and dry fully; keep replacements ready | Care label, drying space, backing condition and total running costs |
| Grass surface | A dog willing to use real sod or artificial turf | Real grass needs care and eventual replacement; artificial turf and any collection tray need cleaning | Real versus artificial material, drainage, actual package contents and a compatible collection setup |
The pad types: practical limits to plan for
Disposable pads: check fit, wetness and chewing
Layer counts and words such as absorbent or leak-proof do not tell you how a pad will perform with your dog. Check the usable absorbent area, inspect the backing and replace a pad if it becomes wet, soiled or damaged. If you compare advertised capacities, check the stated test method rather than assuming different brands use the same test.
A holder may help keep a pad in place, but check that it fits and has no accessible parts your dog can chew. A washable pad is not automatically chew-proof either.
Washable pads: plan the laundry before choosing
Check the selected product's washing and drying instructions and inspect the pad for worn backing, holes or loose material. Keep enough clean, fully dry pads for your own routine. Do not assume a rinse alone is the specified cleaning method or that one advertised wash count applies to every reusable pad.
Our household has used disposables and washable pads at different stages. That is a personal routine, not evidence that one type always costs less or that we tested the linked Eterish model.
Grass surfaces: real sod is different from artificial turf
Check whether you are buying living grass, a replacement artificial mat, or a complete collection system. Replacement frequency and cleaning depend on the product, use and environment. Confirm recurring orders if you choose a grass-delivery service; do not assume every real-grass product requires a subscription.
The linked SSRIVER item is an artificial mat, not the real-grass patch in Qiqi's story. A grass-like texture does not guarantee that a dog trained on outdoor grass will use it. Follow the product instructions for cleaning, drainage and any separate tray.
Choose a usable size and check it in practice
Measure the space where the pad will sit and check both the overall dimensions and usable surface area. Choose room for your dog to stand and turn comfortably with the usual toileting position on the pad. A printed breed or weight category is only a starting point; observe whether your individual dog misses the edges and adjust the setup.
Check compatibility with a holder or tray and recheck as your puppy grows. No fixed body-length multiplier or universal urine-volume allowance is used here. Inspect after use and change or clean a pad when wet or soiled, following its care instructions; do not leave waste in place just to reach a fixed replacement interval.
Build the habit gradually
- Start with a predictable, accessible spot. Keep the toilet area separate from food and bedding where space allows. Give frequent opportunities after waking, eating and play and before bed, adjusting to your dog's observed needs.
- Supervise in a comfortable, puppy-safe area. Make the pad easy to reach and allow adequate room for rest and movement. Expand access gradually when the dog is finding the spot consistently; if accidents return, simplify the setup rather than following a fixed success count.
- Reward a success promptly and clean accidents calmly. Use a surface-appropriate pet-urine cleaner according to its label. Do not punish mistakes or assume that one cleaner works on every material.
- Change location or surface in manageable steps. If moving toward outdoor toileting, offer appropriate outdoor opportunities and reward them. Adjust one part of the setup at a time and slow down if the dog struggles. There is no guaranteed number of days for this process.
For a consistent first-night and settling-in routine, use the week-by-week First 30 Days guide. RSPCA toilet-training guidance supports supervision, predictable opportunities and reward-based teaching.
Problems to address without punishment
- Changing too much at once: introduce a new location or material gradually and observe whether your dog can find it.
- An awkward or dirty toilet area: check access, surface condition and distance from food or bedding; clean promptly using the product instructions.
- Missing overnight needs: keep clean drinking water available and plan a toilet opportunity before bed and overnight breaks as your puppy needs them. Ask your vet to individualize any drinking or toileting plan for health concerns; do not restrict water simply to avoid accidents or use an age-based holding-time formula.
- Assuming a sudden change is disobedience: contact your vet about a new refusal, new accidents or changes in drinking or urination. Pain or blood in the urine needs prompt veterinary advice. Inability to pass urine, or repeated straining with little or no urine, needs emergency veterinary assessment now. Do not wait two days or delay care to collect a urine sample. Veterinary review pending for individual triage and care.
FAQ
Are pee pads bad for potty training?
Pads can be part of a planned indoor toilet setup. If your goal is outdoor toileting, offer suitable outdoor opportunities and change the setup gradually, rewarding successes. A pad does not guarantee or prevent house-training success.
Are washable pads always cheaper than disposable pads?
No. Compare purchase and replacement costs, laundry, drying and your own usage. Reusable pads need a cleaning routine you can maintain; disposable pads need ongoing replacement. Neither type is automatically the cheaper choice.
What is included with the linked SSRIVER grass pad?
The checked listing for ASIN B0FLDMJHVY describes one artificial grass pad measuring approximately 51.2 by 31.5 inches. A tray is not confirmed included. Check current package contents and any separate collection setup before ordering.
How often should I change or clean a pad?
Inspect it after use and replace or clean it when wet or soiled, following the product instructions. Keep clean replacements available rather than relying on a fixed number of days.
What if an adult dog suddenly stops using a pad?
Contact your vet about a sudden change. Pain or blood in the urine needs prompt advice; inability to urinate or repeated straining with little or no urine needs emergency veterinary assessment now. Do not wait for a training deadline or delay care to collect a sample.
Sources and limits
Listing details checked October 15, 2026. Product dimensions and pack descriptions come from the linked ASIN pages; we have not tested absorption, wash life, attractant effectiveness or comparative cost. No hands-on use of these exact products is claimed.
- RSPCA: food and constant access to drinking water.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: urinary obstruction and urgent assessment.
- VCA: foreign-body ingestion and emergency guidance.
Educational information only. Veterinary and behavior-professional review of individualized advice is pending. This page cannot diagnose illness or replace veterinary care.
For longer-term care topics, see what is included in The Complete Dog Care Handbook.