Best Washable Pee Pads for Dogs

Britt
by Britt
Published:  January 28th, 2023
Ayla Verschueren/Unsplash

Whether you are working through the potty-training process with a new puppy or caring for a senior dog struggling with incontinence, pee pads are an essential tool to keep your home clean. But the cost of disposable pads can add up quickly, and they create a lot of waste. If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly option that will be kind to your bank account, you may want to consider switching to a reusable pad instead.


Washable pee pads are fabric pas made with highly absorbent materials and a waterproof layer to protect your floors, furniture, vehicles, and more. Rather than disposing of them after use, the pads can be washed and reused. On average, a washable pad can be used 250-300 times before it needs to be replaced!


If this sounds like the perfect solution for you and your dog, keep reading. We have compiled a list of the best washable pee pads for dogs, complete with a buyer’s guide discussing the key features to consider.

Editor’s Choice: Green Lifestyle Washable Underpads

Buy Now $36.99

Made from a thick, highly absorbent material, these washable pads are designed to handle a large amount of urine without leaking. The waterproof backing provides extra protection for your floors or furniture. They are available in 5 different sizes ranging from 18” x 24” to 48” x 48” and are machine washable for easy cleaning.

Pros

  • Available in 5 sizes
  • Ultra-breathable, leakproof material
  • Reinforced seams for better longevity

Cons

  • Slick bottom material easily slides on the floor
  • Some customers report an unpleasant odor

Runner-Up: SincoPet Washable Dog Pee Pads

Buy Now $42.95

This quilted washable pee pad is highly functional with a super absorbent core and waterproof shield. It’s also a great choice for your dog’s comfort, with a soft, breathable polyester knit surface to rest on. The anti-slip silica gel bottom layer prevents the pad from moving across the floor, making it a safe choice for senior dogs with mobility issues.

Pros

  • Available in 13 sizes, including both round and rectangular
  • Anti-slip silica gel bottom
  • Comes with a complementary pet grooming glove

Cons

  • Some customers warn that the sizing isn’t accurate
  • High price point

Best Budget Washable Pee Pad: Pitpet Super Absorbent Washable Pee Pads for Dogs

Buy Now $16.99

Dog owners that are seeking a budget-friendly solution to potty-training accidents or incontinence will love these washable pee pads from Pitpet. The pad’s 4-layer construction includes flash-dry technology that not only absorbs urine but dries in seconds, preventing overflowing, leaking, and tracking of the mess around your home. They are available in 3 colours to match any home décor.

Pros

  • Available in 3 colors and 8 sizes
  • Flash-Dry Technology prevents leaks and tracking
  • Budget-friendly price

Cons

  • Bottom layer of material slips easily on the floor
  • Doesn’t absorb as much urine as other options on the list

Best Premium Washable Pee Pad: Simple Solution Large Washable Puppy Pad

Buy Now $33.99

The ultra-absorbent quilted top and Instashield absorbent core on these Simple Solution washable pee pads wick away urine quickly to keep your dog dry. Not only do they protect your floors and furniture from unwanted messes, but they also help to control the odor associated with potty accidents. The soft top fabric offers your dog a comfortable place to nap in crates, on furniture, and more.

Pros

  • Available in 2 sizes
  • 4-layer design with Instashield absorbent core
  • Double stitched seam for added durability

Cons

  • Some dog owners find the pads shrink after the first wash
  • Customers report a noticeable smell despite cleaning

Best Washable Pee Pad for Crate Training: VOLUKA Reusable Dog Crate Pee Pads

Buy Now $22.54

If you are searching for a washable pee pad to use in your dog’s crate, these crate pads from VOLUKA are an excellent option. They are rectangular in shape, accommodating most common dog training crates. They feature a breathable mesh fabric and a layer of cotton to allow for fast water absorption. A waterproof TPU layer protects your floor by preventing leaks. The non-slip rubber bottom is effective in keeping the pad safely in place.

Pros

  • Available in 4 sizes
  • Rectangular shape is perfect for use as a crate pad
  • Waterproof TPU inner layer to prevent leaking

Cons

  • Dogs can easily shred the thinner material if they chew at it
  • Some reviews warn that they hold the urine smell after a few washes

Best Extra-Large Washable Pee Pad: CoolShields Extra Large Waterproof Training Mat

Buy Now $45.99

Whether you’re caring for a pregnant mother and searching for a whelping pad or looking for a washable pee pad large enough to cover the floor in an exercise pen, this extra-large pad is an excellent option. The thick, soft pad creates a perfect place to sleep for dogs of all ages and sizes. The fabrics used in its construction have all passed OEKO-TEX safety certification, ensuring that the pad is safe and high-quality.

Pros

  • Available in 3 sizes, including an extra large 72” x 72”
  • Made with soft, thick fabric to provide a comfortable place to sleep
  • Non-slip and anti-tear

Cons

  • Some customers report that while the urine is contained, the smell still goes through to the carpet or furniture below
  • Not available in smaller sizes for crate training

Best Travel Washable Pee Pad: IMPROVIA Heavy Absorbency Reusable Underpads

Buy Now $33.97

Channels in this pad wick all liquids away to the sides of the pad, providing a dry, comfortable place for your dog to sleep. This also allows the pad to dry in approximately 10 minutes, preventing leaks or overflowing. The super soft fabric on the top of the pad provides a comfortable place for all dogs to sleep, from puppies to seniors. This makes it a great choice for beds and crates.

Pros

  • Available in 3 sizes
  • 100% washable and stain resistant
  • Self-drying technology dries up to 5x faster than other pee pads

Cons

  • Bottom of the pad is slippery on many surfaces
  • Dog owners report they sometimes retain the urine or feces smell even after washing

Honorable Mention: Kluein Pet Washable Pee Pads for Dogs

Buy Now $30.49

These durable and high-quality pee pads feature a soft quilted top with extra heavy stitching for added durability. The pad quickly absorbs and wicks away accidents to prevent tracking and keep your dog dry and comfortable. Not only are these an environmentally friendly choice, but a portion of each purchase is also donated to animal-focused charities.

Pros

  • Super absorbent design prevents leaking
  • Durable pads hold up well to daily use and washing
  • Soft quilting on top offers a comfortable place for your dog to sleep

Cons

  • Only available in 1 size
  • Users report they have a lingering odor even after washing

Features to Consider When Shopping for Washable Puppy Pee Pads


Size and Shape


When selecting the size of your pee pad, you should consider the area where you plan to use it. For example, if you start to crate train a puppy and the pee pad doesn’t fully cover the crate floor, there is still room for accidents. But a pee pad that is too large can bunch up, encouraging puppies to chew on them or dig, moving the pad and increasing the chance of leaks and messes. You can find washable pee pads in a wide range of sizes, from the size of a small dog crate to an extra-large pad for a whelping bed or exercise pen.


Odor Control


Some pee pads will feature a specialized layer designed to absorb and control odor from urine. This is an excellent feature for those that are going to be using the pee pad in the home, especially in a high-traffic area. Eliminating the smell can also help discourage your dog from repeatedly going to the bathroom in the space.


Size Versus Absorbency


Thinner pee pads are great for travel and to conceal the occasional leak, but the smaller size doesn’t offer the absorbency level needed for more significant accidents. You will need to consider which feature is more important for you and your dog. While some situations are better suited for a thinner, less conspicuous pad, others require the added absorbency that comes with a thicker pad with layers capable of containing larger messes.


Non-Slip Bottom


Pee pads are most often used to protect against messes from nursing mothers, young puppies, or senior dogs. These are life stages when a dog is often more fragile. Young puppies are unsteady on their feet and just learning to navigate the world around them. Senior dogs may be starting to experience reduced mobility due to stiffness and arthritis. If your washable pee pads don’t have a non-slip base, they may slide easily on the floor, creating a risk of injury.

Should I Be Using Washable Pee Pads or Disposable Pee Pads?


There are pros and cons for both washable and disposable pads. Disposable pads make cleanup a breeze. All you have to do is gather up the pad and toss it in the garbage, replacing it with a new one. But this means purchasing new pads to meet your dog’s needs. They are thinner than reusable pads and hold less liquid before they run the risk of leaking or overflowing.


Washable pads require a bigger investment upfront. But, depending on the brand, they can be washed 100-500 times before they must be replaced. Over time, this makes a reusable pad a more cost-effective option. They can absorb large quantities of liquid, allowing you to wait 24-48 hours between changing the pad. However, you must clean the pads before they can be used again.


How to Clean a Washable Pee Pad


To begin, clean any feces off the pee pad. This can be picked up using a standard dog poop bag and disposed of in the garbage. If you’re concerned about stains and odor, an enzymatic cleaner can then be applied to the pad to break down the substances. Unless the washing instructions for your pee pad say otherwise, you can wash the pad in your washing machine on a standard cycle. While most pee pads can be dried at low temperatures, the best option for drying is to allow the pad to dry outside. This can help to air out the pad and reduce odor.

WOW
Britt
Britt

Britt Kascjak is a proud pet mom, sharing her heart (and her home) with her “pack” which includes her husband John, their 2 dogs – Lucifer and Willow – and their 2 cats – Pippen and Jinx. She has been active in the animal rescue community for over 15 years, volunteering, fostering and advocating for organizations across Canada and the US. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the country camping, hiking, and canoeing with her pets.

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Nothing beats snuggling with your pooch – those doggy cuddles are really something special. But do our canine companions enjoy being hugged as much as we love hugging them? A new research study published in the scientific journal “Applied Animal Behaviour Sciences” sheds some light on this topic – with results that will sadden some dog owners.Elizabeth Ann Walsh, from the Cork Pet Behaviour Centre in Ireland, who was the head scientist behind this study on human-dog communication, examined several videos of people hugging and playing with their dogs, in order to better analyze how dogs would react to our displays of affection. The results surprised many dog owners. After all, we love to hug our pets, but it seems that our dogs don’t exactly love being hugged. At all. Walsh states that most of the dogs she examined in the videos responded to being hugged by expressing feelings of extreme physical stress and anxiety.“68% of dogs avoided eye contact and turned their heads. 44% licked their lips or nose and 43% panted, which are both signs of feeling stressed out.” the study points out. “60% of dogs flattened their eyes while being hugged, and 81% blinked, action pups make that expresses high stress levels.”The study found that in 68% of studied cases, the dogs that were hugged either nipped or bit their person as a last resort or a warning when they felt unsafe being hugged. Many dog lovers found these results sad, but they are nonetheless important in understanding dog behavior better. These results tell us that if we misinterpret a dog’s reaction to being hugged, it can be harmful to both owners and their dogs. Researchers emphasize that there can be considerable consequences to reading your pet’s stress levels wrong, including “feelings of discomfort, anxiety, fear, distress, and confusion in a dog.”Elizabeth Walsh further explains that ignoring the discomfort a dog shows can result in a fractured “dog and human bond” along with “welfare issues for the dog and the possibility of a dog escalating to exhibit defensive or agonistic behavior should communication fail”.“There are many causes for concern as humans tend not to necessarily understand the body language or vocalizations exhibited by dogs when interacting with them,” she stated. After all, the way our doggos communicate with us is very different from our own, but they, like us, still foster a bond and avoid overt displays of aggression. The research team takes the results of the study as a way to “advocate for increased education for both adults and children in canine communication, context and co-operative ways of respecting agency in human-dog interactions.” Simply put, even if we love giving our dogs hugs, that doesn’t mean they’ll like it – so we should respect their boundaries.

Guide Dog Trigger Retires After Fathering Over 300 Puppies

A nine-year-old golden retriever, nicknamed The Dogfather, is going to a well-earned retirement after fathering a grand total of 323 puppies. Trigger has spent his years being the star stud dog of Guide Dogs. This charity organization specializes in breeding and training guide dogs for people with visual impairment in the United Kingdom. Since the beginning of his stud career in December 2016, Trigger has fathered 39 litters, including a record-breaking litter with 16 puppies in 2021. According to Guide Dogs, 294 of Trigger’s puppies have been bred by the charity itself, and an additional 29 puppies by other assistance dog charities and guide dog schools, bringing his grand total to 323 puppies.The Dogfather’s final litter consisted of six puppies, including five daughters named Rita, Jenny, Hermione, Indy, and Sandy, and a son, named Billy. The last of Trigger's offspring are eight weeks old and about to start their guide dog training and will be living with volunteer puppy raisers for the next year. “Trigger’s legacy can be seen in the independence and confidence his progeny has brought to the lives of blind and partially sighted people all over Britain,” shared Guide Dogs in a news release. The Dogfather’s puppies have been affectionately nicknamed Triglets by guide dog owners and volunteers. These pups have been guiding visually impaired and partially sighted individuals across the United Kingdom, including London, Cardiff, Glasgow, and even the Isle of Wright. Two of Trigger’s litters have been bred abroad at guide dog organizations in France and the Netherlands, creating guide dog partnerships in both countries. “Trigger’s wonderful, gentle nature and excellent health have made him the perfect asset to our breeding program. We can’t overstate the impact that Trigger has in helping us to provide so many guide dogs for people with sight loss,” said Janine Dixon, Head of Breeding Operations at Guide Dogs. Dixon added the charity hopes that Billy, Trigger’s son, will continue his father’s legacy by joining the breeding program in a few years.“In the meantime, nine of his daughters, as well, as his half-French son Pierre, are helping us to bring forward a new generation of dogs with Trigger’s fantastic genes,” shared Guide Dogs.When it comes to Trigger’s future, he will spend his well-earned retirement in Branbury with his Breeding Dog Volunteer Sarah Bryne, who has been looking after him for the past seven years and will now officially adopt him. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Unlock Your Pup’s Heritage: Embark Vet's Summer Sale is Here!

Hey fellow dog lovers! 🐾Is there anything more heartwarming than watching our furry friends playfully bounding around, tongues lolling and tails wagging?As proud dog parents, we're often fascinated by our pups' heritage and health.That's why it's so exciting to introduce you to Embark, the company that offers the most accurate dog DNA test on the market.

Dog Siblings Reunited After 13 Years Apart Thanks to a DNA Test

Labrador retriever golden retriever mixes, Mozart and Maddy have a lot to catch up on. After being adopted into separate homes as puppies, the brother and sister spent 13 years apart.The male pup, Mozart, was adopted by Ann MacLean, a high school science teacher in Freehold,  New Jersey. After losing her previous dog, MacLean started looking for a new pooch to bring into her home. She found a litter of five eight-week-old puppies listed on Petfinder.com. The litter consisted of four males and one female puppy. Two pups were golden in color and three were completely black. MacLean and her family decided to adopt one of the black puppies and named him Mozart. When they went to pick up Mozart, they noticed his sister Maddy, and immediately fell in love with her. But when, two days later, they expressed interest in adopting Maddy as well, they were informed that someone else was already interested in her and was going to pick her up the following weekend.  MacLean believed she would never see Maddy again, but the Universe had other plans! After adopting Mozart, MacLean was curious to learn more about her new pup’s genetic makeup, so she used a dog DNA test. The test revealed Mozart is a mix of Labrador retriever, golden retriever, collie, German shepherd, chow chow, and boxer. Embark test also has a relative finder feature, which informs the owner if a dog related to their pooch submitted a DNA test. “In January 2024, I logged into Embark. I had not logged into the Embark website in over a year. I thought the chance of Mozart reuniting with one of his siblings was becoming small as Mozart was now 13 years old. I was so excited to see ‘immediate family’ listed,” MacLean told PEOPLE. Maddy’s owner, Sheila McNeil, was over the moon to hear from MacLean. “As soon as I saw a picture of Mozart, I told Doug this is definitely her brother as they look exactly alike. I was so excited to find her littermate and even more excited to reunite them,” said McNeil. During their conversations, MacLean and McNeil learned how similar their dogs are. Both canine siblings love the snow, can’t stand the heat, and have hip arthritis. McNeil and her husband Doug, only started caring for Maddy two years ago, when the pup’s original owner, Sheila’s adopted aunt, died. The biggest surprise, however, is that both dogs live near Freehold, and even go to the same vet! The owners had already planned to meet and were committed to getting the dogs together regardless of the distance. “It was a given that these two would reunite once we knew of the other’s existence, but this close distance makes regular meets easier to do. The Universe works in such serendipitous ways,” said McNeil. The siblings were finally reunited on January 14th, nearly 13 years after their separation. The pups met at a local park and needed a few minutes to become comfortable with one another, which was in line with their personalities. “A dramatic reunion of the dogs exhibiting uncontrolled joy was not a realistic expectation, nor was it either Maddy’s or Mozart’s personality,” explained McNeil adding that after only 10 minutes of walking, the siblings seemed like “two old souls who have known each other for years.”Since their reunion, Maddy and Mozart have seen each other three times and have more meet-ups planned for the future. Their owners are happy that the friendship between the canines grows stronger each time they see each other. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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