Puppy Essentials · Potty Training
Puppy Pads: Sizes and Features Compared
It covers disposable pee pads only; washable pads, grass patches and trays are not covered yet. Specifications come from the manufacturers’ own pages, size images and pack images, checked on 2026-10-26. Two of the sizes are published only as images; we read them and copied the values. This is not a hands-on review, and we have not tested any of these pads.
This guide focuses on products and manufacturer information for the US market. Product specifications and the recall search described here reflect the sources checked as of the review date; they do not guarantee that a product has never been recalled or that it is suitable for every puppy.
What you need to decide
Pads can help in homes where going outside is hard to arrange. Choosing between them mostly means choosing a size that fits your space and your puppy, and deciding which features you want, such as an attractant, a scent or a wetness indicator. The makers describe absorbency in different ways that we have not tested, so this guide does not compare it.
What to consider before buying
- Size. Pad sizes here run from 16.5 × 23.5 in to 36 × 36 in. The makers give little dog-size guidance: Four Paws calls its Little Dog pads perfect for small dogs, Simple Solution says its pads are for puppies and dogs of all sizes, and Hartz says its pads are for all dogs, from puppies to adults.
- Attractant and scent. Four Paws and Simple Solution say their pads have an attractant. Hartz does not mention one on the page we read; it sells lavender, mountain fresh and unscented versions.
- Knowing when to change a pad. Simple Solution’s pads have a wetness indicator that turns teal when it is time to change the pad. The other two makers do not mention one.
- Where to put the pad. Simple Solution says to keep the pad accessible and away from your puppy’s bed and food. Simple Solution and Hartz both say to place the pad plastic side down.
- Chewing. None of the three makers’ pages we read says what to do if a puppy chews, tears or swallows a pad. If yours does, ask your vet.
Compare the documented specifications
Three disposable puppy pads compared using each maker’s published sizes, features and directions. Checked on 2026-10-26.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Pad | Sizes (maker) | Layers and backing (maker) | Attractant | Other features (maker) | Directions (maker) | Our status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Paws Wee-Wee Superior Performance pads (standard and Little Dog) | 22 × 23 in; Little Dog 16.5 × 23.5 in | 6 layers, described as leak-proof | Yes, per the maker | Quilted top layer | Not given on the pages we read | Manufacturer pages checked 2026-10-26 |
| Simple Solution X-Large Training Pads | 28 × 30 in (71 × 76 cm) | 6 layers, leak-proof backing | Yes (“3-in-1”) | Wetness indicator turns teal when it is time to change | Plastic side down; let your dog smell the pad; reward use; replace as needed | Page and pack images read 2026-10-26 |
| Hartz Home Protection Odor Eliminating Dog Pads | Regular 21 × 21 in; XL 21 in on one side (other side not labelled); XXL 30 × 30 in; 3XL 36 × 36 in | 6 layers; plastic backing and border | Not mentioned | Lavender, mountain fresh or unscented | Plastic side down; let your puppy smell the pad; bring them back to it; reward use; move pads toward the door, then outdoors | Page and size image read 2026-10-26 |
Values are as the makers publish them. Simple Solution’s size is printed on the front of the pack, and Hartz’s sizes are on a size image; neither appears in page text. Hartz’s image labels only one side of the XL pad, so its other side is unknown. Absorbency figures are not shown because the makers state them in different ways and we have not tested them. Prices and pack counts are not listed.
Options by need
These are starting points based on the documented specifications, not recommendations from testing.
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A small space or a small puppy
Four Paws’ Little Dog pads (16.5 × 23.5 in) and Hartz’s Regular pads (21 × 21 in) are the smallest here.
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More coverage
Simple Solution’s X-Large pads are 28 × 30 in. Hartz’s XXL and 3XL pads are 30 × 30 in and 36 × 36 in.
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Knowing when to change the pad
Simple Solution is the only maker here that lists a wetness indicator.
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No added scent
Hartz sells an unscented version. Four Paws’ standard and Little Dog pages and Simple Solution’s page do not mention a scent.
Limits and what to check before you buy
- We have not used or tested these pads. Absorbency, leaks, odor control and how well an attractant works are not covered.
- The makers’ absorbency and leak claims are not repeated here because they are not measured the same way and we have not checked them.
- Simple Solution’s size comes from its pack image and Hartz’s sizes from a size image. We read and transcribed them. Hartz’s XL size is incomplete.
- The directions in the table are the makers’ own. They are not a training plan. Your puppy’s routine and your vet’s advice on outdoor walks matter more than any single product.
- Washable pads, grass patches and pad holders are not covered, and three makers is a small sample.
Questions readers ask
What size pad does my puppy need?
The makers give little size guidance, so start with the space you have and your puppy’s size. Pads here range from 16.5 × 23.5 in (Four Paws Little Dog) to 36 × 36 in (Hartz 3XL).
Which pad is most absorbent?
We cannot say. Each maker describes absorbency differently, for example by layers, by how much liquid a pad holds, or compared with its own older pads, and we have not tested them.
How do I use a pad?
Simple Solution and Hartz say to place the pad plastic side down, let your dog smell it, and reward your dog for using it. Hartz adds that pads can be moved gradually toward the door and then outdoors. Simple Solution says to keep the pad away from your puppy’s bed and food. Ask your vet about when your puppy can go outside.
Have any of these pads been recalled?
We searched the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall listing on 2026-10-26 by manufacturer and product name (Four Paws, Wee-Wee, Simple Solution, Hartz, Home Protection) and found no matching recall. The search is name-based and leaves out archived items, so a search with no match does not prove that no recall exists. Check cpsc.gov again before you buy.
Sources, dates, and method
Each value in this guide comes from the manufacturer’s product page or the images published on it, checked on 2026-10-26. Values from images were read and transcribed. We did not use retailer listings or customer reviews. Prices are not listed because they change often.
- Four Paws: Wee-Wee Superior Performance Dog Pee Pads (product page)
- Four Paws: Wee-Wee Little Dog Pee Pads (product page)
- Simple Solution: Disposable X-Large Training Dog Pads (product page and directions)
- Simple Solution: pack front (image, size)
- Hartz: Home Protection XL Odor Eliminating Dog Pads (product page and FAQ)
- Hartz: Home Protection pad sizes (image)
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls