Washable Pee Pads for Dogs

He misses the pad more often than he hits it, and the box of disposables is empty again. A puppy learning the house rules needs somewhere to get it wrong, and you shouldn't be buying that somewhere by the roll.

This washable pee pad for dogs stacks a quilted top over an absorbent core, a waterproof barrier and a grip base, so the accident stays in the pad and the floor under it stays dry.

What the four layers do:

• Four layers: quilted top, absorbent core, waterproof barrier and grip base, so liquid stays in the pad and off the floor
• Machine washable: wash, dry and reuse, so one pad does the job of a box of disposables
• Anti-slip base: stays put on tile and hardwood, so a puppy can't drag it across the room
• Three sizes: from a 16 by 24 inch pad for a toy breed to a 32 by 35 inch pad for a large dog
• Four patterns: gray, beige, white or red bone and paw prints that look like a mat, not a medical supply

Four layers working in order. The quilted top takes the hit, the core pulls it down, the barrier stops it going any further, and the grip base keeps the whole thing still.

Lay it in the puppy pen, line the crate, cover the car seat or slide one under a senior dog's bed. The waterproof barrier protects whatever is underneath.

Shake it off, machine wash on a warm cycle, then tumble dry low or hang it. It comes back flat and ready to go down again.

Rolled up it reads as a rug. Bone and paw prints on gray, beige, white or red, so it can sit out in the living room without announcing what it's for.

Getting the size right

Small is 16 x 24 in (40 x 60 cm) for dogs up to about 15 lb. Medium is 28 x 32 in (70 x 80 cm) for 15 to 40 lb.

Large is 32 x 35 in (80 x 90 cm) for anything over 40 lb. The size guide in the gallery lists common breeds against each one, so check there if your dog sits near a cutoff.

Specifications

• Layers: Quilted top, absorbent core, waterproof barrier, anti-slip base
• Sizes: S 16 x 24 in (40 x 60 cm), M 28 x 32 in (70 x 80 cm), L 32 x 35 in (80 x 90 cm)
• Colors: Gray, Beige, White, Red
• Care: Machine washable, tumble dry low
• Use: Potty training, crates, playpens, car seats, senior dogs
• Suitable for: Puppies and adult dogs

Safety note: A pad catches accidents, it doesn't replace taking your dog out. Watch a teething puppy with one, since a chewed corner can be swallowed, and retire any pad whose top layer has torn open.

Wash it separately from clothing, and skip fabric softener, which coats the fibers and stops the core absorbing.

Pick the size that covers the spot he keeps choosing, then keep a second pad ready so one is always down while the other washes.