# Puppy Pads Guide: Sizes, Setup and Toilet Training Tips

Source: https://mindiampets.com.au/puppy-pads/
Last updated: 2026-11-09

Puppy pads are soft, absorbent mats that give a new puppy one clear place to wee indoors. They help when your puppy is too young to hold on, when you live in a unit, or when nobody can get home in time. This guide explains how puppy pads work, which size to pick, how to set them up and how to move your puppy to toileting outside. You can also see the [puppy training pads and toilet training products](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/) we stock.

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![Black and white puppy sniffing a white puppy training pad on a tiled laundry floor beside a glass back door, with paper towel and a lidded bin nearby](https://mindiampets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/puppy-pad-placement-near-back-door.webp)Put the pad on an easy-to-clean floor near the door you will use for outdoor toilet trips. Keep cleaning gear close by.

## Key takeaways

Here are the main points to know before you buy toilet training pads. Each point is explained in more detail further down, with advice from the RSPCA and Blue Cross, two well-known animal welfare charities, on toilet training a puppy kindly and calmly at home.

- Pads are a short-term tool. The goal for most puppies is to toilet outside.
- Pick a pad that is bigger than your puppy when they stand. Larger breeds need larger pads.
- Put the pad in the same spot every time, on an easy-to-clean floor and away from food and bed.
- Praise your puppy straight after they use the pad. Never punish accidents.
- Move the pad closer to the back door bit by bit, then outside, then stop using it.

## What are puppy pads and how do they work?

Training pads are thin, layered mats that soak up wee and hold it inside. The top layer lets liquid pass through, the middle layer soaks it up, and the bottom layer stops it leaking onto your floor. Many pads also have a scent that draws a puppy to sniff and toilet in that spot.

Puppies have small bladders and cannot hold on for long. The [RSPCA](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/toilettraining) says dogs do not have full bladder capacity until about 12 months of age. So a young puppy will need to go often, and pads give them a safe place to do it when you cannot get outside in time.

- **Top sheet:** lets wee pass through quickly so paws stay drier.
- **Middle core:** soaks up and holds the liquid.
- **Bottom backing:** a plastic layer that stops leaks onto the floor.

## When should you use puppy pads?

Pads are most useful in the first weeks after you bring a puppy home. They suit times when you cannot take your puppy out often enough, such as overnight, during a long work day, or in a high-rise unit in Sydney or Melbourne. They also help older dogs or dogs who are unwell.

- **Overnight:** a pad near the bed or in the playpen catches night-time wees.
- **Apartments:** when the lift and the grass are a long way from your door.
- **Bad weather:** for very young puppies on cold, wet or very hot days.
- **Older or unwell dogs:** as a backup if your vet says your dog needs one.

[Blue Cross](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/toilet-training-a-puppy) suggests that if you use pads overnight, you can put a little of the used pad in your chosen outdoor toilet spot. The smell helps your puppy know where to go next time.

## Which puppy pad size do you need?

Pick a pad that is bigger than your puppy when they stand and turn around. Puppies often miss the edge of a small pad, so more space means fewer accidents. Small breeds such as a Maltese, Chihuahua or Toy Poodle can use a standard square pad, while bigger puppies need a larger pad.

| Pad | Size | Pack | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Puppy Training Pad 20 Pack](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/puppy-training-pad-20-pack/) | 60cm x 60cm | 20 pads | Trying pads with a new puppy |
| [Puppy Training Pad 100 Pack](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/puppy-training-pad-100-pack/) | 56cm x 56cm | 100 pads | Small breeds over a few weeks |
| [200 Pack Puppy Training Pads](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/200-pack-puppy-training-pads-56cm-x-56cm/) | 56cm x 56cm | 200 pads | Busy homes and longer training |
| [50 Pack Puppy Pads - Medium](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/50-pack-puppy-pads-medium/) | 90cm x 60cm | 50 pads | Bigger puppies, playpens, multi-layer |
| [Pet Potty Mat](https://mindiampets.com.au/pet-beds-bedding/outdoor-dog-bed/pet-potty-mat/) | 43cm x 68cm | Washable | Small dogs up to 7kg, indoors or out |Sizes are taken from each product page on our site.

Here is how the sizes compare. A 90cm x 60cm medium pad covers 5,400 square centimetres. A 60cm x 60cm pad is about 15% bigger than a 56cm x 56cm pad. That is 50% more floor than a 60cm x 60cm pad and about 72% more than a 56cm x 56cm pad. If your puppy keeps missing the edge, a bigger pad is often the easy fix. The washable potty mat is about 19% smaller than a 60cm x 60cm pad, so it is best kept for small dogs.

![Flat lay on a timber floor of a smaller square white puppy pad, a larger rectangular white puppy pad and a grey washable fabric potty mat](https://mindiampets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/puppy-pad-sizes-and-washable-mat.webp)Disposable pads come in different sizes. A washable potty mat can be cleaned and reused instead of thrown away.

## Our puppy pads and potty mat

These are the pads and potty mat we stock for toilet training. Each product links to its own page with full details and sizes. All of them suit the first stage of training, before your puppy learns to go outside, and they also work inside a playpen or near a crate.

### Puppy Training Pad 20 Pack

The [Puppy Training Pad 20 Pack](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/puppy-training-pad-20-pack/) has 20 square pads that are 60cm x 60cm. It is a good starter pack if you want to see how your puppy takes to pads before buying a bigger box. Reward your puppy each time they use a pad, until you can move toileting outdoors.

### Puppy Training Pad 100 Pack and 200 Pack

The [Puppy Training Pad 100 Pack](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/puppy-training-pad-100-pack/) and the [200 Pack Puppy Training Pads](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/200-pack-puppy-training-pads-56cm-x-56cm/) both use 56cm x 56cm pads. These suit small breeds and owners who change pads often. The 200 pack holds twice as many pads as the 100 pack and 10 times as many as the 20 pack, so you reorder less often.

### 50 Pack Puppy Pads - Medium

The [50 Pack Puppy Pads - Medium](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-products/dog-training-products/50-pack-puppy-pads-medium/) are larger rectangles at 90cm x 60cm, with multi-layer protection for absorbency and leak control. They suit bigger puppies such as a Labrador, Golden Retriever or Kelpie, and they fit well at the toilet end of a playpen.

### Pet Potty Mat

The [Pet Potty Mat](https://mindiampets.com.au/pet-beds-bedding/outdoor-dog-bed/pet-potty-mat/) is a washable option at 43cm x 68cm. It has a three-layer system, can be used indoors or outdoors, and suits small dogs up to 7kg. A washable mat is handy for small dogs in apartments, because you clean it instead of throwing it away.

## Washable puppy pads vs disposable puppy pads

Disposable pads are used once and thrown away. Washable puppy pads and potty mats are cleaned and used again. Both work well for toilet training. The best choice depends on how big your puppy is, how much time you have and whether you would rather wash or bin used pads.

| Type | Good points | Watch out for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disposable pads | Quick to change, no washing, many sizes | Ongoing cost, more rubbish, some puppies chew them |
| Washable potty mat | Reusable, less waste, sturdy | Needs regular washing, best for small dogs |
| Newspaper | Cheap and easy to find | Soaks through to the floor, little smell control |

If your puppy likes to chew or shred pads, do not leave them alone with a pad. Swap the pad for a sturdier washable mat and give them a safe chew toy instead.

## How do you use puppy pads to toilet train a puppy?

To use training pads, choose one spot, take your puppy to the pad often, and praise them as soon as they go. Puppies learn by habit, so the same place, the same word and the same reward every time make it easy for them to understand what you want.

1. Put the pad on a hard floor, like tiles or a laundry, away from the bed and food bowls.
2. Take your puppy to the pad when they wake up, after meals and after play.
3. Say a cue word such as “toilet” while they go.
4. Praise and give a small treat the moment they finish.
5. Change the pad as soon as it is wet or dirty, but you can leave a small used piece on the new pad so the smell helps.

The [RSPCA](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/toilettraining) says puppies should be taken to toilet when they wake up, before bed, after every meal, after play and after any excitement. It also suggests a toilet trip every 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the puppy’s age.

> Never punish your dog if you find an accident after the event or as it’s happening. Your dog may become scared and confused as they won’t associate the punishment with the accident.
> 
> RSPCA, Toilet training your dog

## What signs show your puppy needs to toilet?

Puppies show clear signs before they toilet. Watch for sniffing the floor, circling, fidgeting or walking off to a spot where they went before. When you see these signs, calmly pick up your puppy or lead them to the pad, then praise them when they go.

[Blue Cross](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/caring-for-your-puppy) says house training is about learning your puppy’s body clock, so you can take them to the right spot before they get desperate.

- Sniffing the floor with their nose down
- Circling or turning on the spot
- Fidgeting, whining or looking restless
- Heading to a room where they had an accident before

## Where should you put puppy pads?

Put pads in one fixed spot on a hard, easy-to-clean floor. A laundry, bathroom or the end of a playpen works well. Keep the pad away from where your puppy eats and sleeps, because dogs naturally prefer to toilet away from their bed and food. Regular meal times also make toilet times easier to predict, and our [puppy food guide](https://mindiampets.com.au/puppy-food/) covers how often to feed.

If your puppy uses a [dog playpen](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-playpen/), place the bed at one end and the pad at the other end. If your puppy sleeps in a [dog crate](https://mindiampets.com.au/dog-crate/), keep the pad outside the crate so the crate stays a clean, cosy place to rest.

## How do you move from puppy pads to toileting outside?

Move from pads to the outdoors in small steps. Once your puppy uses the pad well, shift it a little closer to the back door every few days. Then put it just outside the door, and finally on the grass. After that, you can stop using the pad.

1. Move the pad closer to the door bit by bit.
2. Take your puppy outside often, as well as using the pad.
3. Put a used pad in your outdoor toilet spot to help with smell.
4. Praise every outdoor wee more than any pad wee.
5. Stop using pads once your puppy goes outside most of the time.

[Blue Cross](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/toilet-training-a-puppy) suggests staying outside with your puppy until they go, then giving gentle praise. If nothing happens after five minutes, come back inside, watch your puppy closely and try again about 10 minutes later.

> Expect your puppy to have several accidents during the first few months of house training.
> 
> Blue Cross, Puppy toilet training

## How do you clean up toilet accidents?

Clean accidents well so the smell does not bring your puppy back to the same spot. Wipe up as much as you can with paper towel, then wash the area. Avoid strong ammonia cleaners, because the smell can be like wee and may make the problem worse.

The [RSPCA](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/toilettraining) suggests a warm solution of biological washing powder, one part powder to nine parts water, then a rinse with water. That makes a mix that is about 10% washing powder and 90% water. Keep paper towel, a bin and your cleaner near the pad so cleaning up is quick.

### Puppy pads by the numbers

- **About 12 months:** the age when dogs reach full bladder capacity (RSPCA).
- **Every 45 to 60 minutes:** how often the RSPCA suggests taking a young puppy to toilet.
- **5 minutes:** how long Blue Cross suggests waiting outside before trying again.
- **10 minutes:** when Blue Cross suggests you try the next outdoor trip.
- **1 to 9:** the RSPCA ratio of washing powder to water for cleaning accidents.
- **50% more floor:** a 90cm x 60cm pad compared with a 60cm x 60cm pad.
- **7kg:** the top weight for our washable Pet Potty Mat.
- **About 19% smaller:** our 43cm x 68cm potty mat compared with a 60cm x 60cm pad, so it suits small dogs best.
- **100% more pads:** the 200 pack compared with the 100 pack.
- **About 15% bigger:** a 60cm x 60cm pad compared with a 56cm x 56cm pad.
- **50% longer:** the 90cm side of the medium pad compared with a 60cm pad.
- **A dozen times or more:** how often a young puppy may need to go out each day, says the American Kennel Club.
- **About 8 weeks:** the age most puppies go to new homes, when bladder control is at its weakest (American Kennel Club).

## Do puppy pads make toilet training slower?

Pads can make outdoor training a little slower for some puppies, because the puppy learns that toileting indoors is allowed. You can avoid this by still taking your puppy outside often, praising outdoor wees the most, and moving the pad outside as soon as you can.

The [American Kennel Club](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/) says pads can help owners who cannot get home often, or very small dogs in bad weather, but they can sometimes slow the move to toileting outside. It says consistency, supervision and rewards are the keys to success. If your puppy keeps having accidents after training well, the [RSPCA](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/toilettraining) advises getting your dog checked by a vet to rule out a health problem.

> You’re reinforcing two different options for the puppy.
> 
> Mary Burch, PhD, American Kennel Club, on pad and paper training

Setting up for a new puppy? Our [pet supplies checklist](https://mindiampets.com.au/pet-supplies-checklist-australia/) lists what else you need. You can also try our [pet subscription box](https://mindiampets.com.au/pet-subscription-box/) to get food, toys and treats for your puppy delivered.

## Puppy pads FAQ: specific questions about puppy pads

These are common questions owners ask about puppy training pads. The answers are short and simple. Follow the links above for more detail on pad sizes, placement and moving your puppy to toileting outside.

### How many pads will I use in a day?

It depends on your puppy’s age, size and how often you change pads. Young puppies wee often, so you may change a pad several times a day at first. Changing a pad as soon as it is wet keeps the area clean and helps your puppy keep using it.

### Can I put a puppy pad in a crate?

It is best to keep pads out of the crate. A crate should be a clean, cosy bed, and dogs prefer not to toilet where they sleep. Put the pad outside the crate, or at the far end of a playpen, away from the bed.

### Are washable puppy pads better than disposable ones?

Neither is always better. Washable pads and potty mats create less rubbish and suit small dogs, but need regular washing. Disposable puppy pads are quick to change and come in bigger sizes, which suits larger puppies.

### When should I stop using puppy pads?

Stop using pads once your puppy toilets outside most of the time and has few accidents. Move the pad closer to the door, then outside, before you stop. Some owners keep a pad for overnight until their puppy can hold on longer.

## References

The advice in this puppy pads guide comes from the animal welfare and dog training sources listed here. Product sizes come from each product page on our site. Always ask your vet if you have concerns about your puppy’s health or toileting.

- [RSPCA, Toilet training your dog](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/toilettraining)
- [RSPCA, Caring for your puppy](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/puppycare)
- [Blue Cross, Puppy toilet training](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/toilet-training-a-puppy)
- [Blue Cross, How do I look after my new puppy?](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/caring-for-your-puppy)
- [American Kennel Club, How to potty train a puppy](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/)

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