Many people use disposable potty pads when training their new puppy or as a go-to when they cannot get their pup outside. With more emphasis on sustainability, environmentally friendly options are becoming more popular. Washable potty pads, for example, are a favorite among breeders but can be hard to keep sanitized. Synthetic grass potty pads, however, are becoming extremely popular. Let’s look at which is better, the grass potty pad or the disposable potty pad.
Disposable Potty Pads: Use and Convenience
Pet parents have been using disposable potty pads for years as a training tool. They now come in several different sizes and have an attractant to help your pooch know where they are supposed to go when inside and not able to go outside. Potty pads are easier than litter box training your dog.
Disposable pads are excellent training tools to teach proper bathroom manners. They are also fabulous when you have a senior dog that needs frequent bathroom breaks. Many small dog owners use disposable potty pads daily when they are not home or do not have a yard for their dogs to use.
Cleanups are a breeze; the liquid is turned into a gel and does not run off the pad onto the floor. Unpleasant odors are minimized and you can simply fold the pad up and toss it in the trash. If your dog likes to drag their potty pad around and play with it, you can buy a holder that will keep the pad in place so your pup cannot use it as a toy instead of a toilet.
Limitations of Disposable Potty Pads
While disposable potty pads are a great tool for when going outside is not an option, they do have their limitations. The environmental impact of disposable potty pads is concerning as they are tossed in the trash and end up in landfills. Eco-conscious dog owners have switched from disposable potty pads to washable or reusable pads.
The rising cost of disposable pads is another problem for pet owners. What used to be a fairly inexpensive way to protect your floors when training a puppy has become very pricey. Puppy owners are ditching the disposable pads in favor of the washable pads but after a time, the washable pads become stained, smelly, and unsanitary.
Grass Pads: Use and Convenience
Recently, companies have been experimenting with synthetic or artificial grass as a way to provide the perfect potty area for urban pets that might not be able to go outside often for bathroom breaks. Artificial grass potty pads such as the Porch Potty or Petmaker Potty Pads are growing in popularity among small dog owners. Large dog owners still seem a little hesitant to use these types of pads.
This eco-friendly potty pad can be put outside on an apartment balcony as an alternative to taking a dog for a walk to go potty. They can also be placed indoors for a dog to have the same look and feel as going on grass, making it easier to housetrain a pup. Older dogs that are already trained but need to go often will find a grass potty pad preferable since that is what they are used to. Add a little fire hydrant and give your pooch a little privacy.
Artificial grass potty pads will not stain and are highly durable. They can withstand the wear and tear of daily use and are easily washed with soap and water. These pads also do not have any chemicals like the disposable ones with their gel-locking technology.
Limitations of Grass Potty Pads
Originally designed for pet parents with small dogs, the cost of a larger grass potty pad for a large breed dog is high and the ability to clean such a large pad when living in an apartment can be challenging. Even the smaller grass pads can be cumbersome to clean and many times pet parents do not clean them until they start to smell. This can cause a pup to walk through urine or feces and then across the floor, leaving an unpleasant trail behind them.
While they are long-lasting, they do need to be cleaned often. Apartment dwellers who do not have access to an outdoor hose will have to take the grass pad to get it cleaned, many opt for the car wash. Some pet owners have gone so far as to clean their grass potty pads in their showers.
Environmental Impact
Traditional, disposable potty pads have a plastic backing that is not eco-friendly. These single-use, disposable pads fill our landfills and do not break down over time because of the plastic backing. These pads are not recyclable and will continue to be tossed into our landfills. Washable potty pads, while not pleasant to toss in your washing machine, are a more eco-friendly option.
Artificial grass potty pads promote sustainability. These pads will last for several years when properly maintained. They are durable, and reusable, and help encourage dogs to do their business on green spaces rather than your carpeting. A lot of dogs love lounging in the grass sunning after doing their business. But when they cannot be outside, a grass potty pad is the next best thing.
Dog owners are constantly searching for easier ways to housetrain their pups; potty pads have been a great solution for many years. But, as society focuses more on sustainability, traditional potty pads are not as popular as their more eco-friendly counterparts.
While grass potty pads are a great solution for apartments and homes with small dogs such as the Miniature Pinscher, disposable potty pads are still a popular choice. The initial cost of a grass potty pad is higher than a package of disposable pads, however, in the long run, a grass potty pad will save money.
