Using pee pads in a puppy’s crate is generally not recommended.

Here’s why…

Confuses Potty Training

• Puppies learn to associate the crate as a place to sleep and be calm, not a place to relieve themselves. Putting a pee pad in the crate can encourage the puppy to urinate inside, making it harder to potty train them to go outside.

Increases the Risk of Mess

• Puppies are likely to chew on or shred the pee pad, making a bigger mess. It can also create a situation where the puppy steps in its own waste, which isn’t ideal for training or cleanliness.

Hinders Crate Training Success

• The crate should be a safe, clean space where the puppy feels comfortable, not a place to potty. Crate training relies on puppies instinctively avoiding going where they sleep, and pee pads can undermine this.

Alternatives

• Take your puppy outside regularly—especially after meals, naps, and play sessions. Puppies have small bladders and need frequent breaks.
• If you’re not home to let your puppy out, use a dog-proofed area with a designated potty spot (e.g., a small playpen with a separate potty area).

Avoid using pee pads in the crate. Instead, focus on consistent potty breaks outside and proper crate training, which will help your puppy learn where it’s appropriate to go.