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Introduction
I just got a new puppy, Luna, a few months ago, and potty training has been a nightmare. The worst part? She would tear up the pee pads. Every single night, I’d leave a pee pad out for her, and I’d wake up to find it shredded into a million pieces, all over my living room. And the pee? It would leak right through, onto my carpet. And then she’d step in it, and run around, leaving little pee prints all over my couch, my walls, even my bed. I was this close to crying, I had cleaned my carpet so many times, I was starting to think I’d never get the smell out.
That’s when I found the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder. It was $19, and it said it would stop the messes, stop her from tearing up the pee pads, stop the leaks. I ordered it immediately, because I was desperate. After using it for a month, I put together this full IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder: An IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder Review of Its Design
So, what is this thing, anyway? It’s a plastic tray, right? It’s designed to hold pee pads, so they don’t slip around, and so the pee doesn’t leak onto your floor. It has these latches, on the sides, that lock the pee pad in place, so your dog can’t tear it up. It has non-skid rubber feet, on the bottom, so the tray doesn’t slide around, even if your dog is pushing it, or jumping on it.
It fits 22×22 inch pee pads, which is the regular size, right? The standard size that everyone buys. It’s made of plastic, so it’s easy to clean, you just wipe it down, or rinse it off, and it’s good as new. It’s supposed to be leak-proof, too, so if your dog pees on the pad, the pee doesn’t leak out onto your floor.
It’s only 19 dollars, which is cheap, right? A lot of the other pee pad holders are 30 or 40 dollars, so this was a steal, I thought.
My Story: Putting the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder to the Test
When the tray arrived, I was so excited. I opened it up, and it was this big plastic tray, dark gray, which matched my floor, so it didn’t look too ugly. I took a regular 22×22 pee pad, put it in the tray, and locked the latches. That was easy, right? I just folded the edges of the pad over the edge of the tray, and clicked the latches down. Done.
Then I put it in the corner of the living room, where I usually put the pee pad. Luna came over, sniffed it, and tried to paw at it. She couldn’t get the pad out! The latches held it in place, she couldn’t tear it. I was so happy! I thought, this is it! This is the solution!
That night, she went potty on it, and nothing leaked! The pee stayed in the tray, on the pad, no mess on the carpet. And the tray didn’t slide around, either. The non-skid feet worked, she couldn’t push it across the floor, like she did with the regular pad. I was shocked, it worked perfectly!
But then, a few days later, I noticed something. She was standing on the edge of the tray, right? And she peed, and the pee went right over the edge. Oh my god! The edge of the tray is only 1.18 inches high! That’s nothing! It’s so low, if your dog stands even a little bit off center, the pee goes right over the edge, onto the floor. I had to clean the carpet again! That was so annoying!
And then, the latches. They’re not very tight. If Luna pulls hard enough, she can open them. One night, I forgot to click them all the way down, and she opened them, and tore the pad up again. Just like before! I was so mad! I thought the latches were supposed to stop that!
Also, the plastic is really thin. Luna likes to chew on things, right? She chewed on the edge of the tray, and she almost bit a chunk out of it. It’s not very sturdy, it’s cheap plastic, so it’s easy to damage.
And the size! The 22×22 pee pad, it barely fits. I have to fold the edges of the pad, to get it to fit under the latches. If I use a regular pad, it’s a little too big, so I have to fold it, which means the pad doesn’t lay flat. That’s annoying, because then the pee doesn’t absorb right, it pools on the edge.
But the cleaning part? That was great. If there was a mess, I just wiped it down with a paper towel, and it was clean. The plastic is smooth, so nothing sticks to it. That was the best part, honestly. I didn’t have to scrub anything, just wipe it, and it was done.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder
After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- The latches stop her from tearing the pad, most of the time: If I click them all the way down, she can’t get the pad out, she can’t tear it up. That was the whole reason I bought it, and it works, most of the time.
- The non-skid feet work: The tray doesn’t slide around, even if she pushes it, or jumps on it. It stays in place, which is great.
- It’s easy to clean: The plastic is smooth, so if there’s a mess, you just wipe it down, no scrubbing, no nothing. That’s so much easier than cleaning the carpet.
- It’s cheap: $19 is nothing, compared to the other pee pad holders that are $40 or $50. Even if it only lasts a few months, it’s worth it.
- It stops most leaks: If she pees in the middle of the pad, nothing leaks, nothing gets on the carpet. That’s perfect.
What I Didn’t Like
- The edge is way too low: 1.18 inches? That’s nothing! If your dog stands even a little bit off center, the pee goes right over the edge, onto your floor. That’s the biggest problem, honestly.
- The latches are too loose: If your dog pulls hard enough, they can open the latches. And if you don’t click them all the way down, they open easily. So it doesn’t stop all the tearing.
- The plastic is thin and flimsy: It’s cheap plastic, so it’s easy to chew, easy to break. My puppy almost bit a chunk out of it.
- The 22×22 pad barely fits: You have to fold the edges of the pad, to get it to fit under the latches. That means the pad doesn’t lay flat, so the pee doesn’t absorb right.
- It’s too small for bigger puppies: If you have a bigger puppy, or a dog that’s not tiny, this tray is too small. They can’t fit on it, they stand off the edge.
Is the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder Right for Your Puppy?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a tiny puppy, that’s not too destructive, and they usually pee in the middle of the pad? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it’s cheap, it stops the tearing, it stops the leaks. It’s exactly what you need.
But if you have a bigger puppy, or a puppy that’s really destructive, that likes to chew things, or pull things? Then no, this isn’t for you. They’ll chew the tray, they’ll open the latches, they’ll tear the pad up, just like before.
And if your puppy likes to stand on the edge of the pad, and pee over the edge? Then this is going to be a disaster, because the edge is so low, the pee will go right onto your floor.
Also, if you have multiple dogs? Then this is too small, you need a bigger tray. This is only for one tiny puppy, honestly.
Common Questions About the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
Does this fit 22×22 pee pads?
It fits, but it’s tight. You have to fold the edges of the pad, to get it to fit under the latches. It works, but it’s not perfect. If you use a slightly smaller pad, it fits better.
Can my dog push this around?
The non-skid feet work, so most dogs can’t push it. But if you have a really big, strong dog, they might be able to push it. But for tiny puppies, it stays in place.
Will this stop my dog from tearing up pee pads?
Most of the time, yes. If you click the latches all the way down, they can’t get the pad out. But if your dog is really strong, they can open the latches, so it’s not 100% perfect.
Is this easy to clean?
Yeah! It’s plastic, so you just wipe it down with a paper towel, or rinse it in the sink. It’s super easy, no scrubbing, no nothing.
My Top Takeaways on the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder
At the end of the day, this thing works, for the most part. It solved my biggest problem—Luna tearing up the pee pads, and leaving pee all over my house. Most of the time, anyway. It’s not perfect, it has a lot of flaws, but it’s better than nothing.
The first week, before I figured out that she stands on the edge, it worked perfectly. Once I realized that, I started watching her, and making sure she pees in the middle, and it works. And the cleaning part? That’s worth the $19 by itself, honestly. I don’t have to clean my carpet every single day anymore.
It’s not a long-term solution, it’s not a professional tray, but it’s a great starting point, for potty training a tiny puppy. If you’re like me, and you were completely desperate, this is a great way to get through the potty training phase.
Final Thoughts on the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder
All in all, the IRIS USA Pee Pad Holder has been a mixed bag. It solved my biggest problem—Luna tearing up the pee pads, and leaving pee all over my house—but it came with a whole bunch of new problems I didn’t expect. The low edge, the loose latches, the flimsy plastic, it’s all a little much for $19, but honestly, it’s still cheaper than the other options.
If you’re desperate, like I was, to stop the messes, and you have a tiny puppy? It’s worth it. Just be careful, make sure you click the latches all the way down, and watch your puppy, so they don’t pee over the edge.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.