How to Choose the Best Dog Diapers

Diapers and belly bands are helpful for all stages of a dog’s life, from the puppy stage, to adulthood, to seniority. They are great tools to aid in house-training new puppies, especially those with excitement urination or submissive urination. If your female dog has her period (in heat), diapers are incredibly helpful for those “messy” times. You might find yourself using belly bands on a male dog that marks on your furniture to claim territory in the house.

When your dog is getting older and becoming incontinent, you will find that diapers are a life saver helping contain urine leakage and control bowel movement. But with so many options for diapers and belly bands, how would you choose the most effective products so you can be sure that your furbaby will always stay dry and clean in the house? The following tips will help you save time and money when choosing the best doggie diaper products for your pet.

Determine what you need: Diaper, Belly Band or Something Else?

Generally, diapers are for female dogs, belly bands are for male dogs. Some male dogs can wear diapers, but it is important that the boy parts are covered completely by the diaper he’s wearing. So, you would want to measure from base of tail to past his boy parts and make sure that the diaper’s bottom part is long enough to cover the boy parts. When in doubt, go with the diaper designed specifically for male dogs which has a bottom flap covering the boy parts.

But sometimes, you will find that neither a diaper nor belly band will fit your dog properly because your dog is not used to wearing clothes (he or she will try to get out of the diaper no matter how much you try), or because your dog’s body has an odd shape. If that’s the case, you might want to consider getting the diaper overall designed by Barkertime.

If your dog is a heavy wetter, you will find that a regular diaper or belly band might not be sufficient to keep all urine contained. Barkertime waterproof options for diapers and belly bands would be especially helpful in such situations. They are made with the highest quality breathable fabric on the outer which is completely waterproof, thus preventing any leakage. This fabric is often used in high-end human baby diapers, so if you’re worried that your dog might have more than just a few dribbles here and there, the waterproof options for diapers and belly bands would be the way to go.

Does your dog have difficulty keeping the diapers on?

It is true not all dogs will be receptive to wearing diapers. Diapers are designed for most dogs, but if yours is one of those that have difficulty keeping the diapers on, you might need the help of diaper suspenders to help keep the diapers on. These suspenders are very simple to use as they just clamp onto the existing diapers. Plus, they will make your dog look extra cute!

Does your dog have a big hip, or a long body? Is your dog an escape artist?

These dog diaper overalls are designed specifically for odd-shaped or long-body dogs such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Dachshund, and Wiener. The design is unique in that it has a “bib” that covers your dog’s belly and a portion of the chest. It has built-in neck piece that connects to the diaper piece, which makes the garment “escape-proof”. It is also recommended for dogs that are not used to wearing clothes or tend to get out of the regular diaper. Many pet owners with the “Houdini” escape-artist dogs have found this design greatly beneficial.

Are you getting the doggie diapers for urine or poop, or both?

Your elderly dog might have more than just urine incontinence. He or she might have problems with controlling bowel movement (fecal incontinence) as well. If that is the case, always go with the diapers. There is also the diaper overall designed for extra coverage and for keeping the disposable diaper on. Dogs tend not to pass stool when wearing diapers, but if they do, the diaper will still be able to contain the poop inside. If you know that your dog has fecal incontinence, it is recommended that you use disposable doggie diapers (the one made with paper) and use washable dog diapers as a cover-up. When your dog “goes #2”, you can just dispose of the disposable diaper and wash the cloth diaper for another use. Here are some additional tips on using dog diapers for poop. 

Make sure that the diaper or belly band you’re getting is the right size for your dog

For dog diapers and belly bands to work for your pet, it is critical that they fit your dog properly. You need to find the correct diaper size for your dog because if it is too large, it won’t be as effective and if it is too small, it won’t fit and in certain cases, it will constrict your dog’s movement, which is not healthy for your dog.

The number one concern when it comes to buying doggie diapers online is that there’s no universal size chart for pet clothing. Your little puppy (no matter how small she is to you) might actually need a size Large, for example, so don’t assume that just because your dog usually wears a Small (like a collar, shirt, coat, etc.) doesn’t mean you will also need a Small diaper for your dog. That’s why it is important to always check the Size Chart.

The most important measurement is around the waist. It is strongly recommended that you use a measuring tape to measure the largest part of your dog’s belly. If you don’t have a measuring tape at home, just cut a long strip of paper and use it to measure your dog’s waist, then use a regular ruler to measure the length. If your dog has a lot of fur, add an extra 1 – 2” to the measurement. Once you get the correct measurement of your dog’s waist and get the right size for your dog, nine out of 10 times you will get a diaper or belly band that fits your dog perfectly and one that works for your dog. Your dog will love you for this 🙂

Tail, or no tail?

You don’t have to worry about this if you’re just getting a belly band for your male dog. But if you’re getting a diaper or diaper overall, you should know that you can request a no-tail-hole version at no extra charge. If you have a French Bulldog or a dog with a docked tail, getting a no-tail-hole version makes sense as it provides more coverage for your dog and fits better. For Barkertime, you can just select the no tail hole diaper option when adding the item to cart.

Use liners or pads with the diaper or belly band

Your washable doggie diaper or belly band absorbs urine by itself and has different layers to prevent leaks, but if you could use an extra liner to increase urine absorption, you should. The less soiled the diaper gets, the less often you have to wash it. So, if you can, use the disposable pads or use the washable diaper liners so you can use them again. If your dog is a heavy wetter, liners (especially the reusable ones) would be the most economical option in the long run.

Compare the materials used to make the diaper or belly band

You might come across doggie diaper products imported from abroad that are less than half the price that Barkertime (an American company) offers. This is usually because of the differences in the quality of the materials used to make your doggie diapers. In addition, Barkertime offers over 200 design options so your furbaby can still look fabulous even during the “messiest” times.

We hope this helps you decide what’s best for your dog when it comes to doggie diapers and belly bands. Please let us know in the comment what you think or what else you would like to learn more about.