Pros And Cons of Belly Bands For Dogs

As dog owners, we know that there is no shortage of options for toys, food, medicine, and accessories for your furry friend! However, it can be challenging to decide what is and isn’t right for your dog with all these choices.

Belly bands are becoming more and more popular amongst dog owners, but before you go out and purchase one, you may be wondering: what are the pros and cons of belly bands for dogs?

Belly bands are comfortable wraps that ensure your dog will not urinate anywhere they are not supposed to. They are often used to help with puppies, dogs with bladder problems, or even stop marking. However, they are not a permanent solution as they cannot be worn for a long time and don’t teach a dog where and where not to go to the bathroom. 

Now, this simplified list is helpful, but there is a lot more you need to know before deciding if a belly band is suitable for your dog.

Luckily, we will step through each and every pro and con of belly bands so you can make an informed decision. So keep reading! You are going to be a belly band expert in no time. 

What Are Belly Bands for Dogs?

Before we dig deeper and find out the many pros and cons of belly bands for dogs, we must understand precisely what these accessories do and how they work. 

Belly bands for dogs are essentially like doggie diapers, except that they come in stylish colors and various sizes, so you can choose the right option for your dog. 

They are also quite a lot easier to put on your dog as they do not have holes that legs need to be thread through but instead wrap simply around the dog’s genitals and connect on the lower back with velcro. 

The inner layer is made of absorbent material in which the urine is held, and the outer layer is made of a waterproof material so that the entire wrap is easy to clean. 

To use a belly band, simply wrap it around your dog, and once they have peed or after a few hours at the most, remove it and wash it either in a washing machine or with warm water and detergent. 

Pros and Cons of Belly Bands for Dogs

Now that you know what a belly band is and how to use it, it’s time to learn about these popular tools’ many pros and cons. 

Pros of Belly Bands for Dogs

In general, consumers have reported that belly bands are helpful tools and can be extremely useful and, as you now know, easy to use, but the list doesn’t stop there!

Here is a comprehensive list of the various pros of belly bands for dogs:

• They are easy to put on. 
• Belly bands keep your space free of unwanted urine! 
• Your dog will most likely feel comfortable or not even notice that it’s on after a few wears.
• It can help train your dog to not urinate in the house as they do not like to be wet, and it can encourage them to instead go outside instead of having to wear the wrap. 
• It’s an excellent option for travel, such as in a car or plane, where your dog will not have the opportunity to relieve itself outdoors for extended periods. 
• Belly bands discourage marking. Whether your dog marks because they are anxious or trying to name their territory, it can be extremely frustrating! Using a belly band either while they are in the house when a visitor comes over or in a new place, you can eliminate small bits of urine all over the place. 

Now that you understand the pros of a belly band for your dog, you will also want to understand the cons. 

Cons of Belly Bands for Dogs

No matter how popular, every tool has some cons that are important to be aware of. After reading through the following list, you can decide if the pros of a belly band are worth the cons. 

• Consistent cleaning is necessary. You cannot leave the urine in the belly band after your dog goes as it can make them uncomfortable and even cause infection. As you now know, you can wash a belly band in a washing machine or with warm water in detergent, but make sure not to put it in the dryer.
• Belly bands cannot be worn for long. After 3 hours, the band will need to be removed for some time whether your dog has gone to the bathroom or not. 
• Some users report that it does not work as a training tool as the dog is not actually learning when and when not to urinate, and once the band is removed, they may simply continue to go when it’s convenient. 
• They are not medical tools. If your dog has a bladder problem, please take them to the vet instead of constantly using a belly band. 
• They do not teach your dog not to mark. Once again, once the band is removed, they will most likely continue to mark where ever they see fit. 

The bottom line is that while belly bands can be helpful for new puppies, taking your dog traveling or to new places, or even for emergency situations, they are not a permanent solution.

You will still need to train your dog properly to use the bathroom in the appropriate place instead of peeing in inopportune places!

Things to Keep in Mind when Using a Belly Band for your Dog

There are a few more bits and bobs of information that you should understand when using a belly band for your dog that are not quite a positive, nor a negative aspect of the tool. 

As you now know, the belly band, no matter what style or brand you choose, works well to keep your dog from urinating where they shouldn’t! But for it to work correctly, there are several things you need to know. 

• Belly bands should not be worn while taking your dog for a walk or playing outside. Although technically it is more or less comfortable for them, it can cause irritation when your dog is exercising. 
• The elastic can either be too tight or too loose! Make sure you get the right size wrap for your pup, and if you see that the elastic seems to sinch into your dog’s body, we recommend stretching it out a bit before having them wear it. An overused belly band can become loose, and urine will leak over the body of your dog and maybe even out the sides. You will probably have to replace it frequently if your dog uses it often. 
• Belly bands can only be used with male dogs. If you have a female dog, there are other diaper options, but the wrap will not sit properly on her body. 

You are almost a belly band expert! However, you still need to learn when to use a belly band for your dog. 

When to Use a Belly Band for Dogs

As you already know, you can use a belly band for your dog if they are urinating in unwanted places or marking obsessively. Here are a few more reasons and times you may want to use a belly band. 

• If your dog urinates in the house while you are away, you can put on the belly band before you pop out for errands or a short outing (remember, the band can only stay on for a maximum of 3 hours.)
• When traveling either via bus or plane and are not in control of pee stops, your dog and the pilot will be very grateful for the belly band. 
• When visiting a friend’s house or public space, the belly band can ensure no embarrassing accidents. 

It’s important to note that while these lists of pros, cons and general information are based on thousands of dogs’ responses to the belly band, no two dogs are created equal!

Please make sure you are attentive to your dog and whether or not it is comfortable in the belly band and for how long it can wear it without irritation. 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now understand a little more about the various pros and cons of belly bands for dogs, how to put them on, and even when to clean them! If you feel like a belly band might be the perfect urine protection tool for your dog, there are plenty of options to choose from! 

Remember that to keep your dog comfortable and safe, they should not be used as a permanent solution to a urinating problem but as a quick fix for travel, training, visitors, or emergency situations.