My life is dedicated to helping dogs while remaining compassionate to the wide variety of dog owners.
Fake indoor grass for dogs
When I said using indoor grass for dogs is lazy, I learned some people are convinced fake grass for dogs is the world’s greatest invention. I disagree. I still think it’s lazy.
Here are 10 reasons not to buy fake grass for your dog. Some of the ideas came from comments on my last post. For more information, check out my post on 10 reasons to buy fake indoor grass for dogs.
1. Owners of small dogs have enough problems with housebreaking.
We all know at least one person who owns a Yorkie, Maltese, Chihuahua or Pomeranian that pees in the house. I’m not talking about old dogs that can’t hold it. I’m talking about 2-year-old dogs that still aren’t potty trained.
If the owner can’t train her dog to go to the bathroom outside (one of the easiest things to teach a dog), how will she train her dog to pee on fake grass? This will only encourage the dog to pee on carpet, rugs, couches and mattresses. I am a professional pet sitter and I see examples of this every week.
2. What about dogs that lift their legs?
Are you going to buy him a few fake trees and bushes to go along with that grass? Or maybe he’ll just pee on the wall?
3. Fake grass for dogs is not the same as a litter box.
Cats have dignity and cover up after themselves. Dogs using this product won’t be covering up anything. They’ll probably step right in it. Or maybe they’ll do that thing where they kick their back legs and fling some poop onto your carpet. My dog has an annoying habit of walking while he poops. If I bought fake grass for him, he would probably walk right off the edge!
4. Dogs are not as sanitary as cats.
Cats are naturally clean animals. Dogs are naturally filthy. They are careless, they roll in things and they eat garbage, dead animals and poop.
5. There are other options than the “Potty Patch” if you work long hours.
Dogs shouldn’t be left alone for too long. Many people who work long shifts have dogs, but they come home during their breaks, take their dogs to daycare or hire a dog walker or pet sitter. Dogs are pack animals and need interaction. Leaving a dog home for 12 hours or more several days a week is similar to leaving a dog chained in a yard.
6. Fake grass for dogs won’t take away all issues.
The average housebroken dog can go eight or nine hours without going to the bathroom. If you are leaving your dog home for shorter periods and she is having accidents, there might be a bigger issue than her not being able to hold it. She could have a bladder infection or anxiety. If you have recently moved, she might not understand where she can and can’t go to the bathroom. Purchasing indoor fake grass is unlikely to solve these problems.
7. “At least the dog has a home” is a poor excuse.
Dogs need more than food, water and a place to relieve themselves. Some of the country’s most troubled, abused dogs are the ones confined to basements, kennels and backyards. They never get walked, trained, exercised or socialized, but because these dogs live in nice homes (with fake grass!) nobody says anything.
8. Lots of dogs eat their own poop.
Let’s face it, many of them do. I think this would be too tempting for a lot of dogs. Some dogs will eat their poop and their owners won’t even know it.
9. The dog will get walked less.
Most dogs don’t get walked enough already. This product will give owners another excuse not to walk the dog. It’s bad enough that so many small dogs get nothing more than a five-minute walk to relieve themselves. Now some will be lucky if they get outside at all.
10. Training a dog to use this won’t be as easy as it sounds.
Owners who don’t have time to let their dogs out are not going to take the time to properly teach the dog how to use the indoor grass. Dogs conditioned to go outside are not going to understand the concept of peeing on fake grass in the house. They will have to be trained, and it could take a week or months for them to learn, depending on the dog and the owner. Most dogs will never fully understand the concept.
What’s your opinion on fake indoor grass for dogs?
Check back next week for 10 reasons people buy the “Potty Patch“ and other products.
Discuss this issue further at my new dog forum – Fake grass for dogs
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I can understand the good points as well as the bad ones as to whether or not to get fake grass pads for your dog. Personally though, I have epilepsy and have a few seizures a week and am not allowed to drive. I live in a second floor apartment and animals are not allowed so openly walking him outside is out of the question as well as driving to a dog park, but I’ve done so much research about dogs being very therapuetic to people with my condition. He is a 9 week old miniature dachshund And so far so good, but the point of this comment really is to state that if its only going to be a temporary thing (the grass pads I mean), I think it’s a good idea to get the dog used to going in the grass be it fake or not until I have a real yard of my own for him. Oh and a cheap area rug to go underneath it is a good idea as well. Since he is so young it has been relatively easy to train him to go on the pads without having to dicline him at all. The occasional point followed by a semi loud “no”, but never popping him or putting his nose it is. That’s pretty cruel. Maybe I just got a smart dog, but he seems very happy which makes me happy. Oh and word of advice….if you don’t have the patients to train your dog, spend time with them, and clean up after them then you obviously have no business having one. They really are just like having children.
I disagree.
I have successfully trainined our Pug in a few short months and it has been 2 years.
Artificial grass works a treat.
The dog has not slipped up once. She gets plenty of exercise, she never eats her own poop, even the male Pug doesn’t lift his leg.
It is about countless hours of watching the dogs behaviour, picking it up straight away, reinforcing good behaviour and repetitiion, repetition. The dogs come down stairs any time of the day or night to poo and pee in the same spot.
Piss mats work a treat!
And I encourage people to try it for themselves..
Why would you have a dog in an appartment where dogs are prohibited?
Shut up! Why would you be lame in a world where it is prohibited? Why? Why? Why? There are a million reasons why? You are probably that sad, evil person who is the president of their HOA and watches everyone to make sure everyone follows “The Rules”. And you have that deep seeded resentment for all mankind… your mantra is….Why should other people get away with things when I don’t? Blah, blah, blah. Shut up! (p.s. For the record, I have a huge yard, pristine home and live in luxury, but there was a time when I didn’t and I rescued two dogs and all we had was a balcony…so for those readers who had to see your dumb comment…..SHUT UP and take a yoga class and stop judging people. Love, love love. : )
Very well said… I used to have a parrots (1 Macaws, 1 Amazon) and they LOVED to be sprayed with a hose during hot summer – FLORIDA days… So I would take them outside in my driveway to do this. One day I get a damn letter from HOA – telling me that I am not allowed to do that… WTF.. I sold that house and moved the hell out of there. I will NEVER BUY AGAIN in a place that has HOA.
Best of luck to you with your new dog! Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
I really enjoyed reading your blog entry about artificial grass. I also believe indoor artificial grass is not a good choice not only does it make it more difficult to train a dog to be housebroken, it is also unsanitary as many dogs step in their own pee and poop. This is a detail many owners forget. I am glad you highlighted this point in your blog entry.
On a side note, I also believe artificial grass is not a good option for dog daycares either. I am the owner of a dog daycare and I am appalled by the amount of dog daycares that utilize artificial grass. Most dog daycares use indoor artificial grass as a marketing tool. They convince potential clients that if their dog attended their dog attended their dog daycare it is as good as being outside since they have grass. This marketing tool many dog daycares commonly use is creating both an unsanitary environment and teaching bad habits to dogs. I will be posting information at my dog daycare site about the issues with utilizing artificial grass. If anyone wants to find more information about this issue you may visit http://www.bostondog.co. I will also post new information specifically about this issue on http://www.bostondog.co/say-no-to-artificial-grass-as/. I would appreciate any support to inform other responsible dog owners about this issue. Many issues like this could be solved if responsible dog owners simply walked their dogs more frequently. My dog daycares avoid this issue by allowing dogs to go bathroom OUTSIDE as nature intended. Dogs in my care are walked every 2 hours to the park. I ask anyone who is interested to join the ban the fake grass campaign.
I was thinking of getting fake grass to put out on the porch outside so my pug puppy didn’t have walk through the snow because she hates the snow. Would it be better and try some puppy boots or something. I don’t think she is going to keep them on.
You will have to do whatever seems best for your situation. Personally, I would prefer to just shovel a path through the snow. You could try some dog booties. Most dogs hate them at first, but then they get used to them. If you go that route, get a pair that is as lightweight as possible. The heavier they are, the more difficult they are for the dog to accept.
My dog is a shih-tzu and will soon be 14. He has been showing signs of Cushing disease and his adrenals are enlarged per an ultrasound at the vet.
Though I don’t think his case is severe enough to warrant medication (yet), the increased peeing is starting to get more and more and more, so I thought about the fake grass. only because as a student and having a FT job, I am beginning to not be able to function on 3-4 interruptions a night with 90 mins to 2 hour ‘naps’ all night long. What’s your thought on this? Has anyone mentioned the scenario when they have a dog with Cushing disease?
Sorry to hear your dog is sick. Yes, I would think this might be a good option for your situation.
Charlie, I was in a similar situation last year. My JRT was 15, with chronic liver failure that resulted in increased urine production and increased frequency. She also was entering dementia and constantly begging to be let outside- like every 30 minutes. I wouldn’t have minded if we lived in a house with a yard, but we were on the fourth floor of an apartment building-with a balcony. Here is what I did: I built my own “potty patch” with real grass. I know its crazy- and everyone looked at me like I was crazy when I was getting supplies. I basically made a drainage system just like how the potty patch and other brands use, except I added a layer of rocks, soil, and then sod on top. It basically was like having a 3×4 grass garden on my balcony. Urine would flow through the grass, through the rocks, into the drainage catcher that had a hose connected and capped off. To “rinse it” I watered it thoroughly with the hose uncapped and inside a bucket that I just dumped down a shower drain-rinsed with soapy water of course. The grass turned brown from urine burn every now and then and I replaced it with a new square of sod. This way when she cried to go out to pee over and over throughout the night- I could wake up and take her to the balcony, let her pee, and go back to bed until it happened again. I didn’t have to put on a coat and boots and go down the elevator etc. We only ended up using it for about 3 months but it was one of the smartest weekend projects I ever did, even if it does sound excessive!
I meant to add that while my “real grass potty patch” was located on the balcony, it could easily be adapted for use indoors if you get creative. I feel your stress, I was a full time student at the time too- and it was a lot to handle when my best friend needed to pee all night.
Thanks for the info, Sarah!
Hi Lindsay
What do you think of fake grass in an outdoor dog run on the shaded side of a house? I have a client that wants to either put concrete or gravel and I thought the fake grass would at least be a softer place for a dog to lay down. Thanks.
I guess the only thing I would wonder about would be cleaning it. How easy would it be to clean, especially if the dog pees on it, and does this person want to spend time cleaning it?
My dog is 3 mths old she was going on grass mat like clock work I cleaned it with vinegar realized that was a no no then purchased another one she did fine for a week now wants to go anywhere but the Matt. WHAT IS HER DEAL its like she is worse any advice she is a 3 pound dog
She might be picky about the mat once it gets used, even though you are doing a good job cleaning it. Or she might not like the smell of the vinegar.
My daughter and her husband live in a pet-friendly apartment house. Too friendly. Within three weeks of obtaining their chihuahua/toy fox terrier mix, the poor puppy contracted internal parasites and fleas. It’s been a warm November and the fleas are still an issue here in the northeast. I should note that the puppy would eliminate outdoors before sundown if the weather is warm and dry benough. But as soon as it’s too cold or dark, whether he’s in a coat or not, he stands and shivers. He is also fearful of strange, large dogs. So I got the potty patch fake grass to try. Problem solved. The puppy runs to the grass mat and does his business even during play! He “holds” both until I get to him in the middle of the day, then I place him on or call him to the grass mat and he goes readily with no distractions. The puppy and his accessories (including the fake grass) and surroundings are all kept very clean. I think this also makes a difference.
What’s best for the dog is key. For this puppy at this time, and for this situation, this is the best solution.
At my house, where access to our yard is much easier, the puppy will go outside, readily finding his spot on his own and hurrying back to the door when he’s done. We plan to phase out the fake grass mat next summer when the couple is able to move into a house; otherwise for the health of the puppy, we will probably decide the grass mat should stay until a cleaner,safer outdoor environment is available.
Sounds like its working well! Best of luck with the pup! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I really am not the most animal-lover person on Earth (the only animal that I would care for is a fish because it does not make frumpy sounds and does not wake you up at night) but I think that just like kids, animals have the right o experience what its like in the outdoors, especially playing on natural turf. It’s like you’re getting rid of their right to play. So no matter what, I still want my dogs (if ever I decide in the future which I highly doubt) to play outside, plus, he will be like my exercise buddy so we gain both from the experience.
To me there’s many pros and cons to the fake grass. I have a 3lb yorkie and he goes outside to do his business but for times where it’s too cold or super rainy out he will go on his fake grass. He doesn’t do his duty everywhere in the house and prefers going outside. He doesn’t roll in his poop and pee, or eat it. He doesn’t kick it everywhere and does not lift his leg to pee on the wall either. Every dog is different. The fake grass has NOTHING to do with laziness, for me anyway cause I bring him outside every chance that I get and even though he has the fake grass, I still walk him and I still will not leave him for longer periods of time or treat it as though it’s a litter box and he’s a cat. He gets plenty of exercise, and plenty of attention. The fake grass is just a backup for really bad weather days. I also clean it regularly so it doesn’t smell. I personally love the fake grass. It’s convenient.
There was something that came on the market 15 years ago called PetWiz, for pets to do their business on. It is a plastic shaped curved mat with a grate on top. While it wasn’t perfect, I modified it and it did the job for me. My dog has never had to hold her pee and is now 15 years old and still pretty healthy for a dog that age. I must say that while I agree with some of your points, the fact is there ARE people who have dogs, who can’t always be home for them or are too busy to cater to their schedule 24/7 for 10+ years. It doesn’t mean they don’t love them or care about them. It simply means that they are busy.
Dogs are somewhat like babies who never grow up – in that respect – and a huge responsibiity, as well. Many dogs are abused, because they ARE left for long periods of time and either hold their bladders for too long, BECAUSE of such ‘excellent’ training, or because they will be punished for going on the carpet – EVEN IF they have been left too long. That ISN’T going to change.
The bottom line is this. For people like you, who are committed to your dog in every way and are willing to stay on a schedule with him/her for however long that dog may live – that’s wonderful. The problem is that there are many people who have dogs and simply don’t have the time or can’t always be there, yet they still love them and are providing a good home and shelter, otherwise. Sadly, there are more of these people than there are of you, and something like Pet Grass can be such a relief to have, when one is running late, or whatever the case may be.
In a perfect world, people would be on a perfect schedule with their animals, having chosen to do so, but we all know that is not the case. We do what we have to do to make things work and life for pet owner and dog is not wrapped up in a neat little package. Life happens in between.
So what I say is this. We could decide that people who do not have that constant daily vested time to be there for their dogs, but that hasn’t happened so far and is not going to happen any time soon. Therefore, the next best thing is to make sure your dog never has to feel as though there is nowhere for them to eliminate, should there be trouble for you to get home in time or whatever the case may be.
The fact is that perhaps there are many people with dogs who shouldn’t have them, simply because they don’t have the time, but they do anyway – so why not make life easier for both of them? I have a theory that my dog is still here, simply because she’s been able to eliminate when she’s needed to – just as people do. She’s never been constipated or had bladder infections. I’ve taken her to the vet 5 times in her whole life. Am I lucky – or is there something to this? Food for thought – at least.
That should have read
‘We could decide that people who do not have that constant daily vested time to be there for their dogs *should not own them*.
Although this is a website of reasons why not to buy fake grass for dogs to use, I need one for my patio. He doesn’t like going on the plain, concrete floor and it’s a big trouble if we have to leave and don’t have time to walk him. He refuses to go outside the patio to release, I don’t know why, probably because it has no grass or plants around in it. So, if I bought a Potty Patch, would it solve my problem? I’ll be placing the Potty Patch outside in the patio, not indoors. I need a resolution.. Any suggestions? Thanks.
I think it would work just fine. Each week move the Potty Patch a little closer to the desired area you want him to relieve himself, once the Potty Patch is in the desired location, leave it there for a while, then remove it. Your dog should run straight to that spot without the Potty Patch and take care of business.
Hope this helps!
The reason why I’m considering buying a fake grass thing is because the neighborhood we live isn’t that great n also my husband works nights. I’m afraid to take my 3dogs (2 which r puppies that r being potty trained) out that long at night alone.
i to fear late nite walks since i was followed by a pack of coyotes one night. did you know that dogs are allowed off leash in central park in NYC because it helps keep the crime down.
I would have to disagree. I have a chihuahua puppy that took right to the “fake grass” the very first day I brought it home, and I didn’t have to spray anything on it to attract her to it. She mainly uses it when I’m at work and at night instead of waking me up to go out. She is also learning that she would rather go outside than use the fake grass. I will admit that on rainy days she prefers the indoor “dry” grass rather than the wet outdoor grass.
As for your statement, “If the owner can’t train her dog to go to the bathroom outside…how will she train her dog to pee on fake grass? This will only encourage the dog to pee on carpet, rugs, couches and mattresses.” This is not true either. My puppy has NEVER peed or pooped on furniture. Yes, when I first got her she did pee and poo on the carpet and floor, but I have learned that dogs will pee and poo on anything that the owner allows them to continue to soil on, they see it as an acceptable place “to go” if the owner allows it.
Personally, I love the fake grass. When I’m at work and during the night she uses it without fail. And the cotton, or whatever they are made of, pee pee pads are not an option…she chews them up! Fake grass is a blessing, without it she would do her business on the hardwood floors and ruin them! I’m sure there are some cons to it, but I haven’t encountered any yet.
Jamie,
I agree! I have a 6 month old chihuahua and she took to the fake grass almost immediately. All puppies have a few accidents but mine adapted pretty well. She loves running to her potty when she wakes up in the morning. I still let her in the yard and walk her frequently. She is a well- rounded dog who can go inside or out and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I have actually trained our puppy to use the Potty Patch on our deck after training him to go outside because #1 our backyard is incredibly muddy. #2 he does not do well in the cold rain here in Seattle and #3 I worry about the coyotes in our neighborhood (and yes I put him on a leash but the coyotes around here are pretty brazen). When I discovered the potty patch even existed I was thrilled. Now Oliver can do his business on our deck when the weather is bad and/or it is dark outside. So for us, the Potty Patch has been a lifesaver.
My daughter has a tiny teacup chihuahua and is unable to care for her now due to a break up and long work hours so I now have her. She goes to the bathroom outside just fine but she gets cold so fast and sometimes won’t finish her business even when I stay out with her for 15 mins and walk around on no snowy areas. She has had 2 accidents inside because of this issue, not because she is not let out or taken for a walk 4 times a day. I live in a building on the 4th floor and have now gotten her the fake grass pad and keep it on the balcony so she can still associate bathroom business with the outdoors. I will let her go there until the snow is gone and the warmer weather comes along. So in my case it does serve a very good purpose, but it will not be her permanent bathroom place (only winter). I agree dogs need to be socialized and walked in the fresh air and do what dogs do outside.
I have a 2 yr old rescue dog that was neglected in his first home. Apparently, he was locked in his old owner’s basement for long periods of time. As a result, my dog has learned that it is ok to go to the bathroom in the basement. I only work part time so my dog is never left alone for long periods of time. I let him out frequently, play with him in the yard and walk him. He never will poop in the yard. The minute I go to work or fall asleep at night, he sneaks into the basement and poops multiple times. We have no door to our basement so I bought a baby gate. He figured out how to slip through the bars of our railings. I bought him a crate, he figured out how to open it on the second day. I guess I could tie the crate shut but I’m worried about him hurting himself trying to bust out. I don’t know what to do anymore. I was thinking about the grass patch only because I’m out of options. Does anyone have any ideas of advice? Thank you!!
So sad about your pup and his past experience
But good for you for rescuing him! What I would do is figure out a way to keep him from busting out of his crate. Maybe buy a heavy duty lock or something to keep the door from opening. My little puppy goes MENTAL trying to get out of his crate. He has scratched at the metal bars so hard that the paint has come off. Ugh. Prior to my puppy we had a big lab who would also do the same. Crate training in my opinion is a wonderful way to teach (or re-teach) a dog where you would like for him/her to relieve themselves because they will hold their bladder which is to your advantage when potty training. I hope that helped you ♥
Thank you! Ill try the crate again.
I agree with Monica. The crate is such a good tool for housebreaking or re-housebreaking a dog. Or what about leaving the dog in a bathroom or bedroom? Will he have accidents there?
I would also recommend long walks so he is more likely to go to the bathroom outside. Reward! Reward! Reward!
And of course, stick to a schedule so he eats at the same time every day and you can more easily predict when he has to go.
Hi all:
While I agree that most doggies do not get enough exercise or are allowed to experience enough dog/human interaction, my situation is different relative to the fake grass patch.
My Abby is an 18.5 year old mixed breed. She has had a wonderful life with us and her buddy who passed away 2 years ago at the age of 16 years. She is physically in amazing shape…sleek, shiny, great appetite, very,very few accidents and still loves long walks in the woods.
Our problem is that she will not allow anyone besides me, my hubby or my daughter near her to hook on the leash to take her out. This is a recent development which we attribute to her failing hearing and eyesight….age in general. We had a puppy sitter coming in at lunch time but he gave up his business and so we were forced to look for someone else. We hired a darling lady but Abby would have no part of it. We are talking fear here….not billigerence. And, at this stage in her life, I will not put her at risk nor will I risk her biting or snapping at someone else. So, we are going to try the fake grass patch. Our plan is to have our buidling super (we live in a condo) come in and open the patio door to the deck where the patch will be (the deck is small and secure)…he can then leave and come back in an hour or so to close the door.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with choosing the method most comfortable for Abby at this juncture. I will not crate her….never have…never will.
I really hope this works. It will be far less trauma for Abby and,hence, peace of mind for us.
Anyone who has any suggestions, please feel free. And thanks for reading this.
Lucy
I hope it works! Good luck, and I hope Abby has many happy days ahead. This is probably an option I would consider as well if I were in the same situation and couldn’t get home often enough to take her outside.
Maybe my ‘ at least my dog has a home’ is a poor excuse for leaving my dog home alone for 9 hours every day but you do what you have to. The dog belonged to my elderly Mother. She’s gone but I promised her I would give the dog a home. Your one sized fits all problem solving doesnt work for everyone in the real world. Yes he’s a pain in the ass and wets on my hard woods every day and they are ruined. But I wont break a promise to my dying Mother.
I actually don’t agree with all of these, but that is only because my current situation doesn’t really relate to these.
My pug puppy is 5 months old and we use potty pads for him because he can only go outside while being supervised because the backyard is no good for him. We have to take him into the front yard. He will sometimes use the potty pads and sometimes he will just go on the floor. However, he loves to potty on grass and dirt. As soon as he steps foot outside, he potties right away.
He does not lift his leg, he has never eaten his poop off the pad or from outside, and he very clearly prefers the grass. He isn’t left at home alone for a long time, but he lives with my boyfriend and his parents (We are still young and live with our parents) and my boyfriend’s mom won’t take him outside to potty. So oftentimes he has to go potty indoors until we take him on his regular trip to the park when my boyfriend gets off work at around 4:00 pm. However, I can definitely see how your points can fit some situations. Also, I don’t know why some people got so offended by your post. It isn’t like they are being FORCED to take your tips. Have a good one!
I had to laugh at your last sentence. It is funny how people get so offended by this. It’s just fake grass we’re talking about! Come on, people!
I have a unique problem my dogs were use to a doggy door but for three months we live in a apt w no real outlet for walking. So we have a problem of doin their business, what can we do? We tried the patch thing that was a bust. Use pads, they kinda work. But not always. Help!
I’m not sure I understand the problem. Is there no grass for them to pee on outside? Or are you dealing with a housebreaking problem?
I have 2 dogs and have recently moved into a rental basement suite and am not allowed by the landlords to use their backyard because their kids play there. We had a backyard in the last 2 places we lived. Not glowing yards, but good for emergencies. I work from home and get my dogs out 3-4 times a day, often including hikes. Both of my dogs are adopted and one of them is an outright rescue. She has a lot of issues, including nervousness. Sometimes she won’t want to come out for our nightly walk but then will cry because she has to #2 in the middle of the night. Usually that’s when I’d get up and go in the backyard with her. We have stairs going down to our entrance and I was thinking of putting down some artificial grass for her emergencies and mine (I have a serious health condition). What I’d like to know is how receptive are dogs to this artificial grass? My dogs are 6 and 8, potty trained, leash trained, everything trained except for nervous behaviour that we’re rehabbing and working on. Will dogs automatically go on this artificial grass or will I have to train them to go on it? Also, on a side note, the article written about reasons to not use the grass mentions laziness. I’d like to add that crate-training is also a form of laziness and before the crate craze dog guardians were able to potty train and provide safe environments for their dogs for years.
I personally LOVE the fake grass for my dog. I have a 6 month old min pin. I live on the fifth floor in my building that does not allow dogs, also there is no were around to take her out in my area. My dog was potty trained two days after I got her with potty mats. Problem was that the mats slide around and soak threw to the floor if she goes pee a lot.Also she would tear the mats apart clean or dirty, dragging it allover. I bought two grass potties for her and she loves them. I placed scented potty pads under the grass to absorb the urine so not to fill the bottom and spill it when cleaning it. I pick up the poo right away and clean the grass every two weeks. My dog still gets out to go on walks and the dog park, she does not eat her own poop and it was the simplest to train her on because she immediately used and the moment I laid it down and no problems since. The grass is a life saver for dog owners.
I think that this article is missing the point. I don’t know how many people would be using this product to stop taking their dog outside, but I don’t think that’s what most people would be using it for. I am currently raising a puppy in the winter of Wisconsin. The ground outside is usually covered in snow or a bunch of slop. It is always freezing outside. While I would love to have my puppy go potty outside it’s not really feasible right now. We are using potty pads, but when we take the pup outside on nice days he doesn’t get that he’s supposed to potty out there. Using an indoor grass patch to potty train your pup is probably a much better solution. Not only can he distinguish where he is supposed to potty from other places, but he will also get somewhat used to what going outside would be like. I haven’t tried an indoor grass patch yet, but I am leaning towards it because my pup cannot tell the difference between a potty pad on a floor and the floor itself.
I am wanting to get one to put on our covered porch for when it is raining. Our Chihuahua will not go to the bathroom on his walks while it is raining. So, he ends up pooing in the house and a couple of times he has peed. So, I am thinking of getting one for inclement weather. I would still put him on his leash and take our walks and try. But if he refuses I thought this would be a good alternative. What do you think? This is our first dog, so I am new to this. Thank you!
I’ve taken care of little dogs that also don’t want to go to the bathroom in the rain. What I do is walk them until they go, so usually a good half hour. I do this shortly after they eat. If they don’t go, then I put them in their kennels or keep them on a leash near me so I can supervise.
I have fake grass half a yard is fake and its wonderful. I foster and have 9 dogs if I had real grass I would have a yard of mud. With the Doggier Grass I hose it off when its dirty, put a cleaner on it once in awhile and there is no smell. Even in the hottest time of year. Its a life saver for me. All mine are potty trained outside. I paid $7,000 for it but its wonderful. Its been 6 years now and shows no sign of wear. No grass to cut, no fleas and no weeds. I dont know what kind of grass others have but the doggy grass I have is a lifesaver for me. My dogs act like its real grass. Never had a problem with any of them using it. It is not indoor grass but its called doggie grass like astro turff but only better!
Interesting!
This doesn’t prove much of anything. What about potty pads? Are those a “lazy” invention too? What about litter boxes?
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