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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No I do not suggest the fake indoor grass.
I suggest you take her outside every hour or so and reward her with her favorite treats immediately when she goes outside (pieces of chicken, hotdogs, etc). Then, when you are gone and at night put her in a kennel. I know you may not want to do this, but think of it as a temporary training tool. Within a few months you will be able to trust her not to go to the bathroom in the house. But you do want to do something right now before it becomes even more of a habit for her. Here is a post I wrote on dog housetraining:
http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/
Good luck with your pup and be patient!
Also, cleaning with vinegar and water is meant to get the odor out, but it won’t necessarily deter a dog from going in the same area again.
Thank you for your input. Funny thing is, when I go out which is only for a few hours, she is perfect. She finds a place to sleep and doesn’t come out. Yes, I do believe she doesn’t like to be alone and is afraid of the dark, but she doesn’t bark or play or have any bathroom habits. When I do take her out, first thing in the morning, it’s like she half pees, because she will pee a whole puddle when she comes back in and that’s after walking her. She has free reign to go, but holds it. Then I take her out after she eats or I see her circling and she sometimes goes but mostly goes down the hall and poops near the door in the same place all the time.
She goes out the other door normally. She then will bark at me, so I’m going to assume she is a little backwards right now with trying to let me know after the fact. But also when I take her out she would rather nip and jump my legs and that is aggravating, so i take a lightweight flyswatter and just wave it beside me so she stays clear. Yes, she knows when I wave it at her that she isn’t to do this but I guess at 3 months she will be a bit hard to train. Patience is what I need. I will continue to do the half to an hour outdoor times and will reward. Thank you.
I recommend keeping her on a leash at all times indoors when you are home so you can keep her right by you at all times and catch her the instant she starts to go to the bathroom indoors, or before she goes. And continue to take her outside every hour when you are home, just for a minute or two and reward her every time she goes where you want her to go.
Good luck!
To the people who commented that owning dog grass is lazyiness and those people should never own a dog at all — have you ever owned or cared for a dog with a chronic disease requiring daily steroid and chemotherapy drug treatment?
Our dog is 6 years old and has a chronic condition requiring daily steroids and sometimes chemotherapy drug treatment. NO need to put her down, the disorder can be treated and she lives well.
Laziness? Shouldn’t own a dog? The resulting steroid treatment means my dog drinks enormous amounts of water and pees a ton. Taking her out every 2 hours doesn’t work all the time– because when she needs to go, she needs to go. We get up every couple hours to let her out at night, but she stills needs to go.
This fake grass has been a lifesaver, while we work as well. She can pee during the day and is NOT left outside in the elements, chained, fenced, etc. She is not stuck in a garage. She lives in the home.
Laziness? Now that she is under treatment and feeling better, she is back to running, as she is part working dog, which we do with her 2-3 times a day.
Laziness is throwing your dogs in the backyard to do their business and never walking them. Laziness is forgetting your dog exists and never playing with them. Laziness is not caring for your dog properly or not getting them medical attention as necessary. Laziness is putting a dog down when the condition is treatable, because well “you don’t want to deal with all the extra things one needs to do.” That is laziness.
Fake grass is an answer to owners with dogs that have medical needs.
To the person that claimed “we shouldn’t own a dog because we own fake grass” — would you spend almost $10,000 on your dog to find a cure, would you get up every 2 hours, would you prepare special foods, buy expensive drugs, run 2-3 times a day with your dog, etc. etc…..
…we SHOULD own a dog because we care and we treat our dog better than most people “without fake grass”.
..
I’m very sorry to hear what your dog has gone through. I’m glad to hear you are so dedicated to her and that she is doing better. I appreciate your comment.
I can only speak for myself, but when I say indoor grass for dogs is lazy, I am not referring to senior dogs with bladder control issues or any dog that has a medical issue. I’m referring to the average lazy person who doesn’t even bother taking the dog outside, let alone on a walk. I had a 7-year-old golden retriever with an immune system disease, and if we did not carry her outside to go to the bathroom and hold her up, she had no choice but to go on the floor exactly where she was lying. Indoor grass could have been an option for us, especially if we didn’t have fairly easy access to outdoor grass.
Thanks again for your comment, and I hope your dog continues to do better.
I have to use piddle pads and am trying to teach my pup to use the fake grass. The main reason is that I’m visually impaired and mostly wheelchair bound. This means that I can’t walk more than maybe thirty steps before I collapse in pain. I do take my dog for walks, but I break it up into little chunks throughout the day. She gets about an hour total of walking exercise, and always, always is in her crate at night. I’m not lazy at all, I just have a legit reason for using the indoor solutions. I must say, it took long enough to get the little one to use the pad, but once she figured out what it was for she’s using it now.
I don’t hold it against you at all for using the pads or fake grass. Sounds like the perfect way to go for you and your dog.
I don’t agree that fake grass means that the owner is lazy. It offers a great substitute in the event that the dog can’t be taken out in time to go because they are too busy caring for their children… Not everyone with piddle pads or grass patches is lazy and ignores their dogs. I am a stay at home mother and we have a small dog, but I can’t always get him out in time and it’s good for him to have a safe place to go when that happens.
Thanks for your comments, Candra. I really hit a nerve with you.
Of course there are many good dog owners who use puppy pads, indoor dog potties, etc. These dog owners love their pets very much. However, I see a lot of dogs through my pet sitting business. Most small dogs are not 100 percent housebroken, and the ones that are trained to go on these potty pads are the worst. Most will pee on pillows, rugs or right next to anything that resembles the puppy pad. They don’t even go right on them.
It may not be laziness. It could be a lack of understanding on how to potty train a dog. But what I see are a lot of confused little dogs. They think it’s perfectly OK to go to the bathroom anywhere in the house.
if you do not believe in the potty patch you obviously have never had a use for it. I, myself own a three year old pom-shi tzu. She is fully house trained but in the winter or rainy weather she refuses to go outside. Lazy is not the right word for this situation. No other choice is the right phrase for my situation. My dog knows how to ask to go outside but when conditions aren’t absolutely perfect she dawdles and dawdles and dawdles. I have a two year old little boy and i simply cannot wait a half an hour outside for her to decide she isnt going to go anyways. Every day I deal with my child reaching into his diaper and pulling out poop as well as my dog asking to go out several times only to go on my carpet. If you think this is something i want in my life you are sadly mistaken. What i would like is a happy medium and the potty patch may be my last resort. I have been very focused on this issue and ‘lazy’ is certainly not who i am.
I am glad that the potty patch works for your situation. You absolutely need to put the safety of your child first.
I’m glad to hear that you have a potty trained dog, although my definition of a potty trained dog is a dog that will not go to the bathroom in the house even if it’s cold outside. And from my experience, if someone has to defend that she is not lazy, she is usually lazy.
Every reason you listed is based off of your opinion. You state no legit facts as to why the fake grass wouldn’t work. I work from 8 to 4 or 5 Monday through Friday, and I don’t have the time to take my dog to the bathroom as much as I should. I have a fake grass pad, and I put it on the balcony of my apartment, and when I get home from work and I’m tired and don’t feel like taking my dog down the stairs and to the grass area I simply open my sliding door, let him go the the bathroom, and then bring him back in.
It’s much moor convenient then taking him downstairs. And when I do take my dog downstairs, he will stand around and stiff out the other dogs that have been there before. With the grass patch he has no reason to mark his territory. You say it would be hard to teach a dog how to pee on fake grass? The same way you teach them anything else! He pees on the grass, he gets a treat. Repeat this like you do with any other trick. They might step in there own poop? Like they wouldn’t do that outside? This fake grass is bringing outside, inside.
Your ten reasons are opinion, not fact. I bet you haven’t even used or even tried it before. You are an idiot. And by the way, I have a 4-pound champion pure bread teacup Chihuahua and he has been fake grass trained since he was born. Instead of potty pads, he used fake grass. It took me 2 and a half months before he was done going to the bathroom in the house. Anyone who thinks these 10 reasons are true, you are an idiot as well.
Wow, you are smart and figured out that every one of these reasons is based on my opinions!
I also wrote a post on 10 reasons why fake grass for dogs is GREAT! http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/18/10-reasons-to-buy-fake-indoor-grass-for-your-dog/
I just read that one as well. And once again your 10 reasons are all opinionated! You clearly have never used the fake grass before! And how are you going to write about how bad it is, but then how good it is. Obviously you wrote the “10 reasons to buy fake indoor grass for your dog” after you wrote this one. Because you contradict yourself in every reason you listed! Do you even own a dog? Or are you just a loser that is a critic about something they don’t have any experience with?
Not sure why you are so offended over something as silly as fake grass for dogs. Glad I could bring out some passion in you. Thanks for your comments.
Just to clarify, I’m not offended. I just can’t believe how STUPID SOME PEOPLE ARE, SUCH AS YOURSELF!
And might I add, all your reasons as to why fake grass is good/bad are stupid! All you have to say is it’s bad because the dog owners are lazy. Or there good because some dogs have bladder control problems and whatever else you said. They are much easier and much, much, much more convenient than any option for taking your dog to the bathroom. And it isn’t being lazy, it’s being smart.
It is much easier to allow the dog to pee on some grass in the house than to walk it down some stairs and take it into the yard. Couldn’t agree more.
And yet you wrote 10 reasons as to why you couldn’t agree. MORON!!
Of course it’s easier to let the dog pee in the house.
First off, I agree with one thing here, the fake grass is not practical. Due to the acute sense of smell of a dog, they will not go in the same place twice, and you as the owner can not see how many pee spots they have on it. Inevitably, they will pee on the floor to avoid the same spot, plus the disgusting chance of them walking in it, because they can’t see it either. So basically like most products out there, it’s a money wasting gimmick. Secondly, anyone who can’t train their small dog to a “pee pad” is lazy/inconsistant/ and/or doesn’t have adequate time to own a dog.
The statement pertaining to small breeds and exercise – they don’t have nearly the same exercise needs that large breed dogs require, that’s why they are perfect for people who live in condos or apartments and are a perfect candidate for ‘pee pad’ training. They are too tiny to be rigorously exercised anyway. A nice walk out of doors is great, of course. My dog refuses to use it outside, will hold it until we get home and go on her pad. You don’t give dogs enough credit. They are like children and will do what you teach them, but you have to be consistant as with anything/anyone.
It is inaccurate to say that indoor training will encourage a dog to pee on every given thing in your home. I have a 2-year-old Chihuahua, and she was completely ‘pee pad’ trained in a week and only had occasional accidents on the floor for a few months after. And the only reason she made mistakes on my carpet from time to time was because of the tenants before me who owned pets. I was vigilant and made sure she had a ‘pee pad’ in my room and the living room until she was old enough to understand where to go.
I take her on trips to pet friendly hotels, throw down a pee pad and she goes on it and no where else. If I throw away her pad, get distracted, and forget to put one back down right away, she will wait until I do, usually pacing and barking for a few minutes until I get the message. I will give a quick tip here, though, my success is due in part to the size and type of ‘pee pads’ I use. Most people make the giant mistake of buying the dog training pads. BIG MISTAKE. You have to buy the “chuck” or “under” pads that are used in hospitals for elderly people and mother’s whom of which have just had a baby. They are a lot less expensive and so much better. My dog is eight pounds and I use the XL 30×36 “Assurance” brand.
The other thing is that in order to have success, you must have a home that only has carpet in the bedrooms or to place a pad in a giant kennel crate with a plastic floor that slides in and out. Like in any situation regarding owning a pet, you have to ask yourself the big question, “am I truly prepared to have this animal in my care?” “Will I be giving it quality of life, and will I be meeting its needs not just my own?” Because like I said, they are very similar to having a baby, you have to be willing, able and really prepared to adjust your lifestyle for them.
Kelly, the problem is that most dog owners (owners of small dogs in particular) are not as dedicated as you. First of all, they don’t know how to train their dogs to use the pads and second, they don’t bother to learn. So the dogs do end up peeing all over because they never learn quite what to do. Obviously the pads work great for you and your dog. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I agree that they shouldn’t be left alone for more than eight hours a day, especially Chihuahuas. You have to get a pair if you’re going to be gone long hours. I have the luxury of working inside the home and always have. My reasons for pad training are:
1. I live on the third floor of a condo.
2. She is too little to be outside all the time, and she eats everything she finds on the ground which upsets her fragile tummy.
3. She doesn’t have to wait for me to take her down an elevator at 5 a.m. in freezing cold weather because Chihuahuas hate the cold.
4. She has allergies.
It’s not what I would do or recommend but clearly it’s working for you and your dog.
I just recently got an 8-month old puppy, and we’re beginning to potty train him. We just recently took him to go get his first shots and we mentioned to the vet that there are a lot of dogs in our apartment and that their owners do not clean up after them. He mentioned that since our puppy is not immune to much right now without his vaccinations, that it might be better to have him go inside on pads until he gets all his shots. I want to get him the fake grass because I feel so bad having him pee on pads, when later I’m going to train him to go outside. I really just want to put the grass on my patio and have him go there. What do you recommend?
I recommend taking him outside. He will be fine. You do NOT want an great dane thinking he can go to the bathroom indoors.
If you think you must use the fake grass or pads, I highly recommend putting fake grass on your patio rather than anything indoors.
Well, while I am against getting fake grass and the habits that owners pick up with the potty pads, I’m not against the pads themselves. I’m considering getting my Frenchie one, modify it and put real grass in it for our outdoor patio. Simply for potty training purposes, since I live on a second floor apartment. But, I also take him for two to four short walks a day (cooler hours, of course). Now, I wouldn’t only let him go outside on this, I would still take him downstairs to go to the bathroom. The potty pad would simply be for quick accidents and getting him to learn grass is where he goes. Many, many, many years of potty training various dogs has imprinted good owner habits, living on a second floor apartment makes it a little harder, but not impossible.
I trust that you know what you’re doing. I still don’t recommend it, but I’m sure you can make it work for you and your dog.
I would like to leave a comment for all the judgemental people who think people are nasty because they let their dogs use the bathroom in the house or in litter boxes/potty pads, etc. I have a toy Yorkie and he has severe allergies as if one flea gets on him it drives him crazy and he about scratches/chews a hole in his skin and throws up. He also has allergies like humans do when going outside. We can not use Frontline or any other products on him to keep the fleas off. He is also on special food for his allergies, and we use special soap when we bath him. I have the URGO and it works great! He does not get confused about where to go, and he will also go outside if needed as well. My house is very clean and does not smell like dog at all. Grown men and women pee on floors and toliet seats all the time cause they are too lazy to hit the hole, so I would much rather clean up after a small dog verses a grown human! Now, if I were a dog abuser I would be taking him outside to let him get sick. So people should really keep their own opinion, because I am sure people have their reasons for not letting the little dogs go outside to potty.
I disagree. Although you may have good reasons to use an indoor bathroom for your dog (although I’m not convinced), the majority of people who use these products really are lazy and should probably not be dog owners.
We used puppy pads to train our puppies when they were little. We also used newspaper in their whelping box. The puppy pads worked great. I was concerned to take them outside until they were old enough to have their first set of shots, and soon after was a very cold winter. At first, I was concerned about all the other animals in the neighborhood giving them parvo as we had a puppy pass away many years ago from the disease. Thankfully, we had no problem getting them to go outside when the time came, and they much preferred it. We also did not have any problem with the puppies mistaking other things for their puppy pads. Though they did prefer a certain brand. Recently we adopted a new puppy and have had him for almost a year now. He does very well going outside, but no matter how late we take him out, he will go before he is let out in the morning. He also likes to lay in his pee for some odd reason, so we have to bathe him constantly. I am hoping the grass pad works for him during the night. He has been to the vet, and their is no reason he should still be doing this. I am sure some people might feel it is laziness to use such a product, but sometimes their is not much of an alternative. I, for one, would like to stop waking up to a mess every morning, and I feel it is much more sanitary than having it on the floor that my family and kids share. Any advice is appreciated.
If he is not sleeping in a kennel at night, I would recommend that. Usually dogs do not want to eliminate in their kennels. This dog may be an exception though, since he has no problem lying in his pee.
And have you tried getting up once in the middle of the night to take him out? What if you did this for a month every night just to see if it made a difference? The goal would be for him to eventually make it through the entire night so you wouldn’t have to get up.
The fake grass may be an option. I do hope it works, but I am not so sure it will. I agree that it would be a better option than cleaning up after your dog every morning.
And finally, I am curious as to why you are calling this dog a puppy when you’ve had him for more than a year and he has to be at least a year old. This is going to sound odd, but if you think of him as a dog, he might start acting like a dog and not a puppy. Dogs do pick up on our subconscious feelings and act accordingly. Obviously I’m making assumptions here based on one comment and we have never met, but it’s just a thought.
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I think what has happened here is that your wording has obviously got some people out there butt hurt lol. I agree about using the grass but disagree about it being indoors. I put the grass on the patio while i go to work and my chiuahua uses it like so. He also walks while he poops whichis annoying lol but i have the long strip so it doesnt go off the grass..
There isnt any need to get so upset its just an opinion. Im sure everyone knows that they are good owners or whatever.. especially those that let their ‘babies’ use the potty inside.. i salute those people due to having been trained by their dogs to pick up their mess.
So in summery, grass good when outside on balcony, and opinions shouldnt get so many people butt hurt lol
Haha! Glad it’s working out for your situation, Marie. Thanks for your comment.
And that dude Josh needs a chill pill lol
Yeah, no kidding! Haha!
Well, stumbling on this article quoting 10 reasons not to use the fake grass, I had to read. I live on the top floor of a highrise and recently rescued a 2 1/2 year old mother Chihuahua and her four <1 week old pups just over 2 months ago. Yep, 5 dogs all at once. Best thing is, I haven't had a dog since I was <10 years old, his name was Prince, he was hit by a car and left me quite emotionally scarred. He was an outside dog, as they all seemed to be back in the 70s. Plus, I'm an asthmatic with a severe dog/cat/fur allergy. So, yea, pets were never on the top of my list of things to get.
But getting these 5 babies was one of the best things to ever happen to me. When I got them they were covered in fleas and the mother was shaved nearly bald. Got to the vet and everybody cleaned up and they are the most amazing part of my life. During the initial phase where the mother was taking care of their excretions, they eventually became mobile and would use the weewee pads, but I also found them tracking and walking through it as well, so I searched for an alternative – finding these fake grass relief stations. I wasn't sure it would work – I mean they were a couple weeks old, right?
Momma was already housebroken and I took her out on a very regular basis with great reward each time to ensure her ongoing happiness. Plus, being on the 35th floor, it's a long way up and down to the opposite end of the building, blah blah, but we had a great time – in fact during very early or late hours, I'd take off her leash for a bit, and she'd run and run all the way to the entry door, awaiting me to get there and go home. So cute.
So, I got the grass. I put it directly in front of their communal bed and used the Puppy Training spray on it – and they figured it out right away. Then over the course of the next week, I slowly moved the grass further and further away from the bed. They came along, but some of them decided they only needed to put their front paws on the grass in order to pee – and we all know how my floor felt about that.
Getting them used to a leash has been my biggest problem, and working 10 hours a day, it's also a time crunch thing – I come home every day at lunch to feed them and play for a half an hour. I spend my entire evening and time before work with them. But training them one at a time is going to require so much time and effort – and I feel that being gone for 4-6 hours sometimes in one shot isn't fair to them at such an early stage of training and development – so they have their grass on the balcony and they have their grass in their room, enclosed under a desk where they knowingly go – and if momma really has to relieve herself, she understands she can do so on the grass as well.
In general, they don't pee anywhere else. Not in my bed, not on the rugs in the kitchen (unless left unattended for an extended period) or living room.
The grass itself is soaked in bleach twice a week so there is never any real odor build up of anykind and I use doggie doo bags to pickup their droppings as quickly as possible. Thankfully, I only had a problem with one of the pups eating excrement, and we were able to stop that. They are great dogs.
So, I hope to slowly get them more trained to go outside with Momma, but until then, these have provided me with a great solution that is efficient in usage and maintenance.
Sounds like it’s working and that’s great. Thanks for taking in this family of dogs. I hope it continues to go well.
Lindsay,
I believe you should have posted this with the title, ” 10 reasons why I would not use fake grass for my 65 pound dog, I know nothing about the product.”
Your reply’s to individuals are rude and hateful. You are discussing your personal issues with your 65 pound dog. When posting a blog you might not want to start out by calling individuals lazy.
I am sure your dog is an angel.
Get a grip. It’s just fake grass we’re talking about. If you want to use it for your dog, go right ahead.
Lindsey,
By now you probably have noticed people get real touchy when you call them out to be lazy self absorbed little know it alls. Which is why I keep reading your posts LOL! Personally I feel your reasons are 100% correct, as I stated earlier my Chiuahua uses the grass on the porch but it doesn’t compare to the real thing. I can see that he reacts better to being in the yard when I take him. I think maybe people need to take a step back and just confess that they are lazy..
Hell I’m lazy. That little bastard wakes me up at 7 A.M sharp to pee and sometimes I just dont feel like walking my ass downstairs to take him to the yard. I just open the balcony and leave the screen open to he can let himself back in so I can sleep. LOL. I love him though. But realisticly we are lazy, we know this when we buy the grass and we use it because we are eiather horrible disciplinarians or because we dont want to get up out of bed (me) Eiather way some people want to try to justify themselves, but you can’t.
Smaller dogs, big dogs, dis-abled dogs, dogs that possibly could get eatten by something.. None of which will take place or need grass if we all got up and went out with the animal 30 mins after eating/drinking with a leash. We can do it, but wont because this product has made it so we dont have to. Say it like it is people. lol If this product never existed would you have designated a rug as a potty…? Just curious..
Honestly, if I lived in an apartment in a city where I had to walk down several flights of stairs or take an elevator and then walk even more to some grass and I had a small dog, I would probably have grass on my balcony as well. Because let’s face it, we are all lazy!
Do you know how lazy I am? All I have to do is put my dog’s leash on, open my back door and take one step outside to our yard to let him pee. My neighbors are even lazier because they just tether the dogs out there. They don’t even stand out there with the dog. So, I like your point that we are all a little lazy!
@ LACE. Its called a blog for a reason. Because she can post whatever she damn well pleases. You are reading her blog, her opinions, her thoughts.. and are offended by it. So write a blog about it
lmao oh and turn your parental filter on so you wont be ‘offended’ by the other 15 million+ blogs posts and pages that might hurt your feelings.
Sincerly,
The Internet
Well said, Marie!
you are an idiot. Seriously, get a life.
That’s a way to prove your point! Call the person an idiot!
Some people actually need to work for a living and their dogs cant be taken out during the day. And some people cant afford a “dog sitter” and cant “come home on their breaks”.
YOU ARE A FUCKING IDIOT!
Get a job and stop posting stupid IGNORANT SHIT!
Jen. Why the hell do you even have a dog then? It sounds like you either can’t afford to care for it or you don’t have time. Your probably the same person that posts her animals on Craig’s list saying they have to find their ‘baby’ a good home by the end of the week or else they will go to the aspca.. oh and there’s a $250 removing fee. Stop being such a bitch
Perfectly good reasons to use fake indoor grass:
http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/18/10-reasons-to-buy-fake-indoor-grass-for-your-dog/
I’m sure you have a reason.
I live in upstate NY border with Canada and in winter months we get a lots of snow 4,6, feet of it, the temp drop below 0 to often. I am considering the fake grass for that reason. i have 2 chihuahuas and a big fenced back yard but they are so small that their little feet get frozen within minutes sometimes it take less them a minute and they can not walk and it is painful to them, so i have to pick them up and bring them inside. I am not lacy, just concern for my babies. But thank u to all cuz i have learned alot from this blog. Thank u Lindsay
PS i do shove a large area for them to go, its more the cold and add the wind to it freezzzzziiiing lol
You gotta do what you gotta do! I live in Fargo, N.D., so I totally get what you are saying about the cold and snow! I know you will do what is best for your little ones.
Well I thought this blog would convince me NOT to purchase the indoor grass; however after reading all these comments, and asking my VET and my trainer, I am sorry Lindsay, but purely from a debate perspective (and education, unless you, too are a vet), you lose this argument. In fact, I am grateful to hear the success stories from the other people who have trained their dogs successfully to use this. I am about to move into a high-rise in an urban neighborhood. Midnight runs (so to speak) for my dog outside – not so safe. Having a small dog I love who gets to go outside MOST of the time? Priceless. And, no offense, but I’ll take my vet’s advice over that of a mere dog walker/sitter.
You gotta do what you gotta do.
Ugh… what is it with you people? Gia.. nobody asked you to take her advice. You clicked on this damn link. If you had prior recommendations from your vet about this topic then why are you looking here for opinions? Because that is what they are, duh. Pull your head out of your ass. And I’m more then positive your lying about the vet advice, seeing as every vet I know suggests a dog to be trained to go outside to potty, including myself, a vet tech with 6 years expierence
Thanks, Marie! I have yet to come across a vet who will recommend fake grass, but I’m sure there’s one out there somewhere. Dog owners will do what they want to do, regardless.
Because there isn’t a vet alive who cares about their creditability that would suggest this product. All vets suggest outdoors as a sanitation issue, and a mental strain for your dog! The dog sees the pad but if it’s left inside he only sees a soft high area which is okay to pee.. so what’s next? Your bed? Their beds? No one considers the dogs weak mental ability to distinguish his potty pad from other normal soft household items. Just admit your lazy, don’t lie about your vet telling you that it’s the right thing to do, And be a damn adult. Take responsibility or at least fess up to your laziness, there is no harm in that.
Boy, some of you guys are mean! I have fake grass on my balcony. There is a doggy door. I’m home 24/7, but I’m too lazy to even get up and let them out on a regular schedule, perhaps because I’m disabled. I have two small Bichon-type dogs that, besides having to let themselves out to potty, are spoiled rotten. Poops are picked up daily, and I put pee pads under the grass which are changed every couple of days. Usually. Remember, I’m lazy and disabled so I might miss a day…or two. The fake grass is soaked in a detergent and rinsed off every week or so. “Or so,” is probably most accurate. I think it’s cleaner than the grass downstairs where everybody else takes their dogs to potty. I know that it’s cleaner than the sidewalks of Manhattan which is where I used to have to take my dog out…no grass in sight that you were allowed to let your dog use. BTW: For a while, I used to buy a 2′x5′ piece of sod from Home Depot or a nursery every week. I had one of those under-bed plastic storage boxes, rigged up some screens for the grass to sit on and put a bunch of pee pads underneath. It was just too difficult to go buy the sod, and too gross to change it and try to lug this huge, pee-filled chunk of dirt to the trash. Admittedly, it’s really disgusting to soak the fake grass and rinse the trays in my tub, but I sterilize afterwards.
Liza you remind me of my great grandmother… she put alot. Of love and care for her animals despite whatever problems she had physically. I want to go ahead and applaud you for taking such good care of your babies. I speak as someone who is lazy, and I too use the grass on my patio even though I am perfectly able to walk myself downstairs and outside my apartments with my Chihuahua. The thing is, Lindsey is early stating her thoughts and ideals. I think she’s done one he’ll of a job patiently defending her opinions despite having been attacked by almost every poster. So I feel the need to back her up, in my own rude sort of way, lol. When I work in shelters I see dogs all the time so confused about things, for good reason. I stand by what I said, I have not known a colleague here in the Harris county area that would recommend this grass, though I am also ignorant to the ways of your area
Marie, I always love your comments!
Marie… Neither of my dogs have any problem distinguishing the carpet, sofa, or my bed from the fake grass. When I’m in a hotel or other situation requiring a pee pad, their mental ability is also not so weak that they can’t distinguish pee pads from the carpet or furnishings. The one issue I have is that one dog does prefer to poop (not pee) on concrete on the balcony, if it is available to her. But she also doesn’t have a problem distinguishing the concrete from hardwood or tile floors inside. My vets have all thought pee pads or fake grass is fine, and I’m sure at least one of them cares about their credibility. Of course, ALL we people and our vets are “fake” plastic nuts and flakes in the Hollywood/Beverly Hills area…and, I suppose, in Manhattan, too.
Thanks for sharing your side, Liza. Obviously this system is working fine for your little ones except for the pooping issue from the one dog. Could you just go back to the basics and have him on a leash when he goes so you can control him? And reward when he does go in the correct spot? That would be my suggestion.
It am neither for or against fake grass – I can see how it can be useful – but it’s also easy to know that many people will just abuse it. Such as being lazy and not walking their dogs. You are entitled to you opinions, and the original post of 10 reasons are alright, but I don’t blame the others for being defensive or upset with you. They’re not upset because they like it and you don’t, they’re upset because you have been rude about it.
You asked for their opinion, but when anyone points out a single good point about fake grass, you basically just reply with “maybe it works for you, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, it’s still wrong. BTW You sound defensive, you’re probably lazy.” Of course people will be defensive when the first sentence accuses them of being lazy, and it’s insulting and rude to call people lazy basing solely on the fact that they use fake grass. Especially when aren’t actually lazy, fake grass just works better for some situations, you ended up admitting some yourself in your other post that there are some reasons as to why it can be good.
You might dismiss this comment – like in some of your other replies – suggesting that I could chill out, since it’s “just fake grass, do what you like”. Honestly I don’t actually care that much about fake grass, but I do think you would be doing yourself a favor if you try and be more open minded. Since you actually ended up writing a 2nd post with 10 reasons to use fake grass, it shows you aren’t completely closed minded either. So why not try and bring that in to how you relate to others? Just try and be less sarcastic, and more respectful, after all, these commentors did spend time responding to your posts, and it’s gennerally a good rule to treat others how you’d like to be treated.
What part of, it’s her blog she can write whatever she damn well pleases do you not get? There are some blogs on white supremacy as well if you’d like to march your primpy little ass over to those people and tell them they are “so rude and need to watch how they say things on the internet. ” ugh people these days, if you don’t like it then click the little red x button on the top right hand corner. Problem solved.
So true. I like hearing the different opinions, but people take this post way too seriously!
I just don’t take the whole fake grass thing very seriously. That’s all. Of course it works for some situations. I know I’ve set myself up for people to attack me on this post. I have it coming! Totally get that!
Not all people who are interested in this are lazy. My dog is currently on large doses of steriods and I live in an apartment building. It is not alway easy getting him out of the building even if we do walk him every 2-3 hours.
So people stop being so damn critical until you know all the circumstances surrounding a situation.
I am a GREAT dog owner!
Oh my effing God. Yes miss lazy ass Lori,you are lazy. If you know the exact time span that your dog does his business due to the steroids then you have enough damn time to take his ass outside. Your lazy. Fess up to it and don’t cackle like a damn hen when someone calls you down on it. If you feel the need to state several times, and as well as in your screen name that you arnt lazy, well then guess what ?? Your lazy!!!! Ugggggghhhhhhhhhhh you people are so damn ignorant. Noone is saying your a bad dog owner, just a lazy one. Deal with it. Jesus how lindsey doesnt just tell you all off i have no idea. AND HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THAT AT THE BEGGINING OF THIS BLOG EVERYONE AGREED UNTIL ONE POSTER REFFERED THAT HER “FRIEND” HAD A LIGIT EXCUSE TO YOU THIS STUFF?? It was like a snowball effect after that.
No matter what, I think we can all admit it is a bit lazy!
We’re all a little lazy! I know I am!
My dog was on steroids for a short amount of time, and he also had to go to the bathroom a lot. I’m glad the fake grass is helping you and your dog.
I have one of these on my patio. I walk my dog on my lunch break and before and after work. BUT….my pup loves to get up and pee in the middle of the night. She knows enough to wake me. But I’ll be damn’d if I’m walking the apartment grounds by myself in the middle of the night. So I think this is a great solution to my night walking fear.
Congratulations Donna for stealing my heart and earning respect…. can I get a witness? Donna your amaziiiiiinnggggggg!!! Finally someone who owns up to their own problems, ect ect…:)
Hey Donna, I can understand that. Seems like a good reason to have this product as an option.
I’m genuinely considering getting one of these, though for an entirely different reason than almost all listed above (I’m guessing, because after 2+ pages, it becomes a very time consuming read). My house has none of the issues with potty training, though we do have an “old man” that has gotten to where he occasionally (less than 2x per month average) runs into some tummy troubles, which can be vomiting, the runs, or both. If we can catch it in time to run down the stairs with him and directly outside, crisis averted, but alas, not always the case. Since he is trained, and goes to the door and asks to go out, every single time, *unless it sneaks up on him*, we generally manage to avoid accidents and messes, and he knows that grass means he goes where the grass is. Now, my thoughts are, rather than giving him potty pads, which are likely going to be almost the same color as my light carpeting, why not give him the grass?
If you are OK with him using it whenever it is out (and not just during emergencies), then I say go for it!
I recently got a 2 year old Chihuahua from a rescue, and this dog was not easy to house train. Being that he is a male (even though neutered) he always wants to mark everything! I seriously contemplated getting the fake grass with a fake plant for him to mark, but ultimately decided against it. I figured if I was consistent and took him outside every 2-3 hours or so, he’d eventually learn. He hates the cold Canadian weather, and also hates wearing his little coat, but after a lot of love and A LOT of treats, he is finally not having accidents in my apartment!
There is a big difference between a dog marking and a dog relieving himself. I’m glad your dog is learning not to mark in the house. It does help if you take them outside a lot because then there is less urine stored up for marking. If your dog is truly marking, though, you need to teach him not to do that by correcting him in the act and supervising him whenever he is not in a kennel. You can get a belly band for him to wear until he is fully trained not to mark in the house. A belly band is basically a diaper.
We are using one in our garage because we have a hairless dog and the weather is often too harsh. We still walk him. It’s not because we are lazy. I never planned to have him use it in the house. I see reasons why some people would though.
I can see why someone would want to do this. The garage seems like a more appropriate place than the house.
This is a great thread!
I have a 1 year old Yorkie, whom I THOUGHT I had potty trained successfully. Up until a month ago he started to poo in the house and won’t go outside.
I almost considered the grass pad, but it makes me nervous that he will think it’s ok to pee on my carpet.
I am at my witts end with my puppy because he is going backwards with potty training. I have never heard of a dog being housebroken, reverting back to mischief. Anyone have any idea why?
Do you live in an area where it’s colder? Maybe he doesn’t like the colder weather.
I don’t like the idea of fake grass indoors because like you suggested, the dog might think he can go anywhere in the house. I would restrict his freedom. Keep him on a leash and near you when you are home. Keep him in a kennel when you are not home. Go back to the basics for a few months until you trust him again. Treat him like he is a new dog that is not yet potty trained.
We just adopted two daschund brothers. The other night, when on our potty walk, one of them broke free from his leash (his harness broke), ran into the street where he was hit by a car, and ran away into the surrounding woods. We searched all night, and went to bed heart broken.
The next morning he scratched on the door and found his way home.
We were lucky.
I dont find it lazy to train them to pee inside, so as to avoid the busy street and distractions that come with nighttime. If being lazy will prevent another night like the one we had, then I sure am glad to be guilty.
I am sorry to hear your dog was hurt. That is terrible. I hope he is feeling better soon.
I’ve had 2 Chihuahuas for 6 years, they need to pee alot, tiny bladders. I have them trained to go on a piece of vinyl then I put TP on the spot and pick it up to throw in the toilet, well I am tired of not having a bathroom, I want to try the pet grass in a closet, with the door ajar. I just don’t know if they will like fake grass.
It’s hard to break a habit once a dog is trained to pee somewhere. But you could train them to pee on the fake grass just as you would housetrain a dog to pee in a certain spot outside. You will probably need to close off access to your bathroom for awhile in order to get your dogs to use the grass instead. But you may want to have both options available to them at first until they understand it is OK to pee on the fake grass. Otherwise they may not know where to go and will end up going somewhere you don’t want them to.
It is rare to come across such a consistent batch of judgemental knuckleheads. I have a 14 1/2 year old lab who I have truly loved as a best friend. I have probably taken him on an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 walks in his lifetime and have never placed my own selfish needs before his. I live on the second floor of a garden style condo and the only option I have to take him out is a flight of 20 steep concrete steps. Over the last year, while he is still healthy in many other respects, he has had increasing trouble getting up and down the stairs to go for a walk. For the past six months, I have helped him get up the steps by carrying his hind legs. Now he is hesitating at the top of the steps when going down and has even fallen a couple of times. He weighs 80 pounds and I simply cannot carry him down the steps 3-4 times a day. I am devastated by this and he has too much life in him to consider putting him to sleep. I am going to buy one of these pads for my balcony so I may continue to enjoy the company of my beloved friend. WTF would any of you jerks do? So before you just jump to ignorant conclusions, maybe you should consider the context in which things may occur.
Obviously there are perfectly good reasons to use the fake grass. This post is not exactly directed at someone like you. I had a 70-pound golden retriever who could not walk on her own during her last days. I had to carry her outside, and luckily I did not have to go up or down any flights of stairs. I only had to carry her down two or three porch steps and then hold her up while she relieved herself.
I can definitely understand why you would want to use this product, and I hope it makes life easier for you and your dog. Enjoy your time together.