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One of the simplest things as pet parents we need to provide our pets is a specific place for our beloved pooch to do his or her business. Ideally, in independent homes, back doors are left open for easy access to the backyard or a specified bathroom outside for pets to relieve themselves. However, that is not an option for the apartment dwellers and condo owners, as these living spaces do not have a dedicated outdoor space.
Apart from space constraints, other factors like extreme weather conditions like snow, rain, or lightning not only make outdoor potty time difficult but are also insecure. Puppies, senior dogs, and medically diseased canines suffer from urine incontinence or find difficulties in going out for potty.
Indoor dog potties are designed for such canines and this article will provide complete insights into this indoor potty that will simplify the life of pet parents with disabled, old, or puppies that lack free outdoor space.
Why and When Does One Need to Consider Using an Indoor Dog Potty?
One needs to consider investing in an indoor dog potty during the following circumstances
Non-housetrained dogs: Puppies and some adult dogs that fail to get completely house-trained soil the floor at times. An indoor potty will make these canines learn to overcome accidents.
Urinary incontinence: Some pooches have medical conditions that prevent them from holding their pee for long times and some find difficulty in going out for their clearance trips. Indoor potties are a boon for such mascots.
Phobia to go out: Some fidos simply refuse to go outdoors due to fear. For instance, many dogs refrain from going out during heavy rains, thunder, lightning, or loud sounds. During such unusual circumstances, an indoor potty will come in aid.
No access to free outdoor spaces: Apartment or condo dwellers neither have their own private outdoor spaces for frequent pet loo trips. An indoor potty will ease their burden.
Lack of time: Some pet parents stay away from home for most of the day either due to work or other commitments. Such owners cannot take their pets outdoors frequently, an indoor dog potty is pivotal in such cases.
Pet parents with physical mobility: Some pets stay as companions for senior citizens or people with physical limitations. Such people cannot afford frequent outdoor trips for nature calls. An indoor potty will prove handy in such cases.
What are the different types of indoor dog potties that are available?
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Currently, five different types of indoor dog potties are trending in the market. This section provides complete details about each.
Traditional litter boxes: A canine litter box is close to the cat litter boxes. They are high wall boxes that not only hold the litter substrate tightly without getting scattered but also can absorb the pee of the canines efficiently. Experts recommend using recycles paper litters.
Pet pee pads: These are large sheets of fabric or paper or a combination of both that are placed into large shallow boxes that a pet uses for urinating or defecating.
Grates: These are elevated platform screens that help the pets to pee or poop without wetting their paws. A large draining hole in the screen pulls the urine into it and scooping of the poop is also easy as the screen separates the urine and the poop. This overcomes the shortcomings of a pee pad.
Natural grass: Dogs love this indoor potty as they just recreate the natural environment outdoors. The grass also possesses natural odor-neutralizing properties, this not only eliminates the urine as well as fecal odor indoors and requires no cleaning and maintenance as they are single time usable. They are quite expensive.
Synthetic grass: A synthetic grass indoor potty has all the properties of natural grass. They are cheaper and can be cleaned and reusable. One needs to train a puppy to use one.
7 Best Indoor Dog Potties
#1. PetSafe Pet Loo Portable Indoor/Outdoor Dog Potty
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The Petsafe Pet loo is well suited for patios, campers, apartment dwellers, and condo owners with limited space and no backyards. The potty is odor-free as it has a covered waste bin and wee sponge powder that works together to trap smells. The urine is converted to a gel on when it meets the synthetic grass, hence the waste can be easily disposed of.
This indoor loo is made of polyethylene terephthalate plastic synthetic grass mat that can be easily cleaned with water. One just simply needs to remove the grass from the base and rinse it.
This dog potty can be used both indoor and outdoor. They are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The grass can be cleaned once a week but the tray beneath it needs to be cleaned once or twice every day or as and when it gets full.
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#2. Fresh Patch Disposable Dog Potty with Real Grass
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Fresh Patch is the original real grass disposable indoor as well as outdoor dog potty. They are hydroponically grown grass patches that are a natural attractant and an odor neutralizer.
The fresh sod mat loo is easily adapted by pets due to its natural environment mimic. This is a great loo option for indoor or older dogs and is perfect for an apartment, balcony, or porch.
The grass pet mat soaks up liquids and odor, so the indoor potty space stays clean and smells nice. The sod pad is dirt-free and fully disposable hence the burden of cleaning is removed.
These 100% natural mats are made in the USA from real grass hence they are safe to use indoors. The manufacturer recommends replacing the sod mat every 1-2 weeks depending on the dog size and frequency of use. Small dogs only need to have it replaced once a month.
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#3. Simple Solution Large Washable Puppy Pad
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The simple solution washable dog training pads are durable and long-lasting even after multiple washes. These are sized and shaped to fit any dog breed. The top sheet and absorbent core quickly draw in moisture and are great to absorb the pet’s messes without leaking. These reusable and washable pads also keep the odors under control.
The pad’s stitched, lay-flat design aids in easy folding and unfolding of the potty. The soft top layer provides added comfort to the pet. The leak-proof, slip-resistant backing not only helps in keeping the floors dry but also stays in place. Well suited for pets that like to move things around them. These, washable pads can be used as a crate and kennel liner, for traveling and as a food and water bowl mat replacement.
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#4. IRIS Pet Training Pad Holder
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The Iris square plastic pee pad tray is designed with double latches to lock the pad securely in place and refrains it from getting displaced or damaged. A high polish finish aids in a hassle-free cleaning of the pad. Four non-skid rubber feet protectors not only protect the floor from scratches but also hold the tray in place. This crate is available in four different sizes and five vibrant colors: Blue, dark gray, pink, and gray to choose from.
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#5. KOOLTAIL Washable Pee Pads for Dogs
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The first layer of the KOOLTAIL washable pee pads is a non-toxic smooth and soft 75% polyester knitting fabric that is perfect for pet lying. The second layer is a high-density inner super-absorbent 15% viscose layer. The third is a 10% polyurethane (PUL) waterproof layer, this layer provides superior absorption and odor control and the fourth layer is soft polyester knitting fabric too. The PUL layer ensures all night dry protection.
This washable pee pad is reusable, unscented, and requires no dry bleaching, dry ironing, and no ironing. The plaid design is a classic style that never goes out of date. This pee pad is perfect for puppy whelping, puppies training, aging dogs, and furniture protection.
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#6. Petmate Open Cat Litter Box, Blue Mesa/Mouse Grey
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The Petmate Litter Pan could are a great indoor potty option as one needs no extra cleaning or juggling with lids and flaps that are not comfortable for the pooch. Then litter pan can be placed at any comfortable position in the house and the untrained dogs also do not create a ruckus as one can choose a larger size pan.
The comfortable-to-grip edges help in the easy lifting of the litter pan for cleaning. This product is available in four sizes (small, medium, large, and jumbo) and two vibrant colors (blue mesa and mouse gray)
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#7. Sonnyridge Easy Dog Potty Training – Made with Artificial Grass
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The Sonnyridge Easy Dog Potty is built up of artificial grass that mimics the real grass. The antimicrobial treated artificial grass is seen to absorb unpleasant smells and block bacterial growth also. This indoor potty is eco- and pet friendly with a natural and realistic appearance. The potty can be cleaned without any hassles. All one needs to do is rinse the artificial grass with soap water and air dry.
This grass potty is engineered to be strong and long-lasting. The three-layer system: outer layer – synthetic grass; middle layer – a porous tray separator and bottom layer – a durable self-contained tray to hold the urine. Well suited for balconies, condos, apartments, patios, puppies, older dogs and so on..
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How can one train a mascot to use an indoor dog potty?
This section explains the various potty-training techniques. Choose one that best suits an individual’s pet.
I. The Bring the Outside in Method
Bring in outside stuff – Observe on the surfaces or things that the pet pees during its pee walks like sod, some potted plants, and so on. Bring that stuff and place it in an area well covered with plastic.
Train to potty – Whenever the dog insists to go out, lead it to the inside space and command to go potty. Initially, the pooches will ask to go to the door, reaffirm that he or she should go on the designated potty space.
Reward and clean – When the canine goes potty on the potty space, reward it enthusiastically and make sure to clean it instantly.
Transition to an indoor potty – Lay the indoor potty and encourage the fido to use it. Reward when it does. Practice the rewarding until the pooch gets trained to use the indoor potty.
II. The indoor potty method
Bring the indoor potty outside – Start by bringing the pee pad, grate, litterbox, or grass outside with the dog whenever it goes to pee or poo. Put the indoor potty under it during the pee or poo process and reward it for going on it.
Potty place designation – Place the indoor potty and a designated area of the home and train the puppy or dog to use it for its loo visit with the way one does during its pee walk. Some dogs fix a specific area of the home for potty and refuse to change to a new portion. In such cases start it with the place it likes and slowly transform and get it to the designated area with positive reinforcement.
Establish a routine – Practice will make a dog learn to pee at the designates area indoors. Make sure to clean and disinfect the area timely.
III. Direct indoor potty method
Indoor potty placement – Initially place the potty at the entry point of the home. Take the pet to pee or poo when it demands and command to do it on it.
Potty place shift – Slowly shift the place of the potty to an area one wishes to place it indoors. Practice the pet to use the potty place every time one cannot take it out for loo trips.
Develop a routine – Practice will make every pet fall into a routine. This will make it understand when it will be taken outdoors and when the potty needs to be done in the indoors.
Practice any training method based on an individual’s comfort.
Tips for potty training the dog
Begin at an earlier age – Experts recommend house training pets from a tender or puppy stage. For pets that are adopted at a later age, one needs to prioritize housebreaking if it is not trained and introduce the indoor potty area at the earliest.
Observe and learn the pet’s elimination pattern – Many dogs pee or poop 30 to 60 minutes post every meal. Puppies finish it off between 5 to 30 minutes post every meal. One needs to observe this loo trip pattern and take the pet to the potty area to set up a routine.
Set a routine and follow it – Fix the timings a dog is taken to the indoor potty each day. Try to follow the routine to make the pet habituate.
Positive reinforcement and patience – Training requires loads of time and patience. If one cannot invest in it one can hire external help for training the pet. Hurrying will not serve the cause.
What makes a good indoor potty?
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This section will concentrate on the factors that need to be looked for before investing in an efficient indoor potty. The article will discuss the general factors that addon to make a great indoor potty. But every individual needs to analyze their pets and then choose based on one’s budget too.
Exterior: Every dog likes to pee on certain surfaces like grass or concrete. Observe the dog during its pee walks and then invest based on it. As there is no point in buying a soft pee pad mat for the dog when it is comfortable to pee on grass and vice versa. But, if one cannot quite figure out the dog’s preference, one can easily train the pet in one’s invested indoor potty with some patience and loads of time.
Measurements: The indoor potties are available in various sizes. It is crucial that the potty one invests in is a comfortable size for the dog to do its business on or in. A small potty can lead to accidents on the perfectly polished hardwood floors and too large ones will not only increase the time spent for cleanup but will also prove expensive.
Tinges: The indoor potties are available in various vibrant colors, choose one based on one’s needs. If one is interested in a real or artificial grass set up, creating an indoor houseplant garden is a great option to disguise a dog potty by tucking a few taller plants behind it. This is seen to give dogs privacy when it has a phobia mention around guests.
Long-lasting construction: A strong and sturdy potty is the best investment as most of the dogs tend to either chew or destroy their potty. Anti-chew spray can be applied on the edges of the potty for chewers. But one should also note if this does not interfere with the dog’s comforts during the peeing session. Other sprays with specific scents can also be used to encourage the dogs to use the potty during the training sessions.
Hassle-free cleaning: Invest in one that is easy to clean. An indoor potty is a boon for certain pet parents but if not cleaned properly are seen to pose as a health hazard.
Tactful: Invest in one that can be easily hidden and does not look odd when places indoors.
Anti-aroma design: Look for potty options that come with odor blocking. As dog potty tends to stink as when placed indoors.
Water-resistant: One of the most vital features one needs to look in a dog potty is whether it is entirely leakproof. As hardwood flooring gets damaged if urine leak out on the floors and carpeted homes turn stinky.
Biodegradable: Try to invest in a reusable dog potty that can be used for many years. If not invest in environmentally friendly potty options as these aid in minimizing the waste generation.
How often should one clean an indoor dog potty?
Proper cleaning and disinfection are the most important aspects of owning an indoor dog toilet. The pet feces and urine are a home for many bacteria and microorganisms. Mishandling of the microbes can cause many health hazards to the pet as well as its family.
Experts recommend to clean and sanitize the indoor potty area once a day. Reusable potty types need to be cleaned after each time the pet uses it. Real grass pads can be tossed out. Plastic or metal products can be disinfected with the aid of hot water or soap.
One needs to dispose of the contents into the home’s toilet and rinse the container out with water and any pet-friendly disinfectant.
Disposable potty types need to be replaced as soon as they are completely soiled or can be replaced once a day. But the feces need to be removed immediately after the pet finishes its trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which is the best place to put an indoor dog potty inside the home?
One needs to place the toilet in the puppy’s living area, in the corner furthest from its puppy’s crate or the place it sleeps as well as away from its food and water area.
- Will an indoor dog potty work for my large breed dog?
Indoor dog potties will work for the large breeds if one buys a slightly larger indoor potty to accommodate their larger size. The dog should have more than enough room to move around and feel comfortable when they need to use the potty.
- Will training the dog to use an indoor potty make it forget its house training?
No, dogs will never forget any training given to them till they die. But at times accidents happen to old and sick dogs. So be patient after all they are also beings that can go wrong.
- Can one place the potty in its crate?
No, one should not place the potty inside its crate. This will confuse the dog between the potty and sleep area. However, one can set up a potty zone with an indoor dog playpen.
- Can one use the same potty for all the dogs in the home?
No, it is generally not recommended to use the same potty for multiple dogs. As any animals sharing the home tend to develop a specific pecking order. If only one potty is available for all, the lowest on the pecking order can feel uncomfortable using the potty. The chances of mess creation and accidents increase in these circumstances.
Final thoughts
Many house trained dogs feel uncomfortable as well as guilty when having to pee inside when left home alone. An indoor bathroom is a boon for working pet parents as well as puppies, old, and sick dogs that cannot control their urge to pee. Owners can refrain from taking the stress of their pet pals pee walks when running out of the house for errands or on rainy days.
