Taking pet pals for frequent pee walks is a tedious job for many pet parents as they cannot take their pets for frequent walks due to many underlying reasons. Hence many pet owners with back yard space or apartment dwellers switch over to special turf for making a bathroom location for their dogs.
Experts recommend using natural or artificial grass turfs for potty training. This article will not only provide a complete insight into buying, installing, and pet training to use artificial grass turfs but will also review the best synthetic turfs that are available to choose one.
Natural grass versus artificial turfs
Natural or artificial grass for potty training or potty is a big question for many first-time pet owners. A grass and turf comparison will aid in solving this confusion. Artificial grass is seen to function just like natural grass, but they only differ in their practical factors that include the price, installation, and the amount of maintenance. Synthetic turfs can do a lot of things that natural grass cannot. The table below points out the major differences between them
| Natural grass | Artificial grass | |
| Budget | Less expensive | Expensive |
| After maintenance | High | Low |
| Care | Several hours of weekly care | Minimal hours of care |
| Water usage | High | Low |
| Aesthetics | Changes with the season, wear, and growth. | Remains the same height, color, and texture, no matter the season, weather, or wear. |
7 Best artificial Grass Turfs for Dogs
#1. Downtown Pet Supply Artificial Grass Turf
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The three-layer gridded design makes the artificial grass turf unique and stylish. The turf has a specially designed gridded ridges beneath the grass, this capture and leads the pee down into the drawer system, allowing one to hassle freely dispose of the waste without causing any damage to flooring. This portable turf can be used indoors, in the balcony, or the backyard.
An anti-microbial odor control treatment given to the grass adds on for easy cleaning and maintenance. The safety of the product to the pet is quite high as all the materials used are non-toxic.
The replaceable turfs need to be changed every 3 to 6 months depending on the dog breed and size. The product comes in three variant sizes: 20″x 30″x 2″, 20″x 25″, and 20″x 30″x 2″ with or without drawers
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#2. Ideas In Life Artificial Pet Grass Patch
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The artificial pet turf is made in two sizes: medium (20″ L x 25″W x 1.75″ H) and large (30″ L x 20 ” W x 1.75″ H) and are ideal for all dog breed sizes. The turf is waterproof and portable, hence it can not only be placed indoors in apartments but also outdoors like patios, sunrooms, balconies, and so on.
The three-part design consists of an artificial grass mat top layer patch for the dogs to pee on, a middle-elevated grid tray with holes to allow the liquid to drain to the durable collection bottom base tray. This ingenious design aids in keeping the grass mat dry.
This potty turf set up is hassle-free to use and maintain. One simply needs to rinse and wash the turf set up with soap and water. The turf setup comes with four anti-slip silicone stickers that aid in retaining the turf in one place. The plastic clips also aid in no displacement of the top grass layer from the setup.
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#3. HQ4us artificial grass
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The HQ4us artificial grass is placed on a 34×23 inches sized plastic holder, hence it is suitable for all dog breeds. The artificial turf is constructed with six times more drainage holes on the grass. This aids in draining the urine more quickly from the pee pads. The fake grass is chew resistant as it has been rigidly fixed on to the black rubber back. The product comes with two artificial grass turf for easy replacement when soiled.
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#4. Four Paws Wee-Wee Artificial Grass Dog Training Puppy Pee Pad
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The Four Paws Wee-Wee Dog Grass Patch has an inbuilt attractant that attracts dogs to the pad for potty. The portable realistic dual-length dog training grass eases house training for the puppies as it fakes the natural environment.
The design has a removable grass layer for simple cleaning and a durable tray with an easy drain pour spout for a hassle-free cleanup of the liquid waste. The pooch potty training grass is available in two sizes: small (20 inches x 20 inches) and medium (20 inches x 30 inches) and is well suited for dogs up to 15 pounds in weight.
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#5. STARROAD-TIM Artificial Grass Rug Turf for Dogs
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The STARROAD-TIM Artificial Grass Rug Turf is constructed with 100% weather resistant synthetic yarn. The synthetic lawn is formed by brushing, hence are softer and consists of multiple blades of grass that are closer to the real lawn.
The bottom of the turf is covered with leaking holes for easy water penetration and the rubber gaskets help in locking the turf at a place. The artificial turf is non-toxic to pets as well as humans as they are completely tested lead-free.
This weatherproof, fire-resistant, no assembly, and easy to clean turf are eco-friendly. All one needs to do is just rinse the grass with soap and water. This synthetic grass potty is suitable for all dogs that weigh up to 80 lbs.
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6. Fortune-star Artificial Grass Dog Turf
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Fortune-star artificial grass dog turf is built up with soft and lush thatch that looks and feels like real natural grass. The fake grass is made up of high-quality UV resistant polyethylene and poly polypropylene yarn that is resistant to higher temperatures, superior resilience, and durability. The product dimensions are 39.3 x 31.5 x 1.2 inches hence it can be used by all dog breeds.
The rubber-backed has a drainage hole that can be cleaned without any hassles and dries quickly. The grass is free from non-toxic materials and is eco-friendly to use. The maintenance is very minimal as it does not require watering, mowing, and fertilizer application. The turf is mildew safe.
The artificial grass is perfect for garden, lawn, patio, landscape, backyard, deck, balcony, porch, and can also be used as a mat, carpet, or doormats indoors. The manufacturer provides a replacement or full refund if one is not satisfied with the product quality.
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7. Giantex Dog Mat Turf Patch
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The Giantex Dog Mat Turf Patch is crafted with a removable polyethylene and polystyrene grass and polypropylene bottom gridded base tray with hole design that allows liquid to drain to the bottom drawer, for keeping it dry always.
The dimensions of the turf are 30″L x 20″ W x 1″H, this makes it suitable for puppies, small, and medium-sized dogs. The portable design aids for convenient placement indoors or outdoors. The gridded tray can be hassle freely cleaned and maintained.
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8. iMounTEK Grass Patch for Dogs
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The iMounTEK grass patch for dogs is build up with a three-layer design: Hake natural-looking grass, grid tray, and removable waste bin. The urine is seen to seep through the synthetic grass mat and run down the slanted tray into the collection tray, thereby preventing it from gathering below the surface causing unpleasant odors and wet paws.
The three layers can be easily dissembled for easy cleanup. One just needs to dispose of the urine collected in the waste tray and rinse the three layers with warm water under high-pressure water daily and soapy water two to three times a week.
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Why investing in synthetic turf is a great idea?
Experts recommend choosing artificial grass turfs over natural ones due to the underlying reasons.
Digging: Dogs naturally love to dig, and this habit is seen to not only produce bald spots in the yard but also spoil the home decor due to the muddy paws.
Dog poop: The artificial turf remains the same in height, color, or texture with every changing season, weather, or wear. So, cleaning up the poop is hassle-free and eliminating the odors is easier
Dog urine: The high nitrogen content in the pooch urine is seen to damage the natural grass to that extent that they cannot regrow. Whereas this nitrogen does not affect the synthetic grass
Bugs: Natural grass is attracted and infested by ticks, insects, frogs, and snakes with changing seasons. On the other hand, artificial grass is not of great interest to these predators.
What makes up the best artificial turf?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3BpIC6nNWc/
One needs to look for the following factors for investing in the best pet synthetic grass.
Turf construction: The best artificial turfs are made up of polyethylene or polypropylene and nylon. Nylon is the hardest wearing as these tend to cope better with the regular by the dog or pet. Choose one based on one’s budget and personal as well as pet preferences.
Design: The turfs should be designed with a specialized backing style to maximize draining capacity.
Pile height: Artificial plastic grass is best off with a pile height between 22–30mm. Nylon needs to have a pile height in the range of 22–35mm as they are the hardest wearing fiber material.
Pile density: The best artificial grass for dogs and pets needs to have a higher pile density as this not only help the synthetic lawn to withstand foot traffic from dogs but also provide a natural-looking appearance. The best artificial turfs pile density needs to fall between 16,000 and 18,000 stitches per square meter.
Disease resistant: Choose synthetic turfs that have incorporated antimicrobial agents into its formula to not only prevent the growth of toxins but also neutralize odors.
Airflow: Artificial grass made for dog use should be devoid of infills to retain its moisture and for good airflow.
Instant recovery: Zero on synthetic turfs with instant recovery technology enables artificial fibers to recover to its upright position from pet foot traffic and garden furniture.
Feel good technology: Feel good technology helps to regulate the temperature of artificial lawns. It aids in keeping the artificial grass cooler by up to 12 degrees. This is a pivotal factor for summers. Invest one with this technology for both pet and human safety.
Natural look technology: Many synthetic lawns or grasses do not possess natural grass color when viewed from different angles due to glare. The natural look technology reduces the glare and gives the artificial grass a ‘natural’ look. Choosing an artificial turf with this feature aids in easy potty training for pets.
How to install synthetic grass turfs for pets
(on the soil and concrete, patio paving slabs, and block paving?)
Artificial turf installation on the soil
Installing artificial grass for dogs is a hassle-free process. The following steps need to be strictly followed for the correct installation.
- Level out the area where the grass needs to be laid.
- Dig about two inches deep into the topsoil and place the artificial lawn on top of it.
- Firmly apply pressure to secure the grass in its place.
- Fill it with a light layer of silica sand to prevent the disposition of the turf.
Artificial turf installation on concrete, patio paving slabs, and block paving
The following steps need to be followed to lay the synthetic turf on concrete and other surfaces without removing them.
- Clean the concrete completely to wade off weeds, mosses, or grasses and fill the cracks and uneven surface for better turf adhesion.
- Wash the surface with water and allow it to dry completely.
- Drill holes of 16mm in the concrete for water draining and fill it with 10mm shingles.
- Install the shock pad or form underlay all over the area of the concrete. Join the pads with the aid of masking tapes.
- Next, combine the hardener to the glue and mix well. Apply 2-3mm of glue on to the concrete with the aid of a knife. Note: Leave gaps in the adhesive to let the water escape if the water drainage is via the concrete.
- Cut the synthetic grass as per the size and prepare the joints by trimming three stitches off the edge of each piece of artificial grass.
- Use tape to glue all the joints of the artificial grass together and then glue in on to the shock pad.
- Glue the perimeter without any gaps post the drying of the grass joints.
- Add kiln-dried sand or non-sand infills to not only prevent any creases, wrinkles or ripples on the surface but also control the heat dissipation.
- Finally, brush the artificial grass that helps to lift the fibers.
One can personally install artificial grass if one has a lot of time and patience to invest or can hire a professional turf layer to fasten the process.
Tips for turf installation
Permeable sub-base: Always lay an artificial turf over a 50-75mm permeable sub-base consisting of granite or limestone chippings to prevent the trapping of unpleasant urine odors.
Secure the grass at the edges: One of the best options to secure the grass edges during installation is to either install a treated timber edging and nail the perimeter of the fake grass to the timber or use synthetic grass glues to secure the perimeter to edging, such as concrete or metal edging to prevent pets from lifting the edges.
How to train the dog to use fake grass?
https://www.instagram.com/p/nD2FVYrERd/
One can train a dog to use fake grass by following one of the two methods mentioned below.
The spot picking technique
Choose a pet potty spot if indoors: Pick a spot in the home for the fake grass potty placement. Experts recommend placing it on linoleum, tiles, hardwood, plastic, or a tray under the fake grass to protect the floor beneath. Once the spot is chosen, stick to it. Moving it around tends to confuse the pet.
Choose a command: Stick to a command or sound that is exclusively used for potty.
Set a schedule: Take the pet to the fake grass every 30 minutes with the leash on for it to explore. Utter the command or sound. If the pet performs its potty reward it if not continue the training until it succeeds.
The pooch love routine method
Turf placement: Place the turf at a suitable position in the home away from the crate but easily accessible to the dog.
Schedule setting: Take the dog or puppy to the fake grass frequently during the day like as soon as it wakes up from sleep, just before bedtime, and post meals or when it drinks a lot of water.
Pet training to stand on the turf: Once the dog is comfortable and starts recognizing the turf, make it stand on it for ten minutes. This time aids it to decide if it needs to relieve itself or not. If it relieves itself reward it with its favorite treat or praise it if not look for signs of potty and bring it to the grass for potty.
Practice: Continue to practice the puppy until it goes by itself to the turf for potty.
How to clean synthetic grass turfs?
Cleaning and maintaining fake grass for dog’s potty is a hassle-free simple procedure. One needs to keep the area clean by spraying down the grass once a week to remove urine or other leftovers that might have deposited in the cracks. The sand is seen to move out of place during the cleansing process but this not an issue, as the silica sand has a natural feature to compact when water flows through it.
Final thoughts
Picking the right type of pet indoor potty or training patches is tedious as it requires broad research and patience. A potty pet area should give the pooch a sense of security and direction right from the puppy stage.
This article provides all the necessary information for first-time pet owners that are looking to invest in artificial grass for their lawn outdoors or potty pad indoors. Invest one based on the pet’s requirements and budget for a messy free home.
