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The Spruce Pets / Paul Phan synthetic grass for home garden
Whether you’re potty training your new puppy, embracing apartment living or your older dog isn’t getting outside fast enough, a dog potty can save you time and energy while keeping pet odors from overtaking your home.
“Dog potties can be used in situations that limit easily accessible and safe outdoor areas for normal elimination behavior,” says Tara Hansen, DVM, a veterinarian at Chewy. “They may be helpful for potty training a puppy, for pets who have diminished mobility, or for managing an older pet with an urgency to urinate or defecate, especially when living in an apartment or high-rise.”
Indoor potties also benefit pet parents. For example, they’re convenient if you have your own mobility concerns or if there’s adverse weather such as deep snow or hurricane conditions, says Dr. Hansen. Indoor potties also may be useful for personal safety reasons, such as when your pet needs to eliminate at night.
Uses responsibly-sourced, FSC-certified bark instead of plastic
May appeal to dogs who don’t like turf
Some dogs avoid peeing on it
Every dog is an individual, and not all dogs will take to artificial turf or pee pads. That’s when Bark Potty can come in handy. This pee pad contains natural responsibly-sourced FSC-certified bark, held in place by mesh netting. Liquid waste is absorbed into the bark, while solid waste can be picked up and flushed.
Each pad can last up to a month, replacing the need for more costly single-use disposable plastic pee pads. The tray is disposable and recyclable. Just cut the netting and dump bark into regular trash or a green bin or yard waste collection, then recycle the tray.
While the bark quickly intrigues most dogs, the Bark Potty doesn't use artificial grass, and some dogs never adjust to using it. It might be a good idea to have some pee pads on hand when trying out the Bark Potty in your household for the first time.
Dimensions 24 x 16 inches (standard), 30 x 20 inches (large) | Materials: Cardboard, FSC-certified tree bark
Sturdy base works well for small dogs
Removable tray collects liquid waste
Pee wall for leg lifters protects walls
Feels less artificial than other products
Pee wall not suitable for large dogs
Removable tray a little tricky to pull out without spilling if very full
If your dog small to medium sized dog lifts a leg when they pee, then you might find the Homepet Dog Grass Pad with Pee Wall to be an appealing choice for indoor doggie business. This reusable dog potty is designed to protect walls and flooring from urine, and our testing participant noted that the artificial turf pads included (comes with two) are softer and feel less plasticky than other dog potties.
The kit includes four pieces that work together to entice a dog. There is a grid tray on the bottom, a removable tray where liquid will collect, the aforementioned turf pad, and an attached wall measuring almost 20 inches in length and close to a foot in height. The wall offers guidance for leg lifters so your dog's pee is more likely to go where it needs to go, instead of splattering on the floor.
Each turf pad is perforated allowing liquid waste to pass through seamlessly and can be rinsed clean with soap and water. Our real world tester was a leg-lifting dachshund who seemed to enjoy the pee wall as a guiding target. The Dog Grass Pad with Pee Wall toilet comes in one size that is suitable for most dogs on the smaller side. If you have a large dog, the wall may still serve as a guide, but likely won't offer full protection to keep your walls and flooring free from dog pee.
Dimensions 30 x 20 inches (base) ,11.6 x 19.7 inches (wall) Materials Plastic
Made with certified Okeo Tex Standard 100 non-toxic fabric
Can be difficult to tell if it’s been used
Moves around on hardwood or tile floor
If you have a senior or incontinent dog, Pupiboo Washable Dog Pee Pads are a good option. The pads come in a variety of handsome patterns that resemble an attractive throw rug, which is a bonus if you’re tired of having unsightly pee pads all over the house to catch accidents.
The pads can be used on any surface, and they can be machine-washed, as needed. Different sizes accommodate different needs from inside crates to large rug sizes up to six feet across. Our tester also found them to be very convenient and lightweight for travel, and used them as cover over wet grass where her dog could lay down.
Dimensions 2 x 1.5 feet; 2 x 3 feet; 3 x 3 feet; 3.4 x 3 feet; 4.5 x 4.5 feet; 6 x 6 feet | Materials: Thermoplastic polyurethane
No traction on the backside to keep pad from slipping
When you are crate training a dog, accidents are bound to happen. The Green Lifestyle Washable Pads are soft to the touch, absorbent, and machine washable, so you can keep a pad in your puppy's crate just in case they pee inside,
The reusable pads are suitable for daily protection of furniture, bedding, and flooring, and you might also find them useful with senior dogs and dogs recovering from surgery. We found the pads were easy to clean in a regular machine washing cycle and dryer. The pads are absorbent and no leaks took place in our real world testing, but the back of the pads has little to no traction, so these pads are better for contained spaces, like a crate, to prevent the dog potty from slipping.
Dimensions: 30 x 34 inches; 34 x 36 inches; 41 x 41 inches; and 48 x 48 inches | Material: Polyester
Three pee pad sizes available
Available in packages of multiple quantities
Sticky tabs sometimes difficult to remove from some floor surfaces
Tested and chosen as a favorite in our own lab, Bulldogology Premium Puppy Pee Pads are a winner because of their six super-absorbent layers, including a polymer that transforms into a gel when your pup uses the pad. This means pee is absorbed instead of running off onto your floor or hand when you lift the pad. Optional sticky-tape corners keep the pad in place, too, or allow you to stick one side to the wall if your dog tends to lift his or her leg on things when urinating.
Full pads also don’t tear when full and lifted from the floor. The company advertises that the pads contain a pheromone to attract puppies to the area, but we were not able to test under lab conditions, so it’s not known if that’s a marketing ploy or useful feature. However, many reviewers note that these unscented pads are dependable and super-absorbent. There’s also an activated carbon version, which is designed to better neutralize odors.
Dimensions: 24 x 24 inches (large), 24 x 35 inches (x-large), and 30 x 36 inches (xx-large) | Materials Polyethylene with polymer
Our favorite is Bark Potty Natural Disposable Dog Potty Pad because its natural materials make it more appealing for many dogs. It also lasts up to a month and is a more sustainable choice overall because it utilizes a recyclable tray and real bark, which masks odors. But if you’re looking for a disposable option, we recommend Premium Puppy Training Pads from Bulldogology. Throughout lab and real world testing, the pads proved to be sturdy, didn’t leak or rip and absorbed liquids well so that there’s no discernible odor.
We selected a variety of dog potties and aligned each one with a real world tester for extended use in a home setting. Each dog potty was evaluated on its performance, quality, value, ease of use, and ease of cleaning. Most of the dogs participating in our testing were accustom to using a dog potty along with using the bathroom outside, but we did find that the texture, smell, and placement of the dog potty made a a big difference in whether a dog recognized the product as a suitable bathroom. We highly recommend making small incremental changes and lots of patience when you are introducing a new potty to your dog.
When selecting a dog potty that’s right for you, there are several factors to consider—whether you’ll use it indoors, outdoors or both. Also consider whether it should be portable or remain in one place and whether your dog is likely to actually use it. Above all, you want one that is leak-proof and excellent at controlling odors to protect your home and your nose. To save time and prevent lingering smells, it should also be easy to clean.
For outdoor potties on decks, patios and other non-earthen surfaces, water resistance and durability are paramount. If you have to wash them indoors, then also consider portability and ease of cleaning to save your back.
“Artificial turf is safe for dogs to use for elimination, but no dog should be left unattended with any form of artificial surface until they are old enough to be trusted not to ingest any of the surface,” says dog trainer Kate Perry, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and certified with the Animal Behavior College.
Most dog potties come in a few sizes, but none are standardized. We strongly recommend consulting the measurements and recommendations from the manufacturer. This will help you determine which size is ideal for your dog.
To keep your dog's potty inviting, you should make sure to replace, rinse, and/or wash regularly. The frequency will depend on the product you select and how often you dog uses the potty, but daily maintenance should be anticipated for most of the products on our list. You might not even notice when your dog uses the potty, but the smell should be a clear sign.
For all dog potties, you’ll need to train your dog to use it. That’s easier for some dogs than others. Patience and consistency make the process a little easier. Your dog is more likely to adapt to a dog potty that is most similar to what they are already using. If your dog is used to going outside, artificial turf may be an easier transition than pee pads or bark potties.
Any dog can be potty-trained, but it requires patience and vigilance on your part. “Dogs are naturally programmed to urinate and defecate, but that doesn’t mean they intuitively understand our human desires regarding their potty behavior,” Dr. Tara Hansen told The Spruce Pets. “We need to set realistic expectations for our pets. They must be consistently monitored, presented with a convenient elimination area, and then positively reinforced when they eliminate where and when we desire.”
No matter what age your dog is, be consistent with training. “We should repeatedly reward them during training and for the remainder of their lives,” says Dr. Hansen. “Positive reward training creates a strong bond with you and your pet and becomes an enjoyable experience, not just for your dog, but for you as well.”
It’s also important to remember that puppies do not have full control of their bladders until they are about 4 to 6 months old, so some potty-training accidents are inevitable, says Dr. Hansen. But hang in there, pet parents! With patience, your dog will learn good things happen (treats and praise!) when they make you happy.
Start by keeping your dog in a confined area, and give your pet an opportunity to eliminate on a frequent basis. “Immediately following naps and meals, or other daytime periods of 2 to 3 hours, your dog should be given access to the potty area with a consistent verbal cue to encourage elimination,” says Dr. Hansen.
The verbal cue can be any word or phrase you’ll use over and over again when you want your pet to go, such as “go potty” or “do your business.” When the dog eliminates in the desired potty area, reward your pet with a high-value reward immediately to reinforce their compliances. “Dogs quickly learn their elimination behavior earns them a great treat,” says Dr. Hansen.
Punishing unwanted behavior is never recommended because it will establish anxiety or fear leading to other unwanted behaviors in the long run. “Assuming a dog will be potty-trained simply by letting them outside by themselves or putting them in their potty area without monitoring can create confusion and lead to house-soiling accidents,” says Dr. Hansen.
Indoor dog potties can be introduced at any age. Use the same reward and praise tips, as above, for training your dog to use an indoor potty as when potty training your pet outdoors. But be aware that some dogs continue to have accidents off the indoor potty area even when they’re well-accustomed to indoor potty use, says Dr. Hansen.
With dedicated training and positive reinforcement, dogs can theoretically be trained to eliminate on command in both indoor and outdoor environments. However, “dogs learn best when presented with consistent choices, and some dogs may be easily confused by being offered multiple options for elimination surfaces and environments,” says Dr. Hansen.
Just like people, dogs are individuals, so the answer varies. Some dogs are just fine with it, others, not so much. First, using an indoor dog potty is not as intuitive for dogs as it is for cats. And some dogs may not use an indoor potty, even with training. “Dog potties also may not be the best choices for dogs who demonstrate anxious or stress-related behaviors,” says Dr. Hansen. “Stress and anxiety can worsen when dogs suffer from lack of stimulation, which is why veterinarians recommend daily exercise and outdoor enrichment.”
Without outdoor enrichment, dogs will become bored, which leads to other unwanted compulsive or destructive behaviors, anxiety or fear. “Eliminating outside can provide dogs with a more natural environment to perform their normal behaviors, and offers them behavioral enrichment through smells, sights, and experiences,” says Dr. Hansen.
This roundup was written by Arricca SanSone, who writes for websites such as The Spruce Pets, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Southern Living, and more. She’s potty trained her share of (sometimes stubborn) papillons. She researched dog potties with advice from Tara Hansen, DVM, a veterinarian at Chewy, as well as by delving into market research, and reviews.
Arricca also has provided guidance for the best dog paw balms, best dog ID tags, best mosquito repellents for dogs, and the best whisker fatigue bowls for cats. She even can help you pick your first beekeeping suit or the best filter for your axolotl tank.
A previous version of this article was written by Lorraine Wilde who has had at least two dog and cat companions in her home for the past 35 years including some kitties with special needs. She’s raised several puppies throughout that time.
high simulation artificial grass carpet Dog trainer Kate Perry is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and certified with the Animal Behavior College, where she also works as a mentor and trainer teaching students how to become trainers in their own right. Her philosophy and methodology, which have been approved by numerous veterinarians, centers on the use of positive reinforcement.