Artificial Grass for Potty Training
So I'm sure you've all seen products like the "Potty Porch" and others. The basic idea is that it is a litter box for dogs. The most basic variants have a mat of fake grass sitting in a plastic frame. Some have grates and drains, gravel beds, scented pee posts in the shape of a fire hydrant, even a tiny sprinkler system. Some are made of wood or metal or look like quality furniture. Some are collapsible and supposedly portable.
Anyway.... I don't intend to use such a thing for every day stuff. Its just not necessary for me, and I can just imagine what would happen if Ghidora tried to pee within that tiny little patch.... he'd get my whole wall!
But I've been thinking about puppy puddle pads, how quickly we go through them when we start potty training a litter, and how expensive they are. I also recall that at least one of my pups in the last litter (was it Kaylee @king_bidgood?) associated the soft texture of the puddle pad with carpeting and began peeing on the carpeted areas of the new owner's house.
So what does the forum think about starting the puppies on fake grass instead of puddle pads? There are plenty of options which are no taller or bulkier than a normal puddle pad frame. I think they'd get used to the idea of going to the bathroom on grass from a younger age, be less likely to go on soft fabrics, and I will save a ton of money on disposable pads. I don't see a downside, other than having to wash the grass/frame frequently, which I already do anyway.
EDIT: I think its also a bit cleaner than a puddle pad. The pads are only a millimeter thick at best and moisture just sits on the surface of it. The added depth of the fake grass will prevent puppies from lying in their own piddle.
Anyway.... I don't intend to use such a thing for every day stuff. Its just not necessary for me, and I can just imagine what would happen if Ghidora tried to pee within that tiny little patch.... he'd get my whole wall!
But I've been thinking about puppy puddle pads, how quickly we go through them when we start potty training a litter, and how expensive they are. I also recall that at least one of my pups in the last litter (was it Kaylee @king_bidgood?) associated the soft texture of the puddle pad with carpeting and began peeing on the carpeted areas of the new owner's house.
So what does the forum think about starting the puppies on fake grass instead of puddle pads? There are plenty of options which are no taller or bulkier than a normal puddle pad frame. I think they'd get used to the idea of going to the bathroom on grass from a younger age, be less likely to go on soft fabrics, and I will save a ton of money on disposable pads. I don't see a downside, other than having to wash the grass/frame frequently, which I already do anyway.
EDIT: I think its also a bit cleaner than a puddle pad. The pads are only a millimeter thick at best and moisture just sits on the surface of it. The added depth of the fake grass will prevent puppies from lying in their own piddle.
Comments
added note: the typical customers I saw were using these to prevent having to potty train and actually walk their dogs... Heaven forbid they have to take care of the living creatures in their house! My dog just has a strange fear of going potty outside... Little weirdo!
I hope this helps, and please post how it works for you if you do decide to give the grass a try! I'm curious to know how it works when a responsible person uses this product!
They have attractants for it too, but she just started trying to eat the grass it was on.
The moment we went outside and I said "go potty" BAM! no problem, as usual...I wonder if some of it has to do with her not being ok with going inside anymore (I wanted to use it as an option for her to use while she's home alone, but we video her and while we were gone, and she woke up from her nap, she just started shredding the grass). I tried to see if she would even go on the pads anymore like she did when she was a puppy, and she REFUSES. I left one of those for her at home too if she needed to go, she just shred it to bits and scattered it everywhere like confetti. xP I guess no more going inside for her (which is good, but i feel bad for her holding it while we're at work).
BUT, I have heard it work for some people. This is just my personal experience with Kona lol.
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/6138#Item_7
I use that sky learned how to use it pretty quick, forgot to post spam and update you guys can't find my camera cable