There will always be instances when taking your dog out to urinate can be a real problem such as during rainy, stormy, and even snowy days. There are also dogs that simply cannot control the urge to ‘go’ or are sick that they cannot really afford to go outside to void. Good thing there are indoor dog potties that can serve as your pet’s toilet right inside the comfort of your home. These contraptions are also excellent tools in housetraining puppies as well as providing a canine litter box solution for apartment-dwellers. Regardless of the reason for getting such a gadget, you need to make sure that you’ll get only the best one for your pet. Not to worry as we’re here to share with you the results of our search for the best indoor dog potty.
The 7 Top-Rated Indoor Dog Potties
| Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | PETMAKER Artificial Grass Puppy Pad | Buy on Amazon | 4 |
| Best Natural | Fresh Patch Disposable Dog Potty with Real Grass | Buy on Amazon | 3.8 |
| Best for Small Dogs | Blyss Pets Klean Paws Indoor Dog Potty | Buy on Amazon | 4 |
| Best for Large Dogs | PetSafe Pet Loo Portable Dog Potty | Buy on Amazon | 3.6 |
| Best for Potty Training | Downtown Pet Supply Pee Turf Portable Dog Potty | Buy on Amazon | 3.5 |
| Best for Puppies | STARROAD-TIM Artificial Grass Rug Turf for Dogs | Buy on Amazon | 4 |
| Best for Senior Dogs | Richell Paw Trax Mesh Training Tray | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
1 Best Overall: PETMAKER Artificial Grass Puppy Pad
- Triple layer design
- Made with antimicrobial and odor-resistant synthetic grass
- With durable bottom collection tray
- Easy to clean
For almost the same price as the Fresh Patch and the DoggieLawn, the PETMAKER Puppy Potty Trainer The Indoor Restroom for Pets has one very distinct advantage: you will only need to buy it once as it is completely reusable, not disposable. Unfortunately, synthetic grass doesn’t really ‘feel’ like the real thing, although it does ‘look’ like real grass. The synthetic grass has antimicrobial properties, nonetheless.
Composed of three layers with the synthetic grass forming the top and a urine collection bottom tray separated by a plastic insert, the PETMAKER provides a more practical and easy-to-use solution to address your pet’s indoor toileting needs. All 3 layers can also be easily washed with warm soapy water. While it is practical, you’d really have to spend some time cleaning it.
- Anti-microbial grass helps the indoor potty to keep dog safe
- Highly durable and suitable for large dogs
- Easily washed potty system
- Takes up more space for an indoor potty area
- Takes more time to clean
2 Best Natural: Fresh Patch Disposable Dog Potty with Real Grass
- Includes hydroponically-grown natural grass
- Natural odor neutralizer
- Fully disposable design
One of the best things about the Fresh Patch Disposable Dog Potty is that it comes with hydroponically-grown grass that dogs and puppies will be naturally attracted to. This can simplify the process of housetraining while also giving your already-trained hounds a more natural mini environment that they are more familiar with. This makes it a lot easier to ‘go’.
Because the design is disposable, there’s no need to clean and worry about messes as your pet’s urine will instantly be collected at the basement layer of the container. Unfortunately, it can be a very expensive proposition as you’ll need more of these once the natural grass have died out or have already worn out.
- Practical and easy to use for dog owners
- Uses an artificial grass pad
- Disposable pee pads are
- High level of waste due to potty pads
- Requires regular cleaning
3 Best for Small Dogs: Blyss Pets Klean Paws Indoor Dog Potty
- Durable easy snap-on grate design
- Deep bottom collection tray
- With anti-slip rubberized pads
- Very easy to clean
The design of the Klean Paws Indoor Dog Potty is quite simple. As a matter of fact it is so simple that you can technically make one yourself. Simply get a durable plastic grate or screen, lay it across a frame, and provide a shallow pan upon which to drain and collect the urine. But the great thing with the Klean Paws is that all these three elements are ingeniously crafted for easier setup and cleaning.
It is not grass, of course, but the grate won’t really hurt your pet’s paws. Additionally, since the holes of the grate are large enough, urine and other wastes can easily pass through and into the bottom pan. There’s no worrying about it slipping across your floor, too as the Klean Paws comes with rubberized pads at the bottom to prevent slipping.
- Middle layer pee pad works in combination with the bottom tray
- Low level of waste as it collects your dog’s pee
- Easy to use and ensures clean paws
- Takes more time than those with floor pads
- May be harder to train dogs to use, due to lack of artificial turf
4 Best for Large Dogs: PetSafe Pet Loo Portable Dog Potty
- Removable collection bin
- Pee-pod liner
- Wee Sponge absorber
- Synthetic grass mat
The PetSafe Pet Loo Dog Potty is suitable for homes and apartments that have no yard. Its portable design sets it up for both indoor and outdoor usage, so even if you are on the road with your dog, this Pet Loo Dog Potty would come in very handy. It features a unique waste collection system that solves spillage and odor problems that are common with other pet toilet products.
If you are looking to avoid those early morning toilet runs or having stains on your carpet, consider the PetSafe Pet Loo Dog Potty. As a brand committed to ensuring the strengthening of the bond of companionship between pets and their owners, the PetSafe Dog Potty would help in creating moments together with your dog. The Pet Loo Dog Potty gives your dog the backyard it needs without space.
- Works as multiple litter boxes around the house or to create a large area
- Removable sections for easier cleaning
- Stops your dog from getting wet paws
- Takes up more space than others
- Needs a thorough clean after a while, to ensure there’s no rot
5 Best for Potty Training: Downtown Pet Supply Pee Turf Portable Dog Potty
- Easy to use
- Drawer system
- Portable
- Weatherproof
The Downtown Pet Supply’s Dog Pee Potty Pad is a synthetic grass pee turf that is easy to clean, non-toxic, and has been treated with anti-microbial odor control. It is lightweight and mimics grass rather well. This feature of mimicking grass is rather essential because dogs mostly prefer to perform their potty business on grass. The Dog Pee Potty Pad by Downtown Pet Supply will, therefore, have your dog using it with little to no training.
Because it has been designed to be weatherproof and portable, the Dog Pee Potty Pad can be used both indoor and outdoor; in porches and patios and balconies. It also has a drawer system that allows for easy cleanup and waste disposal. And with a replaceable turf, Downtown Pet Supply has designed the Dog Pee Potty Pad in such a way that you will never run out of turf.
- Great odor control
- Anti-microbial to keep your dog safe
- Easy to train dogs to use this potty system
- Smaller than other choices
6 Best for Puppies: STARROAD-TIM Artificial Grass Rug Turf for Dogs
- No assembly
- Weatherproof
- Perfect size
- Easy to clean
The STARROAD-TIM’s Artificial Grass Rug Turf is an artificial grass rug turf for dogs that promises excellent value. It is the perfect size for puppies and small dogs and has been designed to be weatherproof. This means it can be used both outdoor and indoor.
The Artificial Grass Rug Turf is easy to setup, with no assembling required; emphasizing simplicity and portability. With an eye on environmental protection, the Artificial Grass Rug Turf is made to be non-toxic and easy to clean – you just have to rinse it with water and soap.
STARROAD-TIM strives for a 100% satisfaction with its customers, and they looked to make good on this promise by making the grass rug with the highest quality authentic lawn, 100% water-resistant yarn. It has drain holes and rubber gaskets, with the product generally tested to be lead-free.
- Easy to set up, due to no assembly required
- Weatherproof and suitable for use in an outdoor space
- Great size for large and medium-sized dogs
- Requires use with disposable pads to reduce the risk of leaks
7 Best for Senior Dogs: Richell Paw Trax Mesh Training Tray
- Designed to be used with a doggy pad
- Available in three colours
- Portable
- Snap-in frame for added security
If you are looking for the perfect potty training equipment for both puppies and older dogs, the Paw Trax Mesh Training Tray by Richell is a good one to consider.
Available in three different colors, with trays that have been specially designed to be used with the Paw Trax Super Absorbent Doggy Pads. With a snap-in frame engineered in the design, the doggy pad will be held firmly. The snap-in frame also stops your pup chewing on the pads. When used with a doggy pad, the training tray provides valuable protection to your floor surfaces.
The training tray is also portable, and can be taken along with you when traveling or in need of a convenient potty area. Also, only using soap and water, you will find that the Richell Paw Trax Mesh Training Tray is easy to clean.
- Easy to assemble
- Highly portable and suitable for indoors and in an outdoor space
- Easy to clean, with reusable pads
- Requires the use of puppy pads in combination
8 Sonnyridge Easy Dog Potty
- Triple layer design
- Made with fully reusable and durable synthetic grass
- Antimicrobial-treated synthetic grass
- Comes with an impermeable bottom layer
Almost twice the price of the PETMAKER, you’d think that the Sonnyridge Easy Dog Potty Training has more features to offer than the other brand of fully reusable indoor dog potty. Having technically the same design principles including a three-layer system with the synthetic grass forming the top, a middle liner, and a bottom drip or drain and collecting pan, it is quite mind-boggling why the Sonnyridge is priced so differently from competition.
Both are very easy to clean and are made of exceptionally durable materials, too. Both also feature antimicrobial finishing in their synthetic grass mats. Perhaps the only difference is that the Sonnyridge synthetic grass looks more like the real deal than that of the PETMAKER. Still, it shouldn’t be enough reason to warrant almost doubling the price of your nearest competitor.
- Highly durable and rugged
- The bottom layer ensures there are no leaks when your dog uses the bathroom indoors
- Requires frequent cleaning
9 DoggieLawn Real Grass Dog Potty
- Made of real grass
- Odor-free grass
- Requires no cleaning as it can be disposed of in an instant
Just like the Fresh Patch, the DoggieLawn Disposable Dog Potty can be a very expensive way to potty train your puppy or even address the accidents of your dog while pursuing housetraining. However, if you don’t mind the price tag the DoggieLawn can be a very viable alternative since it also features real grass that has natural odor-fighting capabilities.
There is also no need to worry about cleaning it up since it works more like a disposable diaper which you can get rid of once it has completed its purpose. The great thing about the DoggieLawn is that, like the Fresh Patch, dogs definitely will love the feel and smell of natural grass on their paws.
- The cleaning process is quick and easy
- Great for a young pup who is used to using real grass
- The best indoor dog toilet with natural grass
- Expensive compared to others
- High level of waste due to the pet pad
10 IRIS Training Pad Holder
- Works with pee pads
- Suitable for small-medium dogs
- Drainage hole for pee
If you’ve got a smaller dog and want the convenience of reusable pads with their indoor potty, this indoor potty system works brilliantly for your needs. The sides latch down, so that the indoor potty can hold onto the pee pad without moving, making it perfectly safe for your dog to use at any point. This, plus the non-slip base, ensure the indoor potties are solid and suitable for your dogs.
The indoor dog potty reviews for this option are filled with happy customers who love how well it suits small dogs. This is a great choice for those who live in smaller apartments or have older dogs who sometimes struggle with other indoor potty options.
- Secure and fitted, with a non-slip base
- Latches hold puppy pads in place
- High polish makes it easy to clean
- Designed to work with the same brand potty pads only
Best Indoor Dog Potty Buying Guide
Why You Might Need to Consider an Indoor Dog Potty
There are many reasons why you may want to consider buying an indoor dog potty just for your pet. Let us try to look at some of the more common ones.
Your Dog Simply Isn’t Housetrained Yet
Housebreaking is not only for puppies. Let’s get that straight. There are a lot of adult dogs that have never fully mastered their potty training indoors. That is why they still have ‘accidents’ every now and then. It is for this reason that housebreaking is an essential aspect of pet ownership. You can still use an indoor dog potty to help with housetraining your dog so that, in the event that you’re away and they need to ‘go’, your pet will know exactly what to do.
Your Pet Has a Condition That Makes it Quite Difficult to Control the ‘Urge’ to ‘Go’
Elderly dogs will typically present with urinary and even bowel incontinence or the inability to control the urge to urinate or defecate, respectively. This is not so much as they really don’t like to control it, but rather because of the problems associated with aging whereby there is a reduced overall functioning of the nervous system.
Senior dogs are not the only ones affected, though. Even otherwise healthy dogs can still have issues with incontinence. What happens is that dogs tend to lose control over their eliminative processes because of a problem in their neuromuscular apparatuses. This can be brought about by diseases, injuries, and even stress. At the very least, an indoor dog potty will allow your dog to have faster and easier access to their ‘eliminative zones’.
Your Hound is Really Afraid to Go Out
There are dogs that simply refuse to go out because of a fear or phobia. For instance, not many dogs display a liking to the boom of thunder or even the crack of gunfire or fireworks. There are also dogs that don’t really like the rain. In these instances, dogs can still control their ‘urges’. Unfortunately, they simply don’t want to go out because of these phobia-triggering events.
Now, you really have to help your pet eliminate. And one of the best ways to do it is by training them to use the indoor dog potty when the weather or any fearful circumstance outside is not really cooperating.
You Live in a Home That Has Very Limited Access to a Yard
Apartment-dwellers typically don’t have the luxury of a lawn or even a backyard upon which their dogs can go to relieve themselves. These pets can only rely on the occasional after-office or early morning or late evening walks that their pet parents will make. Just imagine trying to hold off urinating and defecating for several hours for the simple fact that you don’t have a toilet to use. Now, for the dog, it’s not really a problem since there is always the couch, the bed, the carpet, or on the floor. You don’t want this, of course. That is why you may really want to have an indoor dog potty.
You Don’t Have Time to Walk Them out Because of Busy Work Schedule
We already mentioned this above. Most of the time, pet parents are so busy with work that they even work extra hours. If your dog has already been accustomed to being brought out at 7 or 8 in the evening to defecate and urinate yet you are still in the office because of an all-important meeting or project, just imagine the difficulty of having to hold the urge. If this continues over a long period of time your pet will be developing some real serious problems soon.
The Dog Lives With a Pet Parent with Physical Limitations
There are dogs that provide companionship to elderly folks as well as individuals with limitations in their physical mobility. They simply cannot afford to go in and out of the house just to let their pets defecate or urinate outside. In such cases, an indoor dog potty is a very handy solution.
Types of Indoor Dog Potties
Currently, there are 5 different types of indoor dog potties. These are as follows:
Traditional Litter Box
If you’re familiar with a cat litter box, a canine litter box is essentially the same. You need a box with high-enough walls to prevent scattering the litter substrate that you will be placed inside. Most recommend using recycled paper pellets as litter.
Dog Pee Pads
These are nothing more than large sheets of fabric or even paper or a combination of both which you can place inside a shallow yet big-enough box for your pet to go in and urinate and/or defecate. These are commonly used in housebreaking. The major issue, of course, is that it can be messy for your dog the next time it goes into its ‘toilet’.
Plastic Grates
This effectively addresses the shortcomings of dog pee pads because it provides an elevated platform upon which dogs can step on, keeping their paws dry, while draining urine through the large holes of the screen. The grate also serves as a screen, making it easy to scoop your dog’s poop because it has been separated from your dog’s urine.
Real Grass
One of the advantages of real grass is that dogs love them as these resemble the very same materials that they defecate and urinate on outdoors. These have natural odor-neutralizing properties, too. The downside, of course, is that they tend to be costly propositions since you will not be able to reuse them. On the other hand, there’s no need to clean them as they go straight to your garbage bin after the grass has died out.
Synthetic Grass
The drawback of real grass is the strength of synthetic grass. They’re cheaper and have excellent odor-neutralizing properties, too. Unfortunately, you’d have to devote some time to cleaning them up. Moreover, most dogs will need to be trained into accepting faux grass because, while it does look like the real deal, it simply doesn’t feel the same.
Take a look at our articles on Pooper Scoopers and Dog Waste Disposal.
The Advantage of Grass Indoor Dog Potties
Based on what we have presented so far, grass indoor potties are preferred over any other type of indoor dog potty especially when it comes to housetraining. It provides a host of advantages over the other types such as the following.
- Provides a natural environment in which dogs are more familiar. Since this is almost the same material that they are eliminating outdoors, it makes it super-easy for them to accept the grass indoor dog potty as a natural extension of their outdoor toilet.
- Natural grass is known to have phytochemicals that can aid in neutralizing odor-causing germs. This helps eliminate the need for spraying the dog potty with artificial deodorizers.
- Grass indoor dog potties are also more comfortable for your pet. Plastic or synthetic grass is usually stiffer than it can actually hurt your pet’s paws. On the other hand, natural grass has a softer, downier feel to it.
- They are completely disposable, eliminating the need for cleaning.
- These give you a more eco-friendly solution for your dog’s elimination needs. It can also add to the beauty of your home interior.
The Importance of Proper Indoor Dog Potty Sanitation
Regardless of the type of indoor dog potty that you are going to choose, it is very important to observe proper sanitation. Remember that both dog urine and dog feces contain microorganisms that can bring a host of health problems not only to you but also to other pets in your household. Keeping the canine litter box as clean and sanitary as possible should help prevent the transmission of disease-causing germs. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to properly clean their products, especially the non-natural grass types.
Tips for Training Your Dog to Use an Indoor Dog Potty
Getting the right indoor dog potty is one thing. Training your dog to use it is a different matter. Here are some tips on how you can be more successful in housetraining your dog.
Always Start Them Early
If you have a puppy, then make sure to train them while they are still young. That being said, if you have a new dog brought in from the shelter always make housebreaking one of your top priorities, including a quick introduction to its new indoor dog potty.
Learn Your Dog’s Elimination Patterns
Typically, dogs will want to defecate about 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. Puppies, on the other hand, have a much faster elimination pattern, typically between 5 and 30 minutes after a meal. So take note of your dog’s pattern so you can guide it towards its indoor dog potty accordingly.
Set Routines and Make Sure to Be Consistent With What You Have Initially Established
If you are training your dog to defecate at 6 or 7 in the morning, then it is imperative that you do this on a daily basis. If you cap the night with a late evening stroll for a last-minute chance to ‘go’ just before bed, then make sure to observe this every single evening.
Mind Your Energy, Especially Your Anxieties
You see, if you’re comfortable about housetraining your dog, it’ll be easier for them to learn routines. Don’t rush them or punish them if they don’t defecate or urinate when you go outside. The key here is for them to get accustomed to the routine.
Always Think About Positive Reinforcement
Every time your dog is able to ‘go’ as expected, praise it. Give it a good hug or simply acknowledge its behavior. It will mean a lot to your dog.
An indoor dog potty is a great tool for addressing your pets’ need to eliminate, especially when faced with circumstances that prevent them from taking their business outside. With these indoor dog potties, you are now one step closer to bringing home an indoor toilet just for your dog.
Sources:
- Laura Cross, Most Common Dog Potty Problems Solved, Vetstreet
- Heather Hoffmann, DVM, How to Potty Train a Puppy or Adult Dog, PetMD
FAQs
An indoor potty is designed to encourage your pup to go indoors in the same way as cats use litter boxes. However, they have a different set-up, which is better suited to dogs. This doggy litter box can feature real grass, or an artificial grass pad, to simulate an outdoor environment, which is appealing to your dog. However, they can also come as plain options, which are often easier to clean.
Absolutely. Naturally, of course, they do require training, patience, and consistency when it comes to first using the indoor potty. However, once they’re all set up and comfortable with their new indoor potty, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your dog will take to their new potty arrangements.
In the same manner as you place a litter box, you need to pop your indoor potty in an area with low traffic. You should also try to use a corner, with some space surrounding this, so that your dog can feel safe and secure as they use the best indoor dog potty.
It’s important to keep your indoor potty clean and to empty it or remove waste straight after use. This will stop the build-up of bacteria and therefore stop the smell of dog waste before the indoor dog potty systems become malodorous. However, without regular cleaning, an indoor potty can absolutely begin to smell.
If the dog does not go outside at all, then you’ll need to change the dog pee pads at least three times a day. However, if your dog is mixing indoor and outdoor dog potty trips, then you can change the pee pads as and when. So, when they look soiled, smell or simply have been sat around for a while, as you’ll need to consider the smell.
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