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There are many reasons why you might find yourself needing an indoor dog potty. Perhaps you are house-training your puppy or maybe your senior dog is slowing down and needs to be able to relieve themselves without going on a walk.
Whatever the reason may be, an indoor dog potty has become another handy tool in many dog owners’ lives. In this blog post, I researched the best indoor dog potties on the market which are eco-friendly alternatives to disposable pee pads.
What is the best indoor dog potty?
1. Bark Potty
Bark Potty Features
The Bark Potty is the closest thing to an eco-friendly indoor dog potty you will find. It is made from real bark (hence the name) that has a natural earthy scent that prompts dogs to go pee.
I couldn’t find a similar product on the market and chose it as best overall because it lasts for up to 1 month and unlike real grass versions, the look doesn’t change over the duration of the month.
The bark also remains dry and doesn’t become saturated with dog urine because the hydrophobic bark resins draw the liquid away from the surface and to the bottom of the lined tray, promoting evaporation.
This is an eco-friendly dog owner’s dream because the bark is compostable and the tray liner is recyclable. No part of this indoor dog potty needs to go into a landfill, unlike a disposable pee pad.
On top of this, the company donates 1% of its sales to environmental non-profits committed to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices. This means you and your dog can help the environment one pee at a time!
2. Wee-Wee Four Paws
Wee-Wee Four Paws Features
Wee-Wee Four Paws is an artificial grass indoor potty which is another alternative to a pee pads. It comes with a synthetic grass mat which can also be bought separately to replace an old mat and a tray to collect the urine.
Because this indoor dog potty isn’t made of natural grass or bark, like the other ones on the list, the synthetic grass doesn’t absorb the dog’s urine so the tray has to be emptied daily. The tray comes with a spout for easy disposal.
This artificial grass indoor potty also has an attractant built in to prompt your dog to use the potty to mark their territory which is great for male dogs that like to spray on everything they pass outside.
The downside of this synthetic grass mat is that it has to be cleaned fairly often to remove the smell from the fibers. But the upside is it’s eco-friendly and reusable so you’ll save more money in the long run.
3. Frisco Eco-Conscious Potty Pads
Frisco Eco-Conscious Potty Pads Features
If you love the freedom of disposable pee pads but you want an eco-friendly option, then these Frisco Eco-conscious Potty Pads are a great option. They are made with 50% recycled material and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
These disposable pee pads are from Chewy.com and are unbleached and not dyed which means no weird chemicals around your pup. They come in three different sizes and also come with a built-in dog attractant to encourage your dog to pee.
4. DoggieLawn
DoggieLawn Features
DoggieLawn’s indoor dog potty is made from real grass which has natural earthy scents that prompt your dog to pee on it. The grass absorbs the pee and neutralizes any odors with the naturally occurring bacteria.
The DoggieLawn is soil-less which means you won’t find muddy paw prints around your apartment, unlike sod which you would find at a garden center. This makes clean-up quick and easy as the grass can be thrown into the compost bin when you’re finished with it.
Over time the grass will become saturated so a plastic liner will need to be used but DoggieLawn throws in a free liner with the first shipment.
The downside of this real grass indoor dog potty is the grass will eventually die. This isn’t a problem for your dog as they don’t care whether the grass is green or yellow, they will still pee on it! But for the dog owner, a yellow patch of grass in their apartment for a week or so may not be the most aesthetically pleasing to look at!
What is an indoor dog potty?
An indoor dog potty system is a device that provides a place in your home for your dog to relieve themselves.
These potties are great options for apartment living as they can either be kept on a balcony or inside the home and keep messes contained for easy cleanup.
Indoor dog potties are available in a variety of materials, such as real grass, artificial grass, bark, and eco-friendly disposable pee pads.
Cleaning and maintenance of an indoor dog potty is minimal depending on the type used but all of them help support a clean and happy home.
Choosing the Best Indoor Dog Potty
When it comes to choosing the best indoor dog potty for your pup, there are several factors that you should consider.
Size
Consider the size of your dog and the space that you have available in your home. Indoor dog potties come in lots of different sizes so large dogs will require the larger dog litter boxes.
Additionally, if you are considering putting the indoor dog potty outside on the balcony then you will want to grab your tape measure to ensure the indoor dog toilet you choose will fit.
Design
The design of the indoor potty should also be taken into consideration. The BarkPotty is a brown box that doesn’t change color but the DoggieLawn may start to go yellow after a few weeks. If you know you are the type of person who will be annoyed by this then artificial grass or the bark litter box might be the best option.
Cost
Some of the indoor dog potties come with monthly subscriptions whereas the dog pee pads or the artificial grass pad are bought one at a time.
Cleanup
The cleanup of the indoor dog potty will probably play a large part in your choice. Each dog potty will need to have the poop removed daily but the BarkPotty and Doggie Lawn do not need to have the urine removed as it is naturally absorbed.
The synthetic grass mats on the other hand will need to have the poop and pee removed. These types of indoor dog potty systems require more cleanup and can leave an odor if not cleaned often enough.
Environment
One of the worst parts of potty training your puppy is throwing the pee pads into the trash and worrying about the extra items going into the landfill.
These dog potty options detailed above are eco-friendly and even the disposable pee pads are made from recycled material.
Convenience
Lastly, the convenience of the indoor dog potty should also be considered. The synthetic grass options will need to be cleaned regularly. Whereas the BarkPotty and DoggieLawn options can be simply thrown into the compost.
What are the benefits of an indoor dog potty?
There are many reasons why you may be looking for the best indoor dog potty.
- You live in extreme weather climates which makes taking your dog outside for a potty break difficult.
- You have an injury that makes getting outside tough.
- You are potty-training your puppy.
- You have a senior dog who needs a place to go to the bathroom without going on a walk.
- You are training your dog to stop submissively peeing inside and need an option for them to empty their bladders if needed.
Final thoughts
Indoor dog potties are becoming increasingly popular for owners who want to keep their homes clean and mess-free. With so many different types of indoor dog potties available, it’s important to consider the size, design, cost, and convenience when making your decision. Weighing all these factors carefully can help you choose the best option for both you and your pup.
