Puppy on a pee pad
Dabl At Home Dec 2020
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Dabl at Home

Where Should Your Dog Go To The Bathroom?

Check out some of the best products that will be instrumental in house training your dog and making sure he knows to only relieve himself in the right spot!

By: Catie Kovelman, Updated 04/02/2022 

Here at Dabl, we want to prepare you for the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to pet parenthood. When you decide to bring home a new dog, you’re probably looking forward to falling in love with your new fur baby and welcoming them home with lots of toys and treats. However, you will also have to decide where your dog will be allowed to go to the bathroom. This may vary depending on where you live. For example, do you have a house with a large backyard where your dog will have free reign, or do you want to designate a specific area of your garden that has grass or dirt? Alternatively, do you live in a small apartment where you need a potty solution for a small patio or will you be okay with walking your dog several times a day? While your dog’s bathroom habits might gross you out, it’s part of life and an important plan to have in place for successful potty training. Check out our favorite products for potty training your dog that can be used successfully across a variety of home types and lifestyles! 

Bark PottyBark Potty

Bark Potty Disposable Dog Bathroom

The Bark Potty is the perfect bathroom for a dog and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Each Bark Potty tray is lined to prevent leakage, and contains earthy smells and natural materials that stimulate your dog to use the bathroom. It also contains natural and safe bacteria to prevent the Bark Potty from smelling bad. Since it doesn't contain real grass, the Bark Potty won't rot or die so you can use it whenever and wherever for as long as you'd like.

$38 - $49

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Fresh PatchFresh Patch

Fresh Patch Disposable Dog Potty Grass Patch - Made With Real Grass

If your yard doesn't have grass or you want a designated potty area for your dog on a small apartment patio, purchasing a Fresh Patch Disposable Potty is a great idea. Grass is often the surface of choice for dogs when they need to go to the bathroom, which may make toilet training easier. The patches soak up pet waste, urine, and odors to keep your home or yard clean and smelling great, and are easy to dispose of when it's time to order a new Fresh Patch. Overall, the Fresh Patch is the right choice to supplement dog walking if you live in an apartment, add grass to your backyard for your dog, or for senior dogs who need convenience and can't go for long walks.

$30 - $40

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HarmonyHarmony

8 sq. ft. Bermuda Sod

While many people like to use grass patches made specifically for animal waste, Home Depot sells rolls of sod for significantly less money that can function very similarly. This is an extremely affordable way to add grass to your yard for your dog to do his business. Bermuda sod is a particularly great choice because it is easy to maintain, only needs partial sunlight, and is naturally disease and insect-resistant. If your yard doesn’t already have grass, this is also a great idea for dog owners with an older dog or young puppy who can’t walk as far or might not be leash trained yet. 

$8

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TrafficMasterTrafficMaster

Landscape 6 ft. x 7.5 ft. Artificial Grass Carpet

If you need a grass solution for your yard because of your dog, why not consider using artificial grass? It doesn't need as much maintenance as living grass, looks real, and only needs to be watered down once in a while. Although artificial grass may cost more upfront, you will likely save money because it won't need the same amount of maintenance as real grass and you won't need to repeatedly replace disposable dog pee pads. This natural-looking grass has superior durability for pet use, is designed to be cool to the touch even under direct sunlight, and comes with a 10-year warranty to ensure your lasting satisfaction.

$165

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FriscoFrisco

Frisco Giant Dog Training Pee Pad Box

Potty Pads make a great indoor bathroom for dogs because they protect your flooring and prevent nasty odors from permeating your home. They are a useful training tool for puppies and can even be used when crate training in case of accidents. They are also a good solution when you don't want to go outside in inclement weather, or have a senior dog who has trouble making it outside to use the bathroom. These super absorbent pee pads have an attractant that encourages dogs to go potty, are leakproof, and have 5 layers of protection to prevent gross pet messes.

$23 (Save With Autoship!)

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High Tech Pet ProductsHigh Tech Pet Products

High Tech Pet Products PX-2 Power Pet Fully Automatic Pet Door

Train your dog to take himself to the toilet as necessary! If you have a busy lifestyle, installing a doggie door that allows your pup to go outside and do his business whenever nature calls is a priceless investment for your dog's health and your home's cleanliness. The High Tech Pet Products Dog Door is fully automatic to give your pet the freedom he deserves, while also providing you and your family with the security you need. While traditional doggie doors can leave your home vulnerable to intruders and unwanted stray animals, this pet door only opens when it senses the coordinating High Tech Pet Microsonic Collar that comes with your purchase. The door automatically opens and closes itself for your pet, which means hesitant pups don't have to worry about pushing the dog door open themselves. You will also have full control over how your pet uses the door and when with in-only, out-only, full-access, or closed-and-locked options.

$450 (On Sale!)

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Nature's Miracle Nature's Miracle

Nature's Miracle Housebreaking Spray, 16-Ounce

Dogs often rely on smell to identify a good potty area. That said, some pet owners want their dog to only use the bathroom in one specific location and will need help making their dog understand. If your dog needs some extra help figuring out where the right spot to go is, give him some guidance with Nature's Miracle Housebreaking Spray. The spray works by releasing pheromones that attract your dog, and encourage him to go potty in the desired place. This spray is effective for both indoor and outdoor potty training! Just make sure you always take your dog to the same spot for every bathroom break to reinforce the right behavior! 

$4 (On Sale!)

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Nature's Miracle Nature's Miracle

Nature's Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover Spray

Speaking of Nature’s Miracle, you’ll want to invest in a bottle of Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover to clean up pet accidents that occur during house training. While normal cleaning products might sanitize and clean the mess as far as humans can tell, dogs will still be able to smell their urine and be more likely to relieve themselves in the same spot going forward. Nature’s Miracle uses powerful enzymes to completely eliminate the smells left behind by your pet’s urine so he won’t be encouraged to go to the bathroom in the wrong spot going forward. 

$11 (On Sale!)

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Greener WalkerGreener Walker

Greener Walker Dog Poop Bags for Dog Waste

While walking your dog, set a good example for your pup and your neighbors by always cleaning up dog poop. Greener Walker Poop Bags are especially great not only because they are extra thick and leakproof, but also because they are made of recycled, biodegradable material. This package comes with 540 bags so you won't have to repurchase for a long time.

$18

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Last but not least, we wanted to remind you that we know that potty training your dog can be frustrating at times, but we also know your patience will pay off! The above tools will certainly help your pup learn where their desired potty spot is. Keep in mind that every dog is a bit different, so you may need to adjust your house training techniques to set your pup up for success. For example, a new dog owner might not realize that a young puppy can’t hold its bladder for nearly as long as an older puppy or adult dogs. According to the Humane Society, a puppy can hold its bladder for one hour with every month of life. So, a three-month-old puppy could likely control its bladder for about 3 hours. Therefore, dog owners who have just welcomed home a new puppy will need to plan for extra bathroom breaks. If you can’t take your dog for as many walks as he requires, consider hiring a dog walker to provide those extra bathroom breaks and prevent accidents inside your home.

Need more help with potty training? Make sure to check out a related article below!

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