Too tired to take your pawed friend for a bathroom break again and again? Why not have them use a dog toilet instead? Here's your guide to the various types of indoor dog toilets available and how to choose the ideal one for your four-legged friend.
Part of the dog ownership experience involves taking your dear pet to a suitable location where they can go to the bathroom. The event is often random, time-consuming, and energy-draining.
However, there is an easier way. By training your dog to use the loo indoors, you can save plenty of time, money, and worry on your part. Your pup will also appreciate the exceptional long-term treatment.
Letting your dog use your own (human) toilet is possible. Yet, it is not suitable for all breeds and will take extensive effort and training. In place of that, you can go for an indoor toilet specifically designed for a canine. It makes it easy to train your pet and can yield multiple benefits. Read on to know more about the advantages of indoor toilets, the different types, and how to choose the best one for your dog.
Benefits of Indoor Dog Toilets
Some of the common benefits of investing in an indoor dog toilet include:
No issues with bad weather
Rain or a bad storm outside? Your pet need not suffer the consequences. They can relieve themselves within the house without getting wet or dirty. People living in snowy areas can significantly benefit from indoor dog toilets.
Ease of cleanliness
You may need to clean your dog poop by hand to ensure sanitization and keep your garden clean. On the other hand, indoor dog toilets provide you with an efficient way to dispose of your pet's biowaste while keeping your hands mostly clean.
Well-mannered canines
Dogs that receive indoor potty training turn out more obedient and well-mannered than those who don't. It can be a massive advantage if you often have visitors who aren't too "friendly" with most canines.
Improved health and confidence
With an indoor dog toilet, you can easily observe your dog's health over time. Such toilets are the only alternative for physically hurt pets as they recover from their injuries. They know that it is a safe environment that has no consequences - they are going to the bathroom in the right place.
Better safety
Other creatures can distract your dog from doing their bathroom business for a while in the outdoors. Maybe, you need to look out for some street dogs around the corner or your neighbor taking her poodle for a walk. There's nothing like that with indoor dog toilets that provide your dog a secure environment to help relieve themselves.
Freedom to take some time away
The worst fear any dog owner has is how their dog behaves when left alone for a few days. Whether work or a vacation, you can stress about your dog ruining your home while you are away. If you have a dog toilet working in tandem with a feeding system, your dog can get the basics in your absence.
Some dog toilets can send you real-time updates straight to your smartphone. You can come home from your time away to a mostly clean home and your pawed friend waiting eagerly for you.
Types of Dog Toilets
Like with a car, there is no one perfect product for every canine. Dog toilets come in various shapes and sizes. You can choose from any of the following types to best suit your best friend.
Litter boxes
Litter boxes are the most common solution for small pet toilets. This is the most inexpensive solution if you have a small, calm breed like a toy-pom or a chihuahua. Although litter boxes designed for cats work just fine, you should go for the ones purpose-built for a canine. The litter material is different and can help keep them clean during their bathroom breaks.
On the downside, litter boxes don't fit the needs of larger dogs since they can easily mess up the litter or obliterate the box. Be sure to check the instructions before buying one for your pet.
Training toilets with disposable pads
Training toilet pads are an excellent choice for pets new to using the bathroom indoors. They can help you transition your dog's potty routine to remain within your house without making too much mess. Disposable pads are cheap and easy to get from a nearby Walmart or Target store. You can place them in specially designed holders so your pet knows exactly where to go.
You can also store disposable pads for when a fellow pet owner visits you. Many eco-friendly options neither consume electricity nor take long to biodegrade. However, the cost is a crucial factor to consider. The bills can ramp up quicker the more pads you use.
Training toilets with reusable pads
To save on buying training pads repeatedly, you can use reusable dog potty training pads instead. There is no need to throw them away as you can easily wash them with soap after a while. The smooth textures and bright colors make it all the more preferable for a canine to use.
While it may cost you less long-term, reusable dog toilet pads are more expensive than their disposable counterparts. Moreover, most pets are very territorial with their toilet locations. So, it may not be a good idea when you plan to have multiple dogs use the same bathroom technique.
Indoor toilets with synthetic grass
If your pawed friend likes a taste of the outdoors, you can bring some semblance with indoor synthetic grass toilets. Although they are not as appealing as natural grass, their artificial nature makes them easier to wash and prevents any infections that might come about due to dirt or pests.
Yet, many dogs don't take well to synthetic grass. If your pet has been going to the bathroom outdoors since they were young, that is what they might prefer indoors as well. On the other hand, synthetic grass is easier to purchase and replace than natural turf.
Indoor toilets with natural grass
A significant advantage of indoor toilets that contain natural grass is that your pet can't tell the difference. It is one of the more accessible toilets to train on for dogs who have known the green outdoors as their bathroom. The natural grass is easy to replant and doesn't require regular washes. It is typically hydroponic and easy to get hold of from your nearest garden center. Disposal is not a concern, either, as it degrades quickly into the soil.
However, indoor dog toilets with natural grass need constant maintenance. You have to cut and water it every few days. You cannot simply wash it clean. The cost of care is something you should consider before choosing an indoor toilet with natural grass.
Self-cleaning automatic dog toilets
If you think cleaning the dog toilet yourself is too hard or too dirty a task, you can always choose a self-cleaning variant. Such bathrooms automatically replace the pads once your pet uses them. The dirty sheets remain safely tucked away in a separate compartment for easier removal.
With these dog toilets, you can go on a vacation by filling in enough pads, content that your home will remain primarily clean. Still, it can be hard to train your dog to use one of these. If you decide to purchase one, ensure that you can give your pet enough time to prepare.
Smart dog toilets
You can go for those that integrate with your smartphone for the absolute best of dog toilets. Smart dog toilets inform you every time your pet needs a bathroom break. It automatically notifies you when the pads are running low with enough data. If required, smart dog toilets add them to your shopping list via Amazon Alexa or Google Voice Assistant.
For all their perks, smart toilets don't make a great fit for all dog breeds. The price is a factor to consider, too. Smart dog toilets can easily cost over US$1,000 without extra replacement pads.
Paw toilet buzzer
Okay, this is not precisely a toilet, but a notifier your dog can use to communicate when they need to relieve themselves. A buzzer is relatively easy to train a dog to use compared to a toilet routine. Just take them for a short walk whenever they press the button. Some versions even have the option to notify you via smartphone so that you can inform someone else to take your pet for a walk when you're not home.
The main drawback is that it can only help you know when your pet needs to go to the bathroom. There is no definitive indoor toilet solution. The buzzer also creates a particular challenge to switch training if you go for an indoor alternative in the future.
Disposable dog diapers
The best kind of toilet for your dog is one they carry with them all the time. With diapers, you can cater to pups with inconsistent diets and pets who have some form of paralysis. Disposable dog diapers are easy to order online, but you can also use suitable baby diapers.
However, diapers can make it hard to notice when your pet has gone to the bathroom. You need to manually check every few hours. Additionally, the used diapers can pile up if you don't quickly dispose of them.
Reusable dog diapers
To solve the problem of dog diaper mounts, you can try out their reusable alternatives. They are much more long-lasting, and you can leave them on your pug all day before removing them for a wash. You may only need a handful of these every few months, significantly reducing your dog's toilet costs.
Reusable dog diapers often get hot on the insides, which might not be comfortable for a few dog breeds. So, please read the instructions before buying the jumbo pack for your dear pawed friend. Keep an eye on the correct size as well. Most dogs won't try out a diaper if it is not comfortable.
How Can You Choose the Best Toilet for Your Dog?
You need to consider several factors before deciding on the correct type of dog toilet. Analyze the size of your property, how often your pet needs the bathroom, what kind of potty training they have, and your budget and routines.
In addition, you need to make sure that your dog toilet is near open space or a window. It keeps the foul smell away from inside your home. You also need to plan the disposal of any degradable materials. Certain toilet types might disrupt other tenants near you. It is good to check in with your neighbors now and then to see whether they are okay with it.
Where Should You Place Your Dog Toilet?
Your dog toilet should be in a place easily accessible to your pet. They should immediately track it as part of their training and relieve themselves without assistance. The laundry room or a bathroom are both viable options.
Whereas cats prefer secluded locations, dogs are more comfortable within sight of their owners. Ever wondered why your dog uncomfortably stares at you when they go for a potty? They want to ensure you are there for their safety. Despite that, your pet's toilet should not impede the pathway that people in the house regularly use.
How Can You Train Your Pet to Use a Toilet?
Cats can quickly go to the toilet wherever they spot enough litter. The process is, however, much more complicated for a dog. It is best to start them out as pups, letting them learn the proper place to pee before becoming too familiar with the outdoors. A disposable pad or litter box is an easy win.
For more giant breeds or mature dogs, things can get tricky. They find it difficult to break their regular routines within a few weeks. Therefore, it is a great idea to start with a reusable variant to help them identify the toilet cognitively. During their training days, you can use newspapers or plastic wraps to cover the floor around their toilet.
Physically handicapped pets don't have an assortment of options. Low-height toilets and diapers are the best toilet solutions for such canines. A paw buzzer can help you plan out their schedules effectively.
How Often Should You Clean a Dog Toilet?
The frequency of cleaning your dog's toilet depends on its type and usage. If you use disposable pads, get rid of them as soon as they soil. Dog toilets with synthetic grass need cleaning every two days. You should remove the top, drain the urine, and clean it with soap thoroughly.
Automated toilets have a storage mechanism that you need to replace every few days. The same goes for stations that have natural grass. If the smell gets too bad, you may need to replace the entire top altogether. For reusable toilet pads, you need to clean them almost every day.
Your pet's preferences matter as well. Maybe your dog doesn't mind a bit of foul smell. In such a case, you can stretch your cleaning schedule a bit. Speaking of smell, you can use air fresheners to make it easier for your dog to spot the toilet. It helps them swiftly adapt to any new toilet type.
Bottomline
Indoor dog toilets provide a convenient, safe, and comfortable method for your dog to relieve themselves. The proper selection can improve your home's cleanliness and your canine's health and behavior.
