How to Set Up an Indoor Dog Potty Station

Mother Nature can sometimes be a real buzzkill, especially when your dog needs to go. A sudden snowstorm, a torrential downpour, or a late-night emergency can leave us scrambling to find a solution for our furry family members.

Fear not, fellow dog parents!

With a bit of planning and the proper setup, you can create a reliable indoor potty station that will ensure your dog’s comfort and your home’s cleanliness are both top priorities, regardless of the weather.

Reasons for Using an Indoor Dog Potty

As dog parents, we usually hear about the importance of potty training. After all, why would we want to deal with accidents in our homes when we can move the mess outdoors, where it’s more sanitary and easier to clean up?

Whether you’re dealing with harsh weather connections, have limited outdoor access, or find yourself navigating physical limitations, an indoor potty station can be a game-changer. Here are a few situations where you may consider setting up a doggy-friendly bathroom spot inside:

Potty Training

The most common reason for setting up an indoor potty station is to provide your pup with an option during the potty training stage. We regularly associate potty training with young puppies, and for good reason. They are still learning what is expected of them at this young age.

But young puppies aren’t the only ones trying to familiarize themselves with the household rules. This may also apply to dogs that recently joined the family at an older age, like shelter or rescue dogs who have recently been adopted. Some dogs also experience potty training regression, needing to relearn where they are allowed to relieve themselves.

Regardless of your dog’s age or whether this is the first time they have been potty trained, one thing is true – there will likely be times they suddenly need to go. If they can’t get your attention to take them outdoors, an indoor potty provides them with somewhere to take care of business while still respecting the rules of the house.

Medical Issues or Injury Recovery

If your dog’s mobility is limited due to an illness, disease, or injury, they may have difficulty getting outdoors to go to the bathroom. This often requires changes in your routine or around your home to accommodate their needs. It could be for a short-term need, like recovering after surgery, or a long-term change due to an ongoing medical condition.

Setting up a bathroom space in your home will make it easier to help your dog to the right spot to do their business. This is especially important if hurdles like stairs prevent them from easily moving through the home or heading outside.

The Golden Years

Do you share your heart and your home with a senior dog? Whether your dog is experiencing limited mobility due to arthritis or struggles to make it outside due to incontinence, an indoor potty station may help reduce accidents around the home while avoiding the guilt older dogs often feel when they know they have done something they shouldn’t.

Another condition often faced by dogs in their later years is canine dementia. As part of this, your dog may struggle to remember the route to the back door, making it nearly impossible to avoid accidents unless they are near an exit point. Setting up a potty station or two in your home, where they spend the bulk of their time, will ensure an easy-to-find bathroom spot is available.

Harsh Weather

Taking your dog out to go to the bathroom, rain or shine, is a commitment you make as a dog parent. However, there are times that extreme weather conditions make it unsafe to go outdoors, preventing your dog from heading out to their usual bathroom location. Some examples we have seen recently in the United States include a potential tornado or the arrival of a severe hurricane.

Unfortunately, during these weather events, your dog will still need to go to the bathroom. An indoor potty station can easily be set up in the safety of your home, allowing your dog to remain near the rest of the family while avoiding unnecessary accidents.

Lack of Convenient Outdoor Space

If you have an easily accessible backyard or garden space, this struggle may not cross your mind. But for some dog parents, taking their pup out to go to the bathroom may require a lot more effort. For example, if you live in an apartment on one of the upper floors of a high-rise apartment, the journey to take your dog outside could take a surprisingly long time.

Your dog is probably used to the time it takes to make their way outside. However, there are times when they may have to go so badly that it makes it difficult or uncomfortable to hold it that long. For example, if your dog has been inside for a longer time while you’re at work or you’re just waking up after a full night’s sleep. In these situations, having an indoor potty will allow your dog to relieve themselves without running the risk of accidents along the way.

Physical Limitations

We already addressed the possibility that your dog may experience limited mobility, but what about you? If you were to suffer an injury or be recovering from an illness, taking your dog outdoors could be a significant challenge. Struggling to keep up with your regular routine doesn’t make you a bad dog parent, but you must consider alternatives to meet your dog’s needs. Setting up an indoor potty for your dog is a great short-term solution until you have recovered enough to take them outside more frequently.

Purchasing an Indoor Dog Potty

The quickest and easiest solution to setting up a dog bathroom station is to purchase a commercially made dog potty. These potty stations usually include trays to catch solid or liquid waste, keeping the mess contained. They are also constructed in a way that is easy to clean. 

Products like the PetSafe Pet Loo Portable Dog Potty are designed with artificial grass to make your dog feel like they are outdoors. This helps to reinforce that they are only supposed to go to the bathroom outdoors by drawing a connection between grass and doing their business, making it an effective solution for pups still being potty trained.

Beneath the artificial turf, a drawer-like tray called the “Pee-Pod” holds a powder that instantly turns urine into gel. Clean-up is as easy as emptying any waste from this tray and rinsing the whole unit down.

Create a DIY Indoor Dog Potty

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution, there are several ways to build your own bathroom station. This is also a great approach if you struggle to find a commercial potty due to high demand right before a weather event. Recently, many pet parents I spoke with in the Florida area experienced this challenge in finding products as they prepared for Hurricane Milton to make landfall.

Here are a few options for creating your own homemade puppy bathroom station:

Cat Litterbox with a Twist

This is one of the most straightforward solutions, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. If you can access a cat litterbox large enough to accommodate your dog, you can transform it into a doggy potty by lining the box with puppy pee pads. When your pup does their business, simply change out the pee pads, and you’re good to go again. The litterbox itself ensures that the waste is contained, preventing accidents around the potty.

The only major challenge this solution presents is that it is only workable for small or toy dog breeds and small puppies. If you’re concerned about the waste created by using disposable pee pads, there are reusable pee pads available that be washed and used again.

Kiddie Pool Puppy Potty

This solution is one I saw being shared across social media as dog parents prepared for the recent hurricanes. Unlike the last option, this is suitable for dogs of all sizes, even giant dog breeds like Great Danes and Newfoundlands.

For this, you will need a plastic kiddie pool. If you have a water-loving dog like I do, you may already have one sitting around from the hot summer months. Place the pool inside and line the bottom with wood shavings or pee pads. Next, place a patch of grass (some dog parents even used a patch of real grass in a pinch) or artificial turf. If you use turf, ensure there are holes in the base to allow urine to pass through.

Remove the soiled pee pads or shavings when your dog does their business. Artificial turf can simply be rinsed clean. Real grass isn’t as easy to clean but still serves its purpose in a pinch.

Tarp & Pool Noodle Potty

This is an excellent solution if you’re trying to set something up in a hurry without being able to locate the usual pet-specific supplies. To begin, create the frame for the outside edge of your dog’s potty by attaching pool noodles. Place this frame on the ground and cover it with a basic utility tarp. On top of the tarp, place an absorbent solution like a pee pad or cat litter. The tarp will protect your floors if the urine isn’t fully absorbed.  

Boot Tray Dog Toilet

For the base of this potty station, you will need a boot tray with raised edges or the plastic tray found in the bottom of a dog crate. Line the tray with pee pads to collect your dog’s waste. You can add a layer of artificial turf on top to create the illusion of going to the bathroom outside. As this tray is much shallower than the other solutions, you must stay on top of cleaning even more to prevent any spillage or overflow.

Final Thoughts: The Benefits of Indoor Dog Potty Stations

An indoor dog potty station is a versatile solution for a wide variety of situations. From the early stages of potty training to navigating changes in your dog’s senior years or unexpected weather events, having a designated indoor bathroom space ensures you can meet your dog’s needs while still prioritizing your home’s cleanliness.

Whether you choose a convenient pre-made option or prefer a DIY approach, you can create a reliable system that benefits everyone. But remember, consistency and positive reinforcement are key to successfully introducing the new potty solution to your pup.

Allowing your dog to go to the bathroom indoors may not be ideal. However, an important part of being a responsible dog parent is being able to adjust as needed to provide for your dog’s needs regardless of what challenges may come your way.

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