[aj1]

Wow, that didn't sound right. Right now I have my puppy trained to hit the bells at my patio door to let me know when he's gotta go potty. During the winter he's been going wherever (on the patio) as I attached a retractable leash to the door not having to freeze my buns off waiting for him to complete his business. It's worked great, however spring is in the air, sure felt it today and I tried to attach his leash on the tree the other day, problem is he's getting dirty. He's an indoor dog sooooooooooo, I was thinking about getting one of those grass simulated things where your dogs can go potty on. Does anyone have or use one of these? My daughter has one off her patio for her yorkies, not sure they use it, but I was thinking of getting one for my jack. I would remove his messes as they happen as I have all winter. But where does the pee go, they must have a pan. I am visiting my daughter this weekend so I can check hers out but thought someone had one of these or made something similiar to that. Am I just wrong to not want him to go on the grass for getting dirty purposes? This dog is dinging those bells on a nice day too often (he's losing track of what the purposes for the bells are)and keeping him loose in the yard isn't an option for me.

Sorry it's so long.

aj

[DoggieVogue]

Getting the simulated grass for your dog seems pretty unnecessary. Just because your dog gets a little dirty, doesn't mean he should get his privileges of being outdoors taken away. He is most likely just getting dirty with wet ground, which won't be all the time.

[aj1]

I knew that post wasn't how I wanted it to read! Make no mistake my dog gets out a lot and he gets dirty I don't have a problem with him getting dirty. I want him to go out and potty and that's it, when it's play time I let him know, he gets lots of excercise I walk him an hour a day and he's played with and gets dirty. It's only for doing his business........ nothing else. I don't have the time in the day every 10 minutes so he can go out to supposedly pee but he's digging instead and forgets the purpose of why he hit the bells at the door:roll:

[cigwyllt]

It sounds like he has you pretty well trained - ringing the bell to go out and play whenever he feels like it!

Am I right that you are looking for some sort of litter tray type set up so you don't have to clean his feet a dozen times a day after he's been out? Why not work on his toilet training so that he goes when YOU say instead of when he says? Then he could go to the toilet at the same time as his play time.

[aj1]

I think I'm confusing myself here, lol! He is very good at ringing the bells only when he has to pee but when it's nice out like it's been he wants out more often. BUT.....I know if he has to pee or not so I use it to my discretion to let him out or not. He is in no way doing what he wants. That's why he's trained to go on patio so I can watch him do his "thing!"

[TaraAndTimber]

My daughter made a paving stone circle off their deck, and filled it with mulch, and taught her springer spaniels to pee there. This keeps their grass from being 'burnt' in spots. This should address your cleanliness issues as well! She waters/rinses it often to keep it from smelling, and will have to replace the mulch as it decomposes. Good luck!

[aj1]

What a great idea! I love it, certainly opens up a whole new idea for me now...lol!

Thanks!