Potty Pit

[F, Calla & Luca]

Recently, a picture was posted of a "potty pit". I thought it was a great idea. Anybody else have a designated area for the dogs to pee and poop? If you've built something , pictures, info. on what material you've used, and suggestions on how to get the dogs to use it , would all be appreciated.
http://www.doodlekisses.com/photo/helping-daddy-in-my-potty-pit

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Most stone yards will carry river pebbles (also called stream bed rock). To make a 6'x6'x3" potty pit would take about .5 cubic yards of pebbles.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I also just found this.
http://www.pup-grass.com/
I think someone asked about something like this before but this might be good in a potty area. I am planning mine to go under some hemlocks so I'd have to be sure nothing I used to clean it would kill the hemlocks.

[Lin D & Yogi]

No we don't have a specific area for going potty. But, a friend trained her two dogs to go in the ivy around their house. She said when they were puppies she just put them there. I am not sure but I think certain ivy's are poison. Her dogs lived long healthy lives.

[Susan and Sasha]

We have two homes...one in New Jersey and one in South Carolina...and Sasha has "special places" to go at each home.

The way I did it was at the very beginning when she was being "potty trained"...I would take her to the place where I wanted her to go"potty"...make it somewhere a bit out of site...and I made sure that I took her to the same place every time she had to go. She was always on a leash when I did this.

I don't have anything special set up for it...like rocks...etc...it's just an out of the way place...that people don't have to pass all of the time...but is still close enough for her to get to easily.

This made it easier to train her...because of the scent always being there...and picking the place you wanted her to go was important too...easy clean up...and not destroying the entire yard.

The funny thing is...for the longest time...even when she was outside playing in the yard...she would "never" go potty until after playtime...and not until I put her leash on...and take her to her "special spot" for her to go!

I know...it's hard to believe but it's true! LOL...

But... it did show us just how much the training "impacted" her.

She equated "going potty" with putting on her leash and going to her "special "potty place"...(smile)

She is over that now...(the leash part that is.)..but...she still has her "special potty place to go"

Another interesting thing is...it worked for her the same way...at both homes.

I wondered if it would be confusing to a puppy...to be traveling...and being in a different home as often as we are...because of my husbands business. But...Sasha adapted to car travel...and to "her special potty places" at both houses...with no problem at all! Thankfully!!

When we take her for a walk even now...she still doesn't go"potty" during the walk...but...she waits until she is back home...on her property...and then she goes.

Thankfully..if we're away from home...traveling...etc...she doesn't have trouble "going"...wherever we are!! LOL...

So...I think it's all about training...and Doodles are so smart!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the good advice.

[Ladd Hill Labradoodles]

We love the potty parks. We have 3 of them (1 on each deck) and the dogs learned quickly to use them. We always potty them on these potty parks and then let them run around on the grass. My sister said you can even use these indoors but we have them outside. They are great!

http://www.pottypark.com/