apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

WOW. I don't know about for dogs (the idea of a dog going in the house is kind of wierd to me) but for cats this is a great solution for where to put the litterbox and also how to use an old vanity. Opoponax, do you have a cat?

Vel is so cute! Our miniature poodle passed away this year at age 16. Poodles are incredibly bright so I'm not surprised Vel is so well-trained.
What is in the bottom of the plastic container? Is it some kind of litter or is it one of those pee-pee pads?
I love Vel's special stairs too - this is one pampered pooch (and I thoroughly believe that all dogs deserve to be spoiled rotten!)

Extra points for training him to use it!!!

my thought exactly, matilda!

unfortunately, no. our mutual friend is fiercly allergic.

I admire this contestant's frugal approach to materials, although as a small-space dweller I would hate to lose my precious under-sink storage space.

Matilda, I also think this would be a neat solution for a cat litter box. I have to return to a comment Patrick made yesterday: I think the fresh air and exercise involved in routine pee-breaks are really good for dogs (and their owners!) I realize there are extreme situations where health or logistics might force a dog companion to seek out another solution, but an apartment-dwelling dog really needs to get outside regularly.

Whenever I see these "indoor dog toilets" like the astro-turf posted yesterday, I can't help but connect these "solutions" with recent rises in obesity and bad behavior (often linked to lack of exercise) in our dog population.

I don't live in a townhouse or have a backyard, but I do make sure my dog gets outdoor frolics everyday.

Steppin down from the soap box now.

Awww your little guy is adorable (great solution, too). Thank you for choosing rescue!

JenDC, I agree with what you have to say about how great fresh air/exercise is for both dogs and their owners. However, I do think there is a place for indoor dog toilets. Some older dogs become incontinent or have to pee with increased frequency and having a place to go frequently might be helpful for them. Also, even if a dog owner takes his/her dog outside the majority of the time, if the owner is going to be out of the house for several hours it might be nice for a dog to have a designated place to relieve himself if he just can't hold it until the owner gets home.

EG, Please, consider a giving a tour of your apartment. The colors look fun.
Thanks,

I love love love this. I have a chihuahua who goes in the house as well and it can definitely gross out guests. It may be hard to train him though to do this...

Btw, where did you buy your doggie steps? That infomercial?
Thanks.
Jen

FYI: smaller dogs have to go more often, Mr. Soap Box man. I have a silver poodle, exact same size. We walk in the mornings and at at night, she relieves herself each walk, and STILL uses the wee wee pad when i am gone for work.

Big points for clever use of materials!
My dog, Pepperoni, was convertible, I discovered when I adopted him. He is happy to go outside but is equally comfortable with a couple of sheets of the Tims on the bathroom floor. Living in a six-floor walk-up, I saw the benefit of that right away and there are many late nights, snowy and rainy days that I am happy with this arrangement. And I can't even begin to describe how fortunate that was when my leg was in a cast during the winter!!

Pepperoni!!! Oh, I love it!

I also love this clever idea. I could see myself doing something similar for a litterbox someday. I can't believe there aren't better options than ugly plastic litterboxes! (grumble grumble)

Good idea!

SO much better (and neater) than the astroturf, and I love your darling dog!

BTW, my 8lb poodle could wait all day (and not in a crate) when I was growing up; it just took getting him trained to do so. He was smart enough not to pee in his "den", which was really the whole house.

Can we see the rest of your apartment? I love the color and creative doggy solution....

Wow! so many nice comments! :O)

Thanks for asking me to show my apartment, but I must admit I'm a bit nervous about the idea of doing a tour. My apartment is more of a 'something out of nothing' 'always a work in progress' palette of colors and re-designed street finds, rather than the smart showplaces of design I see here so often.

The gogo box is a great convenience for us... but don't you all worry, Vel get's out of the house PLENTY! I built the box, and trained Vel to use it (by the way, who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks huh?) because I think it's nice for him to be able to go when he needs to go, and it's fantastic for me because I am not always able to get outside with him at regularly scheduled intervals(due to a chronic health problem). But rest assured.. Vel gets lots of social (and potty) time outside too. The GOGO box is in ADDITION to outside time, not in lieu of it.

Sorry Jen.. I don't know where the stairs where purchased. A friend was upgrading her pet stairs and we were given this great hand-me-down. These are the really sturdy ones (made of wood).

And yes Erin, that is litter in the bottom of the box. It took a little while for him to get used to it. In the beginning I used newspaper instead (during training I actually took the litter box down to the street EVERY time he went outside... not too much fun really, not to hard either... more tedious than hard (friendly giggles from the neighbors too), but it did work, and he learned to go in the box in the house within 2 weeks). I'm right there with you too on pampering the pets... Vel's a rescue and was in really bad shape when I got him (even the CACC deemed him as "virtually unadoptable" because of his age and obvious mistreatment), so I do hope that I am making the second half of his life so much better than the first half.

oh and.. PS to Opoponax, Vel is a toy poodle and is completely hypo-allergenic. I have strong cat/dog allergies and never thought I could have a pet. After doing lots of hours of online research (and many of my own sniff tests), I have found that Bishon Frize (Sp?), poodles, and malteze dogs (along with a few others I have forgot) are good bets for those with allergies. I cuddle up with my little guy all the time without a single sneeze... it's like magic to me after so many years of not being able to pet pets :O)

EG is my neighbor and very good friend. Her place is an amazing pastiche of colors, odds and ends, etc. I love to hang out there...

Vel is an incredible little guy and so fun to hang with. Bless EG for rescueing him when she did, as he was quite a mess. He is truly one lucky dog...

You go girl....hope you win!!!

xoxo

I am late to comment, but I think this is great...and weirdly enough, I was just contemplating doing this exact thing to house the cat litter!! Now I can see how it would look! Wonderful, thank you!

P.S. - Heck, I think I even have the same sink cabinet! Now I can't wait to try this. *goes off to rummage through fabric collection*

Cool!

My dog would definitely fall asleep in there, though, because he likes cozy hidey-holes. He likes to pee out in the open. Or actually, in the bathroom on an easily cleaned floor (mighty thoughtful of him) if no one is home when he HAS to go.

I don't know if it's because he sees my husband do it or what (the man goes IN the toilet, not on it, obviously) but he somehow understands the purpose of bathrooms.

That is a fantastic idea EG! Much like Valerie mentioned, by Shih Tzu (Gizmo) loves to go potty on the bathroom floor when he can't hold it! I'm going to be getting a kitten in a few weeks and I wonder if I can train Gizmo to also potty in the litterbox (in addition to his MANY daily walks)?

Great idea!!!

Further proof that mature rescue dogs rock! Thanks for sharing EG. It must give you great peace of mind to know Vel never has to cross his paws and bravely try to hold it in 'till you come home. I know it would've made a HUGE difference during the last years with my little guy (a rescued bishon). I'm definitely trying this with my next love pooch. Thanks so much!

Oh and Danielle, for some reason, dogs just love the treats cats leave behind in the litterbox (it's disturbing, I know), so you might wanna keep an eye on Gizmo and your kitty's litterbox.

Mini-schnauzers are also good for those with allergies.

Yes, Lourdes, that is a nasty thought! But I get what you're saying....(ewwww).

I might try it out and see what I can do. However, Gizmo is a strange dog. He just developed a new quirk...he will only eat his food after i pour it out of his dog bowl. It will be interesting to try out the kitty litter thing.

This is such a fabulous solution to a common problem! Granted, you do lose a little storage space but it is much more economical than any of commercial litter furniture. Plus, I love the picture of Vel's cute little doggy bum sticking out as he goes in there.
Not to get too sidetracked, but this has made me wonder about litter training my 9 month old jack russell. He is 90% housetrained. Any thoughts on litter training an already outdoor trained dogs? Of course it would be in addition to frequent trips out, not as a substitute.
Back to hiding the litterpan: petco has these plastic nautilus-shaped contraptions that house the pan on the very inside, but I can't tell whether they're okay looking or heinous. At least they're not rubbermaid gray/beige.

Nadia... at first I was worried about losing that storage space too, but then I picked up a little cabinet for a few dollars at a moving sale. I turned it upside down (because it was meant to stand on the floor), did some minor modifications for style, function, and color, then I attached it (very securely with toggle bolts) to the wall, and in doing so I reclaimed the space I'd lost to Vel's gogo box. You can see my little cabinet here... http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3509/storage9vm.jpg

And I am sure you can train your Jack Russel to use a box too (I understand that they are quite the smarties too), just be consistant and patient and he'll eventually understand what you want. Since Vel was already pretty much outside trained when I got him, I had to start just where you will with yours.. at square one again. Get a litterbox, some newspaper, & bring the box outside with you (every time). Put him in the box the moment you reach the sidewalk. He'll keep jumping out, but you just keep putting him back in the box until he piddles (some previously soiled newspaper in the box will help to show him it's okay to go in there and help to give him the idea to do it)... then BIG BIG praise when he does, afterwards take him for his regular walk. Soon he will understand, and will start doing his thing the moment you put him in the box. When he gets to that point, move the box inside and show him again inside. With Vel, I unknowingly trained him to piddle on command because each time I'd put him back in that box I said the words "gogo".. now he associates "gogo" with going in the box, and all I need do is say the words and he goes in there to do his stuff. He amazes me everyday :O)

Oh and, there are also some liquid training aids found in most pet stores that can be used to make the box a more desireable place for them to potty (instead of the previously soiled papers or scented weewee pads). I tried that too, but it didn't work for Vel.. repetition did. Good luck if you decide to go for it. :O)

EG, your upside down cabinet looks fantastic. I hope you do decide to show us the rest of your apartment. Thank you so much for the comprehensive advice - I am definitely going to try litter training my pup. Hopefully it works as well (and looks as good) for us in my apartment as it does for you and Vel.

Good idea indeed! Poor ol' guys tnd to "go" more frequently. I have 2 cats and I keep their litter box in the bathtub! Just take it out in the morning, have a shower then back it goes without using up any other "needed" space. Just be sure not to use clumping litter!!

Walk your dog. This is gross.

Hey Edina.

See above. EG has some health issues and can't always get outside to walk her dog. Before you post a stupid comment like that, do your homework.

Health problems or not - it is ESSENTIAL to walk your dog, for general emotional and physical health, as well as for proper bowl function. if you can't do it, or can't hire a dog walker - you shouln't have a dog.

Exactly which part of "The GOGO box is in ADDITION to outside time, not in lieu of it." don't you understand.

Great idea! I may be able to do this for my kitties!