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This is similar...

http://www.petapotty.com/home.html

walking your dog in a city is such a social activity for both the owner and dog, it's also healthy exercise even if it's raining or cold.
it could be useful for someone who had health issues or a senior pet.

Your animal pees on a piece of Astroturf? How does that not get nasty?

I bought one of these for our little geriatric terrier mix, Maggie, who we adopted last year. She refuses to use it, and I tried all sorts of sprays and other things to get her to try it out. I guess I can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I think it is a great idea and would be just the thing if you had a puppy or younger dog.

From the webiste:

Synthetic Grass

For cleaning purposes pour warm water over the grass daily or alternatively lift it out and hose it down (in the shower if necessary) - remove the grass to allow it to dry. For times when The Pet Loo is not in use (eg: overnight) remove the grass from The Base to air it out.

The Base

In order to clean the base, simply remove the grass and wipe the base down with warm water. It is important to know that the use of any cleaning agents on The Base may repel your animal and compromise the purpose of The Pet Loo.

Catchment Jug

The catchment jug holds approximately 1.75 litres of liquid and is situated in such a position that ensures the urine is filtered evenly. It is made of a material which is resistant to the acidity of urine and the smells which accompany it. The jug has been positioned and designed to such a shape and size so that it is easily removed and waste can be poured down the toilet with no spillage.

Convenient and simple!

It doesn't sound so easy and simple to me!!!

there is absolutely no way I could trick my dog into thinking that was real grass. she only needs about 4 blades of grass to get her to pee, but they have to be real grass. Now, if this invention was a sort of low and flat planter with turf on it, she might consider going.

The only way I would use this is for an EMERGENCY pee-locale for a very small dog, between real walks. Some chihuahuas and such understand housebreaking but have teeny bladders.

I could see it if you are walking four-six times a day and just needed to make sure a toy or puppy could have a place, but it might be easier to just use a litter box with unscented kitty-litter.

My dog Izzy was adopted while I was living in New York and is completely freaked out by grass and avoids peeing on it unless it's perfectly manicured. I'd imagine this is pretty typical behavior of city dogs, and sure can't imagine any of them wanting to pee on this.

Now if you put a big slab of sidewalk or a curb in my house, that might work.

The idea of having a box full off pee and feces on my porch really sounds unappealing. The cleaning sounds like a major pain too.

Ugh. When my dog was a puppy the nearest pee spot was about two blocks away once you got outside the building. Potty training was HELL, but if I'd been offered this thing I think I would've declined. Maybe on a porch or patio as a last resort for pets who need special accomadation. I have to comment on the teeny bladder thing, too. Think of it this way, teeny bladder = teeny stomach + teeny thirst = teeny amount of urine produced to fill the teeny bladder. At least that's my theory, and it seems to work for my 15 pound dog, who regularly holds it while I'm at work.

Caitlin, I bow to your superior little-dog knowledge! :)

My own dog drinks a gallon or so a day, I think, but he weighs 80 lbs.

We barely noticed increased consumption with the dog we were sitting for this week, and most of that was because the little 10 lb. demon was swimming in the water bowl.

My dog (20 lbs, can wait for 12 hrs) would probably find it a tasty snack, but I've never gotten him to go on fake grass. Real grass or real concrete are required!

Regardless, there will be no "catchment jugs" anywhere NEAR me or my dog.

This thing sounds like a pain to clean and deal with. Isn't a box full of kitty litter a better idea?

We trained our small terrier cross (about 12 pounds) to use a litter-box. We got her a LitterMaid (designed for cats).

The LitterMaid has a motion sensor.. a few minutes after it detects some activity in the box it rakes the clump of litter into a little container.

Pro's:
She pee's in it when we're not home and we only need to deal with it once or twice a week (we quickly just throw out/empty the clumps from the container.

Con's:
- The motor in it is a little noisy.. especially when she uses it in the middle of the night.
- The disposable plastic containers are expensive (we just reuse them for months).

Ironically, we trained her to use this thing from day 1, but she still very much prefers doing her business outside (she usually does get that opportunity).

She doesn't mind hopping into it and peeing, but doing a #2 is a funny thing to watch.. it is a big production as she circles the box for a while, and then eventually perches on the edge of it and drops it in. As a result, the motion sensor is seldomly activated during this process.

The funny thing about posting this product is that the idea of owning a sentient life-form utterly creeps me out. I cannot comprehend why anyone would want a pet. (Sorry)

I'm tempted by something like this, but AFAIK animals are trained by smell; ie. "it smells like home, I can't pee here." So it makes sense that dogs would still be hesitant to use this thing inside your home.

My dog was OK until he got to about ten years old. Until then he would rather have died than use anything besides real grass or dirt in the yard, and would wait 'till I got in. He would fall over in horror at this thing.

Now that he is older (just turned 12) I just leave a disposable drop cloth and newspaper. It's easy on the carpet, easy to pick up, and makes him feel less, ah, guilty.

I buy the drop cloth in rolls at Wal-Mart for around six dollars and cut the things in half before unfolding/spreading.

If I could afford doggie-day care I would have him in that, though.

Actually- I think the pet loo is a great idea and I know beacuse I have one!!! My dog took to it straight away and the cleaning is so easy and keeps it hygenic- so to all you skeptics Ill have you know this solved all my problems and is fantastic! It meant that when I moved into my apartment, I could keep my dog and while i still walk her, its great for when im sleeping or not home!

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