The 4 Best Dog Litter Boxes
If you're considering buying a litter box for your dog, you're probably eager to find one that'll minimize smell, require little maintenance, and be sanitary and comfortable for your pooch to use. While it's always better to let your dog go outside if possible, plenty of people turn to a litter box out of real need. Maybe you live in a high-rise apartment, or your dog's bladder is weak, or you're snowed in for a few days. Could be that your dog is injured, or maybe you're dealing with a not-yet-housebroken puppy. Whatever the reason, we've done our research and definitively arrived upon four top notch options to meet your K9 litter box needs.
Nature’s Miracle High-Sided
Less is More
When they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, this one is case in point. Nature’s Miracle’s High-Sided litter box is truly as basic as it gets, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want. This one is designed with high walls that’ll prevent a mess from being made. Obviously, you don’t want urine spraying everywhere, so the high walls help to contain any accidental spillage. Some choose to place absorbent puppy pads inside the box, while others opt for absorbent litter. Either way, know that thanks to its nonstick construction, it’s very easy to clean after the fact. You certainly should clean it regularly, and probably daily, but it’s so easy to clean that this isn’t too big of a deal.
Pros:
- Durable construction
- Company makes great products
- Antimicrobial protection
- Low entry wall is easy for old or small dogs to climb
Cons:
- A bit narrow
- Virtually a non-option for large dogs
DoggieLawn Real Grass Dog Potty
DoggieLawn’s disposable dog potty recreates the environment that they are most accustomed to going on: real grass. Whether you’re looking for a dog litter box to put on your porch, balcony, or in a corner of your home, this one is a favorite amongst those in a similar position. Each hydroponically-grown, compostable patch is meant to appeal to your pooch, who probably prefers the smell and texture of real grass over plastic or turf. This means that your dog will have less trouble adjusting to this one, and training him to do so shouldn’t be too difficult.
As for its performance, you might immediately doubt its ability to last more than a few days because of the smell. Actually, the enzymes in grass work quite well to neutralize waste odors. After a long time, of course, you’ll notice diminishing returns in this regard, but that’s why it’s disposable – it’s meant to be replaced frequently. It’s built with a cardboard tray beneath it that’ll absorb any possible leakage, though the grass itself should absorb most liquid waste. And don’t worry – it doesn’t contain and dirt or sod, so it won’t make an absolute mess when you handle it. With all that said, if you plan on implementing a dog litter box for your pup’s everyday bathroom needs, it might be best to go with a model that can be cleaned regularly. This one works better for less frequent use – like if your dog occasionally goes during the middle of the night, or can’t always wait until you get back from work.
Pros:
- Non-hydroponic option also available
- Two different choices in sizes
Cons:
- Needs to be replaced frequently
- Dogs may want to eat the grass
- Expensive to replace frequently
Richell Paw Trax Mesh Training Tray
Whether you’re training a puppy, dealing with a mature pup who is marking in the house, or helping an older dog whose bladder control isn’t what it once was, using absorbent pads is an appealing option. Maybe you’re already using them, or maybe you’re just looking for ways to stop Buster from peeing on the couch. What Richell Paw Trax’s mesh training tray does is provide a frame that you can put absorbent pads inside of. Why? Well, once your dog does his business on the pad, it’s not uncommon for the urine to seep through and drip down onto the floor beneath. Obviously, this isn’t ideal. With this unit, once the urine is collected by the pad, if any does dribble down, it’ll fall into the tray and collect there until it’s emptied. As a bonus, this tray (unlike others on the market) stays in place wherever you put it, whereas pads tend to slip around when your dog walks on them sometimes. Further, your dog won’t be able to chew on the pads, which, for whatever reason, they like to do.
You may be wondering: what about poop? Well, that’s simple. When your dog goes on the tray, the feces sit on top of the mesh grate, and the urine drips down through the grate. If any of the solid waste goes through the grate, it’ll also fall onto the absorbent pad, which you’re going to replace regularly anyway. It’s easy to clean, too, by detaching the grate from the frame, removing the pad, and cleaning all the components before inserting a new pad.
Another situation in which this tray can be really useful is for traveling. If your dog gets freaked out when you’re staying in an unfamiliar house or a hotel, having the tray with you can prevent that unexpected pee spot on the carpet.
Pros:
- Available in three different colors
- Easy to take apart and reassemble
- Well-sized design
- Great for potty-training
Cons:
- Feces gets stuck on mesh grate if left too long
SavvyGrow Astroturf for Dogs
But is the Grass Always Greener?
If the idea of indoor grass appeals to you, but you don’t want to get involved with replacing a real grass patch like the DoggieLawn, then artificial turf might work for you. Made to mirror the appearance of real grass, it may not fool your dog, but with a little training, she’ll be able to make the association with potty time quite easily. Available in a myriad of sizes, you can choose a patch that best fits the dimensions of the room or patio you plan on putting it in. Once it’s there, there’s very little maintenance. Thanks to the unit’s drainage holes, all you have to do is hose the unit down to clean it. You might think this would leave behind particles, odors, and mess, but actually, it works quite well. If you end up leaving it outside, like on your patio, you’ll be glad to know that it’s UV-resistant, too, so it won’t fade out in the sun.
Pros:
- No questions asked money-back guarantee
- Non-toxic
- Fire-resistant
Cons:
- Fairly expensive
- Would benefit from a few more drainage holes
Frequently Asked Questions
Dog litter boxes? Ha! They really think of a way to make money on everything, huh? Litter boxes are for cats, aren’t they?
While it’s true that cat’s are more naturally inclined towards litter boxes, many people have trained their dog to use one, too. So here’s the deal. Dogs are pack animals, whereas cats are typically solitary. Because of this solitary way of existing, cats have an instinctual need to bury their waste so that they aren’t detected by potential predators. This instinct isn’t present in dogs, but there are plenty of situations where training your dog to use a litter box would be beneficial for both of you. Some examples: you live in a high-rise apartment with a puppy, and going out frequently could be difficult, if even possible at all. Or, you don’t have a yard and it’s the dead of winter. Or you and your dog live somewhere where it may be unsafe for them to be wandering in your yard unsupervised. Coyotes are a thing, after all, and they do prey on small dogs. There are plenty of situations where using a litter box can be the best option available.
Hm, ok. I’ll bite. But what’s the catch? Why don’t more people train their dogs to use a litter box?
For one thing, it’s not easy. As we mentioned, dogs don’t have the same burying instinct as cat, so training one to cover his waste won’t be as simple. Second, there’s a good chance it’ll be messier — especially if you’re dealing with a larger pooch. Dogs love to dig, so during the learning phase, rather than seeing the neat, tidy litter box that cats leave behind, it might not be unreasonable to expect your digging doggy dude to turn the walls of the litter room into something akin to a Jackson Pollock painting. Yeah, sorry for the image. And for the melodrama. Most dogs that use a litter box make very little mess once they’ve adjusted to the change.
For information about training your dog to use a litter box, check out our article here.
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