If you want to save your garden lawn from damage or make a designated potty area for your dog, pet turf or artificial grass could be an excellent solution.
But what’s the difference between artificial grass and pet turf? Is artificial grass for dogs easy to clean? And how long does fake turf last?
Read this guide to discover reviews and a buyer’s guide to the best artificial grass for a dog potty on the market today!
Artificial grass can make an excellent solution for pet parents who are desperate to save their lawns from damage. You can also use fake turf to create a potty spot for your dog outside in your backyard or line a litter box in your home.
Here are our reviews of seven excellent artificial grass products that you can use for dog potty spots.
Top 7 Artificial Grasses For Dog Potty Reviews
1. Downtown Pet Supply Pee Turf
Uses odor control technology
Handy, portable pet toilet
Convenient and lightweight
This artificial turf comes in a lightweight box designed for indoor use.
The lawn toilet is easily portable and features odor-control technology to keep your home smelling fresh. The double-layered system looks natural, so your dog will love using it!
The upper layer is a beautiful verdant green that gives the grass a realistic appearance. The box collects any dog waste and is super-easy to clean. This small doggy loo doesn’t take up much space in your home but isn’t ideal if you have a large dog.
Removable container for easy, mess-free cleaning
Soft, realistic fake grass mat
Lightweight and convenient
Unpleasant odor when first unwrapped
2. PoochPads Indoor Dog Potty Pro
Connects on all sides
Eco-friendly product
Perfect for use in multi-pet homes
This indoor dog potty from PoochPads features multiple ports that you connect together to create a loo that fits your pet, making this product ideal for multi-pet homes and puppies.
The pads are reusable and can be washed in your washing machine to keep them smelling fresh. Alternatively, you can use pet cleaner detergent or dish soap and water to wash the pads in your shower or sink.
These durable pads can survive over 300 washes, making them excellent value for money.
Durable
Suitable for multi-pet homes
Eco-friendly
Some users reported difficulty fitting the connected pads to the box
3. Four Paws Wee-Wee Premium Patch Pet Potty
Realistic look and feel
Built-in attractant encourages dogs to use a pad
Unique spout for easy drainage
The Wee-Wee Patch lawn toilet is a freestanding mat that can be used for potty training your puppy to go indoors and can also be used on your patio. The realistic look and feel of the mat are also ideal for making the switch to outdoor pottying when your pet is ready.
For easy cleaning, this potty mat has a unique pouring spout.
Unique spout for easy drainage
Replacement mats available
Lightweight, handy design
Some users report that the mat sheds blades of grass
4. LOOBANI Dog Grass Pee Pads
Available in 6 sizes
Odor resistant technology
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
These realistic-looking pee pads come in a range of sizes to suit most breeds. The pads come in a set of two so that you always have a spare pad while the other one is in the wash.
The pads have drainage holes to enable pee to drain away efficiently. To clean the pads, simply wash them with soap and warm water and allow them to air dry. The mats are constructed with special inbuilt agents that help to keep odors down and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
These pads are suitable for use both indoors and outside.
Comes in a range of sizes
Features odor-resistant technology
Can be used inside and outdoors
5. Piddle Place Indoor Dog Toilet
Eco-friendly
Convenient and easy to use
Features odor-eliminating Bio+ Treatment
The Piddle Place Indoor dog potty is made using eco-friendly materials and provides the ideal potty spot solution for apartment dwellers.
The potty is ideal for if you travel with your pet, being lightweight and portable. Odor eliminators make this potty one of the best on the market when it comes to reducing nasty niffs in your home. There’s a protective cover available for purchase separately.
Easy to use
Eco-friendly
Features odor-eliminating Bio+ Treatment
Quite expensive compared with similar products
6. PETMAKER Artificial Grass Puppy Pad
Three-layer or four-layer system options
Available in three sizes
Easy to use
We think this mat is ideal for pet parents who are potty training their puppies indoors with a view to moving to the natural lawn outside when the pup is old enough.
These artificial grass pads are made using odor-resistant, antimicrobial material and produce an organic aroma to attract your pet to the mat. Excellent drainage makes the mat and potty tray easy to clean.
Easy to put in place
Comes in three sizes to suit most breeds
Choose from three or four-layer system options
Some users report that the pad sheds fibers after a few uses
7. PICK FOR LIFE Dog Grass Pet Loo
Easy to use
Four-layer system for superior drainage and performance
Long-term durability
This artificial grass potty tray features a four-layer system that’s easy to use and keep clean.
The multi-layer system of artificial grass tiles enables urine to drain into the collection tray, leaving the surface dry and clean, preventing pee-paws on your carpet!
The grass looks realistic and is soft for your furry friend to walk on, encouraging your pet to use his potty.
Four-layer system for excellent performance and superior drainage
Durable material
Easy to set up and use
Pricey compared with other similar products
Pet Turf vs. Artificial Grass
Pet turf and artificial grass are often assumed to be the same thing. Both are forms of fake grass that can be used during the potty training process, saving your real lawn.
But what’s the difference?
Pet Turf
Pet turf is made with a highly durable backing that allows efficient drainage. With good drainage, pee runs right through the turf into the holding tray beneath, making cleanup easy and hassle-free.
To get rid of solid waste, pick up the poop and dispose of it in the trash, and then use a garden hose or soapy water to wash the fake grass down completely.
Pet turf is usually highly durable. When used as an artificial lawn, pet turf keeps your garden looking amazing all year round while controlling odor, eliminating insect damage, and meaning that you don’t need to use chemicals on your lawn.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is made from synthetic fibers rather than a carpet. This kind of fake grass was originally developed for use in sports fields and is now widely used in residential gardens.
You can also buy dog potty pads made from artificial grass.
How Can I Remove Odors From Fake Grass?
One of the main gripes of people using artificial grass is that it can retain the odor of dog pee.
Urine comprises 95% water, which is why you can’t simply wash it away with a garden hose. The remaining 5% is made up of salts, minerals, ammonia, urea, and uric acid, and that’s where the smell comes from.
Uric Acid
Uric acid is the main culprit when it comes to making your fake lawn pong.
Uric acid contains salt-like crystals that do not decompose naturally. So, when your dog pees on your synthetic grass, the uric acid crystals become embedded in the layers, causing bad odors. That means the pong can hang around for the whole of summer unless you take steps to get rid of it.
Urine odors are always worse when the weather is humid and warm, although very heavy rain can help to wash it away to some extent.
Unfortunately, most basic soaps simply mask the smell. However, a specific biological artificial grass cleaner can break down the uric acid crystals, effectively removing the cause of the smell.
FAQs
In this part of our guide, we answer some of the questions most often asked by people considering using grass potty training pads.
Q: Can dogs pee and poop on artificial grass?
A: Yes, just like your dog pees and poops on natural grass, your pet can relieve himself on artificial grass. If you have artificial grass in your backyard, the urine simply drains away in the same way as rainwater.
Q: What thickness of artificial grass is best for dogs?
A: Most artificial grass manufacturers recommend a shorter pile height if you’re using artificial grass for dogs. The shorter height resists damage more efficiently than the longer pile grasses without breaking and springs back more readily.
Polypropylene or polyethylene grass should have a pile height of 0.8 to 1.2 inches, whereas, for nylon turf, 0.8 to 1.3 inches is the best option.
Q: Can you clean dog poop off artificial grass?
A: Yes, removing dog poop from artificial grass is easy!
Pick up the poop and dispose of it, then use a solution of warm water and dish soap to wash the soiled area by using a soft brush or sponge. Stubborn stains can usually be removed by using an oxygen stain remover.
Q: Why does my artificial grass smell of dog urine?
A: There are two main reasons why artificial grass smells of dog urine.
Firstly, if your lawn was poorly installed beneath the surface, the artificial grass won’t allow the pee to drain away, causing pooling beneath the grass.
Artificial grass is somewhat like a carpet and requires regular maintenance to keep it clean and smelling fresh. If you don’t wash your grass regularly with a biological synthetic grass cleaner, it will smell.
Q: How long does artificial grass last with dogs?
A: Modern artificial turf is formulated to be resilient and long-lasting, so it should withstand your cavorting canine’s activities without too much trouble.
In fact, most artificial grass has a predicted lifespan of up to 20 years. That said, you still need to maintain the grass correctly to extend its life.
Q: What is the difference between pet turf and artificial grass?
A: Pet turf is designed to be used in gardens and yards that are used by dogs, whereas artificial grass is softer, fluffier, and more suitable for decorative purposes. Note that the terms are often used interchangeably.
Pet turf is generally better at controlling odors and tends to drain more efficiently than artificial grass.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed our guide to the best artificial grass for dog potties. If you did, please take a moment to share it before you go!
Our favorite artificial grass product is the PICK FOR LIFE Dog Grass Pet Loo. The product features a four-layer system that ensures excellent drainage and easy cleaning, saving you time and preventing pee-paws on your carpets.
The artificial grass is easy on the eye, as well as soft for your canine chum to stand on, encouraging him to use his potty.
Are you potty training your puppy? If you found the exact perfect grass potty for your dog on our list, please let us know in the comments box below!