Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Artificial grass….how to train dog not to toilet on it?

214 replies

NewMeNewUs · 04/04/2024 20:44

We are having our garden renovated in a couple of weeks which included artificial grass being laid.
the gardener has advised me to train the dog (1 year old Labrador) not to toilet on the fake grass, she can do it on the patio instead.
my question is how do I teach this!? Many thanks

OP posts:
Crowgirl · 05/04/2024 08:52

IndecentPropolis · 05/04/2024 08:20

I have fake grass.

It doesn’t stink at all. It’s got a proper base and drainage holes so as soon as it rains the wee is washed through. Just like with real grass. If there’s a dry spell we hose it. Just like real grass.

ETA - I remember now that it stunk FAR more in hot weather when it was just grass - the wee took ages to sink into hot earth.

It always seems odd to me that people get so angry about fake grass. Paving slabs wouldn’t attract wildlife or butterflies either but nobody would have a problem with that.

Tbh if you teach your dog to wee on the patio she’s going to get more wee on her feet which will then come in the house than if you just let her wee on the grass.

Edited

Well I do disapprove massively of unnecessary concreting/ paving but as pp said they don't leach microplastics into the environment.

eish · 05/04/2024 08:54

Can you provide a grassed area specifically for the dog to use as their toilet. Then you’d have to accompany her on every visit (for a long time) to show her.

i am afraid there’s a reason why dogs rarely go on hard floors, they don’t particularly like it and it isn’t natural for them.

K0OLA1D · 05/04/2024 08:55

Crowgirl · 05/04/2024 08:52

Well I do disapprove massively of unnecessary concreting/ paving but as pp said they don't leach microplastics into the environment.

Show quote history

In every circumstance? Because I have very low maintenance garden due to being physically unable to do gardening.

It makes me feel so much better to think about how people judge my lack of planted plants when they walk past my house. I can't afford a gardener. Dp works and has his own business so as long as the garden is functional and is kept tidy we have to be happy with it.

I'd love nothing more than spending a sunny day planting and pruning. But I can't.

LordSnot · 05/04/2024 08:56

viktoria · 05/04/2024 08:12

... didn't have to wait long for a confirmation of the existence of the "snobby" Mumsnet fraction.
Feel honoured that it's by a Lord. Hahaha

Show quote history

I know it makes you feel better to pretend it's only a few snobs who find your garden disgusting, but it's pretty much everybody.

saraclara · 05/04/2024 09:03

The Earth really is screwed

Yes. And there's no snobbery in wanting my grandkids to have a future. This is all so fucking sad

xyz111 · 05/04/2024 09:08

One of our neighbours has a patio only garden and the dog does its business on there. The scraping of a shovel on concrete does my head it scooping up its business. And they have to jet wash the patio consistently.
The grass gets unbelievably hot in the sun that your dog won't be even able to lay on it.

SquashPenguin · 05/04/2024 09:11

K0OLA1D · 05/04/2024 08:29

It probably won't be. As said. We've never had an issue.

Show quote history

Could be as cold as ice and would still look like shit though 🤷🏻‍♀️

K0OLA1D · 05/04/2024 09:17

SquashPenguin · 05/04/2024 09:11

Could be as cold as ice and would still look like shit though 🤷🏻‍♀️

Show quote history

Looks better than the muddy pit I had at my last house.

Nolongera · 05/04/2024 09:24

NewMeNewUs · 04/04/2024 20:52

Thanks all but I didn’t ask your opinion on artificial grass.
i asked if you had any tips on how to train the dog

Indeed, but I knew how this thread would go.

We have a small patch of plastic grass, it was either that or stone and we couldn't afford stone.

It doesn't stink, it doesn't get boiling hot in the summer, best of all it doesn't rip up or turn muddy.

The rest of the garden is fairly natural and our dogs just seem to prefer weeing there. Encourage them to wee in the most natural place.

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 05/04/2024 09:38

Jesus.

Hi OP

We put artificial grass down in our previous garden (small garden, previous owners had put decking down right from the doorstep, which was dangerously slippery most of the time, with risk of splinters thrown in when it wasn't)

The garden had a passage at the side of the house out to the gate, and we were able to teach our dog to go there using the same methods we used when originally toilet training - guiding her there to begin with, praise, treat, etc.
It obviously wasn't fail safe to begin with, so make sure you have proper cleaner/vinegar to clean any spots with.

MadraUisce · 05/04/2024 09:46

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 04/04/2024 20:46

Honestly? Don’t cover your garden in plastic. It’s an environmental nightmare, it will heat to ridiculous temperatures in the summer and be dangerous to your dog and to humans who might walk barefoot on it. Keep the grass. It’s better off all round and will solve the problem of trying to get your dog to poo on your patio.

This.

MadraUisce · 05/04/2024 09:47

greasypolemonkeyman · 04/04/2024 20:58

The highlight of a dogs day is going out and sniffing around and finding a good place to do their business. You are going to deny them the chance to sniff at earth and grass and insects and flowers and replace it with plastic that they can't toilet on, can't walk on in the summer, and that smells revolting to them. Fence the plastic abomination off and actually take your dog out for 3-4 walks a day and let them have the chance to smell all the smells. They can toilet while out and about and your plastic stays looking like new plastic.

Otherwise do the descent thing and rehome the dog to somebody that has a garden they can actually use.

And this. You are deliberately making your dog's life worse. 🙁

FiveShelties · 05/04/2024 09:48

NewMeNewUs · 04/04/2024 20:52

Thanks all but I didn’t ask your opinion on artificial grass.
i asked if you had any tips on how to train the dog

Are you new to MN?😁

IndecentPropolis · 05/04/2024 09:56

SquashPenguin · 05/04/2024 08:23

At least in the summer it will be too hot for your dog to walk on anyway, so unlikely they’ll wee on it then.

Rest of the year you’re going to have a stinking garden.

My dog walks on it fine. It’s cooler than the patio. In really hot weather I have to hippity hop over the patio to get to
the washing line.

Again, no need for it to stink. People are just making stuff up I think.

Meadowbird · 05/04/2024 09:58

Aside from the obvious problems with fake grass could I just point out that using the phrase ‘to toilet’ meaning to urinate or defecate is grim. Toilet is a noun, when used as a verb (pronounced twa-LET) it means to wash and dress (olden days ladies used to complete their toilet and go downstairs).
Olden days ladies did not shit and piss on outdoor plastic carpets, HTH.

IndecentPropolis · 05/04/2024 10:03

As for dogs being deprived of sniffing for the right spot - my dog still does that. Even when we had grass, he went out, sniffed briefly, emptied and came back in. For proper, enriching, stimulating sniffing he has his walks. Perhaps those people claiming how much dogs need grass to sniff in the garden need to take their dogs out for more walks.

MadraUisce · 05/04/2024 10:05

Labtastic · 05/04/2024 08:46

The Earth really is screwed. Imagine ripping up wildlife sustaining grass to lay a plastic carpet outside. It's insanity.

It's bloody depressing and so horribly selfish.

AllTheNaps · 05/04/2024 10:52

Sorry I don't have any advice apart from to avoid in the first place.

The garden parties I've been to where the garden just smells of urine is pretty grim. Owners always completely oblivious

beeonmybonnett · 05/04/2024 11:26

Sorry @NewMeNewUs dont be using fake grass! Real grass is so much more environmentally friendly!!

MadraUisce · 05/04/2024 12:34

Just in case OP ever returns.

Elephantswillnever · 05/04/2024 12:40

My dog never goes to the toilet in the garden. She waits till we are just outside the gate and has a pee. Poos a bit further away. That said She gets regular walks ( also a Labrador) don’t think she could be trained to go on a patio as seems to prefer soft stuff under her paws.

K0OLA1D · 05/04/2024 12:41

MadraUisce · 05/04/2024 12:37

Thanks for being so utterly patronising. But after 4 summers, I think we're doing OK.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/04/2024 12:43

@NoBunnyHome - AstroTurd made me smile!

@NewMeNewUs - if you do go ahead with the fake grass (please, please don't) then you need to remember that, in hot weather, it will get a LOT hotter than grass and could burn your dog's paws.

Swipe left for the next trending thread