Tips To Potty Train a Dog in an Apartment With Artificial Turf

[spacer height=”10px”]If you have a dog, it’s only reasonable that you want to be with your pet all the time. Dogs are said to be good for your physical and mental well-being, so it’s no surprise that people want to hang around pets. However, what happens when you are living in an apartment? How will you and your dog be able to manage this living situation?

Due to the rise of urbanization, more and more people are opting to live in apartment buildings and complexes. Some have a “no pet policy,” but there are also pet-friendly buildings as well. If property management allows pets, owners have rules and regulations to follow.  As a dog owner, you have a responsibility to take care of your pets in the best possible way. As apartments have limited and confined space, you need to make sure your dog adapts to this kind of environment and living conditions. When you’re a pet parent, there are a lot of things to think of. When it comes to your pet, consider their safety and comfort. However, given that you do not have the luxury of space, how can you make sure that your dog won’t have a hard time doing their business? 

How Artificial Turf Can Benefit Your Dog 

One of the best solutions to potty training your dog is adding artificial turf inside your apartment. Yes, believe it or not, you can put fake grass for dogs indoors. Installing something like this for your dog is a convenient, easy, and practical solution, especially when you’re trying to potty train your dog.  Aside from being a potty training solution, there are other benefits of installing an artificial turf for your dog, such as the following: 

• Eco-Friendly And Recyclable – When you have artificial turf in your apartment, you won’t need to mow or fertilize it like with natural grass. Artificial grass doesn’t require special tools or equipment to clean it up. With that said, opting for artificial turf instead of real grass helps decrease carbon emissions.

As an environment-friendly option, artificial grass is also a safe alternative for your dog. You won’t be exposing your pet to fertilizers and other chemical residue used in maintaining natural grass.  What’s more, artificial turf is also something that you can use more than once. You can use it for your dog as many times as possible. Instead of discarding it when it gets soiled, you can just clean it, and it will be good as new!

• Saves Time And Energy – Maintaining a lawn made of real grass is a task that might take a toll on you physically. There’s just a lot of work involved when it comes to keeping a lawn in the best possible condition. Since you have to do a lot of other things, it can also eat up a lot of your time.

If you are busy with both personal and pet responsibilities, you don’t have to worry about spending too much time dealing with artificial turf for your dog. Artificial grass is easy to clean and maintain.

• Saves Money – Making sure that your dog gets the best of everything involves spending money. If you add lawn or grass maintenance to the mix, that means higher expenses. If you want to save some cash, get artificial turf that suits your dog and your apartment space! You don’t need to spend on lawn care and maintenance.

How To Potty Train Your Dog With artificial turf 

When you are getting artificial turf for your dog, there are different sizes and varieties you can choose from. Be smart and choose the one that fits the area where you would like to install the artificial grass.  If you have managed to secure artificial turf, then it’s time to let your dog get used to it. If you have just gotten a new pet, you also have to remember how to potty train a puppy in an apartment. 

Potty training a dog using artificial turf is important, especially if you live in an apartment. If you live on a high floor, it would take you ages to take your dog outside. If there’s no nearby open space where dogs can relieve themselves, then you’re going to have a problem. When your dog knows what to do indoors, then this would make things easier for you. If you are looking for tips and tricks on how to train your beloved dog using artificial turf inside your apartment, then here you go:   

1. Start With A Routine

No matter how old your dog is, he or she must develop the right habits. If you want to train your dog successfully, then developing a routine should be on top of your priority list.  Dogs are capable of learning skills and developing habits. With that said, you need to establish a solid routine that your dog can get on board with. You can create a schedule or a timetable. Schedule feeding and potty time around the same time every day. 

At first, it might be a little tricky to follow a schedule because your dog might not be used to the routine. However, as the days go by, the dog would surely be able to adapt. If you want to keep track of your dog’s potty habits, try taking notes of the frequency and time. It would be helpful as your dog is developing a stable practice. When you have established a healthy routine, it can make things easier for you and your dog.  If you are dealing with a puppy, then take note of the usual times they need to go potty. Puppies tend to get excited, and they might not be able to hold their pee. As the puppy grows, the routine that you have established will stick with him or her. 

2. Be Patient With Your Dog 

Potty training your dog is not an overnight process. It can take days or months before your dog manages on his or her own.  As your dog is slowly getting used to things, mishaps might happen here and there. When something doesn’t go according to your plan or training, don’t lose your calm and composure. During training, don’t be too hard on your pup. Your dog can sense if you are agitated or stressed, and it also affects them. 

If your dog makes mistakes or fails to adhere to the things you have been teaching, don’t be harsh. Instead of punishing your dog, you can correct their errors in gentler ways such as briefly but briskly shaking the fur under his ear on his neck or giving them a time-out.  If you react too harshly, then your dog might develop some sort of fear or anxiety. When they do, then you might have another problem at hand. 

3. Take Cues From Your Dog

If you’re constantly around your dog, you would probably notice their quirks and habits. One of the things you should watch out for, especially if you are in the potty training stage, are the signs that tell you that your dog needs a potty break. By watching out for these signs, you will be able to know when your dog has to go. Noticing the signs and taking action also decrease the chances of your dog making a mess inside your apartment.  Here are some of the signs that your dog needs to go pee or poop:

• Agitation or Restlessness – If your dog becomes antsy, you know something is up. When your dog displays some sort of apprehensive behavior, then that could be a sign that a potty break is in order. Take either of the following as a sign:
  • Dog is pacing back and forth
  • Dog is going around in circles
• Whimpering – If your dog makes sounds that indicate any discomfort or agitation, then this could mean that he or she needs to go ASAP. If you hear crying or whimpering, don’t hesitate to lead your dog to the designated potty area. 
• Standing And Staring – If your dog comes over and stares at you, something is up. When dogs do this, it means they want something from you. When it comes to potty time, they want to let you know that they need to go.

These and many other signs are just some of the indications that your dog needs relief. When you see one of these symptoms, lead your dog to the artificial turf where he or she needs to do his or her business. The more frequent you do this during the training period, the higher the chances that your dog will remember this out of habit or routine. When your dog manages to pee or poop on the artificial turf without your assistance, then consider that as a win!

4. Pick A Spot 

Not all apartments are created equal. However, if you have enough space, you can create a designated area inside your residence where your dog can relieve himself or herself. You can even make a spot that resembles the outdoors; it depends on how much space you have. If you have a balcony or terrace, then this is something you can do! 

Once you’ve picked a spot in your apartment, this will serve as an essential part of your dog’s potty training. The great thing about artificial turf is that it resembles the real thing. It’s safe for your dog to use as well.  If you are looking for artificial turf, there are various kinds sold in the market today. They also come in different sizes, so you have plenty of options to choose from.  

5. Seek Help

As much as you want to spend time with your dog, you can’t avoid times when you have to leave to do other important things. When you’re not home for quite some time, this could disrupt your dog’s training.  If this happens, don’t hesitate to call for help. If you have people in your life who can assist your dog while you are out, then that’s great. If you don’t, then there are dog sitters that you can hire. 

The main reason why you might want to ask someone to look after your dog is that you don’t want to disrupt your dog’s habits or schedule. During the training stage, you want to make sure your dog has a steady routine that he or she can stick to. The constant disruption to the routine might interfere with your dog’s potty training progress. 

Maintaining Your Artificial Turf 

Once your dog is accustomed to using artificial turf, you don’t have to worry about cleaning it. Maintaining artificial turf is not as difficult as you might think. Whenever your dog relieves on the turf, you can just do these simple steps:

1. Make sure you have either a poop scooper or bag that you can use to remove the waste. 
2. Clean the artificial turf using a hose to remove waste matter.
3. If you want to get rid of the smell of pee and poop, don’t forget to purchase a stain and odor spray.

While these steps might seem basic, these are important in making sure your artificial turf lasts as long as it should. When you choose the right one that fits the designated spot for your dog, you won’t have to go through so much stress at all. 

Conclusion

If you’re just about to move into an apartment, it doesn’t mean you can’t bring your dog with you. If your building allows it, then take advantage of the opportunity. If you’re worried about how dogs can relieve themselves indoors, then finding the right artificial turf is the way to go!

Dogs have different physical and physiological needs and they need to have a comfortable space where they can relieve themselves. With artificial turf, they will have one that’s safe, convenient, and resilient.  Installing artificial turf in your apartment is a practical and long-lasting option that you should consider for your dogs. It can become an important component in your dog’s potty training that you shouldn’t miss.