Dog Bathroom: Tail-Wagging Yard Potty Spots Save Cash!

Are you tired of your pup using anything in your yard as his personal dog bathroom? It can be frustrating when you spend money on beautiful flowers and decor only to have it marked by your furry friend. 

The site Method states that the average amount spent on yards annually is $503. But if your dog is killing what you plant or install, this can go up even quicker. 

Today, we’ll explore easy and cost-effective ways to create a dog bathroom in your yard. While you can also install a small dog potty area on a patio, this article will cover yard options. However, the process to get your dog to potty in one area is applicable in all cases. Moreover, to most effectively help you in creating your yard dog potty area, this list has been limited to the more affordable dog-friendly options. 

Budget tip:

When you give your dog a space to potty that is safe, while you protect your expensive plantings, it’s a win-win for everyone involved. Your yard looks beautiful and your furry friend is happy. What could be better?

What are the benefits of a yard dog bathroom?

The reasons to create an area specifically as a dog potty in your yard are vast. Here are the main benefits you’ll see:

1. Convenience – You don’t have to walk your dog or go to the park every time your pup needs to potty. 

2. Hygiene – Keeping your fur kid’s potty area in one location helps to improve the hygiene of your yard. This means you can walk barefoot without worrying about stepping on something gross. 

3. Environmentally friendly – You don’t have to use a ton of disposable poo bags to clean up after your fur kid. I use a pooper scooper like this one and dump it directly into my garbage can, which is a lot more eco-friendly. 

4. Money savings – When your pooch isn’t peeing on (and often killing) your plants, lawn, and flowers, you don’t have to replace them or spend time trying to bring them back to life. Also, you don’t have to spend money on extra poo bags, which is a big help for your wallet. 

What are the best ways to train your pup to use the yard doggy bathroom?

You may be thinking that there’s no way to train a canine companion to use a certain area or spot in your yard. Actually, you can train a puppy, senior dogs, and all dog breeds to use a specific potty spot. It’s very much like you would train your dog to do anything else. 

Here is how to train potty training your pup to use a specific pet loo spot. 

1. Designate a dog potty area or place to go to for bathroom breaks

Make sure to pick a potty spot that you don’t care about, which is away from your valuable plants.

2. Make the area accessible to your dog

Remember your pup needs to get to his potty without difficulty or obstacles.

3. Give your pup cues that his potty area is this spot. 

This means spraying down the rest of your yard to diminish the urine smell. Also, clean up poop in your yard. However, you may want to place one fresh poop in the designated potty area. It can act as a calling card to tell your pup this is the spot to go. 

Note: A dog’s nose can sniff an odor you can’t smell. So, if your furry friend insists on peeing in one spot you’ve cleaned, then recognize that it’s most likely a marking behavior. You can try spraying the area with diluted distilled vinegar. However, test your plantings first to make sure it won’t harm them. 

4. Leash and lead your dog to the “spot” when you get the potty cue. 

Specifically, whenever your furry buddy needs a bathroom break, leash him, go outside to the selected area, and say your chosen word such as “potty”. I use “potty” for my dog, Henry.

5. Reward every positive step. 

If your dog squats or, for a male dog, lifts a leg, or circles as if he wants to pee or poo, then reward the behavior with “good boy”, “good girl,” “good dog”, a pet (loves), and a cookie. 

6. Always keep your eyes on your pup. 

Monitor your dog while in your yard. Whenever the “moment” or “look” hits, simply and gently leash your pup and take him to the selected area. Again, say your command word and reward any positive potty motions with cookies and love. 

7. Be patient. 

Remember your dog is learning this new behavior. It can take several days to several weeks for your furry friend to fully learn that he is to potty in one area. 

NOTE: Remember that a dog will want to “mark” wherever he smells another animal has been or peed or pooped. 

For example, my dog, Henry, likes to pee on top of wild horse manure. I recognize this is normal behavior. While it may not be his “spot” to pee, it’s fine with me at that moment since it’s doing no harm. 

However, there are areas Henry knows are off limits, like all flowers even if they were “marked” by a coyote. I allow him to smell but never pee on a flower. You’ll need to figure out your absolute off-limit areas, such as your vegetable garden.   

What if my dog can’t make the connection?

Again, remember patience. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, it can take a bit for your fur kid to learn this behavior. However, I believe all dogs can be trained to potty in one area. 

As such, continue to train and reward positive steps. This means leash your dog and direct him to the selected area. Reward for positive steps, even a dribble or “air” pee. Also, don’t forget to give your pup the physical cue that this is his potty area with one of his piles in the location. 

Note: If your adult dog or senior dog continues to have accidents, then check with your veterinarian to make sure there isn’t an underlying health issue, such as a bladder or kidney infection.

How big should my dog’s potty area be in my yard?

Honestly, your dog’s bathroom doesn’t need to be very large. However, a larger dog, like a Great Dane, will need more area to move around than a small dog, like a Yorkshire Terrier. You can even toilet train senior dogs to use one spot of your yard. But keep in mind this is your dog’s bathroom. So, give him enough space to turn around and comfortably squat or lift a leg. 

What material should I use for my doggy bathroom?

You can use a multitude of materials for your dog’s potty area. The most suitable potty spot elements fall into three main categories – natural, rock, and artificial. 

Natural options

1.  Mulch

Make sure the mulch is pet-friendly. In a small potty specific spot, you may want to place landscape fabric down first and then the mulch. This will allow you to more easily change it in a few years as needed. 

Pros:

• Lighter weight
• Adds beauty
• Good drainage
• Reduces mud
• Adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down

Cons:

• Needs to be replaced over time
• Can be easily displaced by wind or walking

Cost: Free (mulching your own dog-friendly, chemical-free limbs and trees) – $0.20 square foot

Note: Not all mulch options are dog-friendly. Some may even be hazardous for pets. Check out this article to learn what types of mulch are best for your pup.

2. Clover

Pros:

• Soft on paws
• Adds green to your yard
• Good drainage
• Reduces mud
• Urine burn resistant
• Water tolerant
• Attracts butterflies and bees
• Grows quickly

Cons:

• Requires reseeding frequently
• Needs watering regularly
• Frequent mowing is required
• Not good if allergic to clover or bees
• May invade other areas of your yard

Cost: $20 for 4,000 square feet

3. Natural grass (sod or seed)

Pros:

• Good drainage
• Reduces mud
• Soft on paws
• Adds greenery to your yard

Cons:

• Urine may burn the grass
• Needs mowing
• Requires frequent watering
• May need to reseed or resod spots

Cost: $0.10 – 0.20 per square foot

4. Sand

Pros:

• Good drainage
• Soft on paws
• Cheap

Cons:

• Might be labor-intensive install
• Tracks throughout the yard and other areas
• May confuse dogs who also have a sand digging pit

Cost: $0.50 -1.50 per square foot

Note: If you do have a dog digging pit with sand, try to separate it from your sand potty area to reduce confusion. 

Rock options

If your dog likes to eat rocks (yep, there are dogs who will eat rocks) this isn’t a good option for you as your vet bills may increase. 

1. Pea gravel

Pros:

• Good drainage
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Generally fairly paw-friendly
• Affordable

Cons:

• Heavy to install
• Hot on paws in the summer

Cost: $1.00 – 3.20 per square foot

2. Crushed concrete

Pros:

• Environmentally friendly
• Good drainage
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Mostly paw-friendly
• Affordable

Cons:

• Hot for paws in the summer
• Heavy to install 

Cost: $0.59 – 2.79 per square foot

3. Crushed and recycled asphalt

Pros:

• Environmentally friendly
• Good drainage
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Generally it’s considered paw-friendly
• Affordable

Cons:

• Hot for paws in the summer
• May get sticky with high temperatures
• Labor-intensive to install

Cost: $0.52 – 1.85 per square foot

4. Decomposed Granite (DG)

Pros:

• Environmentally friendly
• Good drainage
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Fairly Paw-friendly
• Affordable

Cons:

• Hot for paws in the summer
• Labor-intensive to install

Cost: $1 -3 per foot

5. Crushed limestone

Pros:

• Good drainage
• Repels odors
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Mostly paw-friendly
• Affordable

Cons:

• Hot for paws in the summer
• Labor-intensive to install

Cost: $1.50 – 2.00 per foot

6. River rocks

Pros:

• Good drainage
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Generally paw-friendly

Cons:

• Hot for paws in the summer
• Labor-intensive to install
• Slick when wet or icy
• More expensive than other options

Cost: $1.75 – 2.60 per foot

Artificial options

1. Artificial grass (fake grass or wannabe turf)

Pros:

• Good drainage
• Durable
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Paw-friendly

Cons:

• Can be hot paws in the summer
• Ground preparation can be labor-intensive
• Professional installation can be pricey

Cost: $2 – 8 per square foot

2. Commercial potty area

This option is artificial grass in a portable box. They do come in different sizes for large and small breed dogs. This option can also be a great solution for temporary or patio areas. 

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Allows for flexibility (easy-to-move locations)
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Biodegradable
• Eliminates odor
• Paw-friendly

Cons:

• If placed in the sun, it can be hot on paws in the summer
• Need to buy pee pads for some brands
• Turf may need to be replaced with the pee box
• Not suitable for dogs who like to scratch or kick the ground after using the potty

Cost: $89 – 140

3. Rubber mats

Pros:

• Allows for flexibility (easy-to-move locations)
• Low maintenance
• Reduces mud
• Easy to clean
• Some are recycled and environmentally friendly
• Easy to install
• Comes in different colors
• Simple to replace a square if needed
• Paw-friendly

Cons:

• Can be hot paws in the summer
• May hold odors
• Some colors may be hotter on paws than others
• More expensive than other options

Cost: $10 for 16”x16” title

Are there cost savings for giving my furry buddy a yard dog bathroom area?

Yes, you can expect to see cost savings when you give your pup a location to potty. Of course, it may cost a bit to install the bathroom. But in the long run, it should help to reduce your expenses. Consider the following for a moment. 

Related articles:

• A Dog Friendly Backyard On A Budget 
• 10 Off-Season Ways to Style Your Dog Yard 
• Easy Dog Fence Jumping Solutions
• Easy Dog Yard Digging Solutions
• 10 Hazards To Avoid In A Safe Dog Yard
• Best 12 Alternatives to Invisible Dog Fences
• 17 Dog Safe Perennial Flower Guide: Beauty on a Budget!
• How Does Dog Safe Mulch Save Money?
• Reaping Rewards of a Dog Digging Pit
• Save by Easily Growing Veggies for Dogs!
• Cheap Natural Remedies For Dog Dry Skin
• Is A Dog Home Allergy Test Worth The Money?
• Is There a Cheap Easy Way to Train Your Dog?

Wag-Worthy Spots (Minus the Urine Burn) with Bark-tastic Relief Zones!

Who doesn’t love a beautiful yard? But when you don’t give your dog a proper potty area, that beauty can be compromised. While it does take patience to train your pup to use one certain area as their dog bathroom, it’s very doable. 

What you select to put on the ground in this area doesn’t have to be a huge investment. However, it should be pet and dog-friendly, durable, cleanable, and easy to install. Of course, if you have help with creating your yard dog bathroom, then installation is much easier. 

As for me and my dog, Henry, I have grass, sand, and dog-friendly bark on our property. Each works well. Yes, he does have a few potty areas depending on the weather and time of day.  He has learned how to “potty” in his designated areas and avoid off-limit areas. I’m certain your pup can do the same.