For many pet owners, switching to artificial grass for dogs in Seattle feels like a huge relief. First, you won’t have to worry about them digging up your yard anymore. Next, there is less chance of flea infestations, grass allergies and accidentally eating toxic weeds. Finally, you will never have to deal with lawn burn from dog urine again.
Speaking of pet urine, potty training is a common concern among dog owners when switching from natural to artificial turf for pets in Seattle. However, it’s actually not as difficult as you may think.
Can you train a dog to go potty on synthetic grass?
Absolutely. If your dog is used to a natural lawn, however, there will naturally be a period of adjustment. Why do some dogs refuse to do their business on a synthetic grass lawn? Here are some reasons:
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Synthetic turf and natural grass smell different.
Natural grass, in all its bacterial glory, has certain scents that dogs instinctively recognize. Without these scents, your dog may be confused when they encounter artificial pet grass at first.
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Your dog may be too well-behaved.
On the other hand, if you have a well-trained dog, places that do not smell or feel like real grass (where they can go) feel out of bounds to them.
In most cases, all your dog needs is time to become familiar with artificial turf. In fact, training them to go potty on artificial lawns is exactly the same as training them on real grass. Either way, you’ll need patience, consistency and lots of treats and praise!
Easy Tips for Potty Training on Synthetic Dog Turf
The best time to train your dog is right after you install synthetic grass in Seattle. Make the potty-training switch go smoothly with these tips:
1. Designate a bathroom spot.
First, pick a quiet but accessible area on synthetic turf. Then, guide your dog to that exact same place every time they go potty. This way, they’ll recognize that spot as the bathroom. This also makes the turf product easier to clean, because you’ll always know where the mess is!
2. Use water to clean their urine off pet friendly artificial grass.
After peeing, rinse off the spot with water to clean it off and remove odor. Don’t use soap on the artificial grass product yet for the first couple of weeks. This way, your dog will be able to smell where the potty area is (they have extremely sensitive noses!) without any foul odor and bacteria left behind.
3. Shower them with treats and praise.
Next, every time they go potty in the right spot, make it a celebration! Praise them cheerfully and toss them a little treat. Lots of positive reinforcement won’t just speed up potty training, but it also makes your synthetic lawn a fun place to be.
4. Practice, practice, practice!
Finally, repeat all of this every time your dog needs to poop or pee outside. With patience and consistency, your dog will be potty trained on artificial turf in no time.
Get a 100% FREE Quote for Artificial Grass for Dogs in Seattle
Here at Seattle Artificial Grass Experts, we love working with dogs and their humans in Seattle Washington! In fact, we’ve designed and installed thousands of residential and commercial pet-friendly landscapes in the Seattle area. We’d love to help you achieve the perfect space both you and your dog will enjoy. Contact us at 206-687-4732 to discuss your project or send us a message here.