Housebreaking Made Easy with an Indoor Dog Potty

My family just brought home a brand new puppy a few weeks ago. Roxie is a tiny ball of tireless energy that has already won our hearts. The kids love playing with her, and she has already adapted to life among us. The only problem is that between school and full-time jobs, Roxie is left alone for long stretches of time during the day -- which isn't exactly an ideal situation when trying to housebreak a pup. I tried using a kennel and laying newspapers down in the garage, but that didn't work very well because she stepped in her own mess and tracked it all through the house. Yuck! So now I'm thinking about getting an indoor dog potty to see if that can do the trick.

I heard about the indoor dog potty from friends who had to deal with the same situation. This product is relatively new to the pet supplies market, but sounds like a terrific idea that should have been developed a long time ago. An indoor dog potty basically consists of a sturdy plastic tray and covered by a grate, and serves as a place for your pet to relieve itself when no one is around to take it for a walk. You can put newspapers or absorbent "pee pads" between the grate and the plastic tray to soak up liquid waste, while the solid stuff stays on top for easy removal.

My friends who have trained their pets to use the indoor dog potty all say that the product works exactly as advertised. It really makes their lives easier, as they no longer have to schedule their events around their dogs' walks. They can stay out later with friends, can sleep in on weekends, and can stop off at the store before coming home from work. Of course, the indoor dog potty isn't meant to be a complete substitution for walks, as your canine companion still needs exercise. But it's a terrific crutch for those times when you just can't be there for your pet.

I'm basically sold on the indoor dog potty already. I want to buy one, so I now have to find a store that sells them. I don't think I've ever noticed them at the local pet shops around here, but I guess I wasn't looking that closely before. Even if I can't find them in the area, I'm sure I can order an indoor dog potty online and have it delivered in a few days, so one way or another, I'm going to get this thing!

The hard part will be getting Roxie used to the indoor dog potty and getting her comfortable with using it. My friends have already given me some tips and advice in that area, but ultimately it will come down to me having the patience to train my pup properly. As an animal lover who has had dogs most of my life, I'm sure that's something I can handle!