How to BUILD OUTDOOR dog potty area

If your dog walks in your backyard, creating a designated potty area is a great idea. This way your yard will stay clean and everyone will be happy 😁.

We researched a ton of articles and videos to gather the most effective DIY ideas for making outdoor dog toilet. Let’s get started!

How to choose the best place for dog potty in your backyard

Selecting the perfect spot for your dog’s potty is crucial for maintaining a clean and functional yard. A well-chosen location ensures proper drainage, minimizes unpleasant odors, and provides a comfortable environment for your dog.

So consider these points:

• Look for a Low Spot in Your Yard. Elevated spots can cause urine to run downhill, potentially damaging your lawn or plants.
• Pick a Secluded Corner. Dogs prefer privacy, and a quiet corner away from high-traffic areas can make them feel more comfortable.

• Avoid Proximity to Windows and Dining Areas. Ensure the outdoor potty area is not near kitchen or bedroom windows or outdoor dining spaces to maintain a pleasant environment.
• Use a Passageway. If you have a clear pathway between your house and fence, this could be a good option for the potty spot.

• Consider Adding a Privacy Screen. If you lack a naturally secluded place, a privacy screen can shield dog’s toilet from view, making it more appealing for your pet and guests.

How big should the outdoor dog potty area be? It needs to be longer than your dog's length. Ensure your dog has enough room to move around and turn to find a clean spot. For example, a potty area for a medium-sized dog should be approximately 6 feet by 6 feet.

Comparing different materials for outdoor DIY potty area

When choosing ground cover for your dog’s potty, it’s important to pick something that’s both safe and easy to maintain. Also, consider your dog’s preferences!

Based on my research, I’ve identified four great ground cover options for an outdoor dog toilet: mulch, natural grass, artificial grass, and fine gravel. Let’s dive into each one and see how you can create a DIY dog potty area with these materials.

Tip: If you are not sure that your dog likes this material, it is better to do a small trial run first and see how he reacts. He may flatly refuse to do his business in such a pot.

Wood mulch

Mulch and wood chips are excellent at draining well and absorbing unpleasant odors. They’re also inexpensive, natural, and comfortable for your dog’s paws.

The best part is that you don’t have to clean up waste every time – it will break down naturally over time. Typically, you’ll need to do a complete mulch replacement once a year.

However, there are a few things to consider. Mulch is lightweight and can easily be blown around your yard by the wind. Also, when it absorbs a lot of urine and feces, it can start to smell. If your potty area is large, this won’t be as much of an issue.

Choose the Right Mulch! Not all mulch is safe for dogs. Most dog owners recommend using cedar or pine mulch that is non-stained. Also, make sure the mulch is soft and free of dust.

How much mulch do you need?
To figure out how much mulch you’ll need for your dog potty area, just multiply the length, width, and depth of the potty.
Example:
For a dog potty area that’s 7 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 0.16 feet deep (about 2 inches), you’ll need:
7 * 5 * 0.16 = 5.6 cubic feet.

Right now, a 2-cubic-foot bag of mulch costs $55, but you might be able to find a cheaper option.

Last update on 2025-01-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Also, you’ll need to replace the dirty mulch every month. That will take about 1 more cubic foot. Now you can easily figure out the total cost for the mulch for your dog outdoor potty area!

Grass

This is one of the most natural options and the dogs really love it. In addition grass absorbs urine and odor well.

You can buy a bag of lawn grass seed starting at $10 and that’s a nice perk. But natural grass needs regular care, such as watering and reseeding, and cleaning up after your dog can be a challenge.

Furthermore, urine stains can appear, and removing them completely, even with special products, can be difficult.

I wouldn’t recommend using grass for dog potty area if your entire yard is a lawn, as it might confuse your dog.

Artificial grass

If you’re not happy with the drawbacks of real grass, you can use artificial grass instead. It offers several advantages:

• it’s easy to clean with a hose or disinfectant to remove odors;
• your dog won’t dig through it or eat the filler;
• it’s durable and long-lasting.

However, creating a potty area with artificial grass isn’t as simple as it sounds.

How much does artificial grass lawn cost?

If you hire a pro, the price would be $15 to $19 per square foot. This includes the cost of the turf, sub-base materials, installation, and labor. So, for a 7 by 5 foot dog potty, you would have to pay between $500 and $660. If you do everything on your own, $200 will suffice.

You need to choose the material carefully and find reliable professionals to set up such a covering. Avoid buying cheap fake grass, as such plastic heats up in the sun and can smell unpleasant.

Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is another popular option for an outdoor dog potty areas. It’s durable, doesn’t spread like mulch, and doesn’t retain the urine odor as much. However, there are some drawbacks:

• dogs can swallow pebbles, which creates a risk of choking;
• sometimes the poop smears on the gravel, making it difficult to clean;
• the material can be expensive, especially for creating a large potty.

How much gravel do you need? For an area 7 feet wide, 5 feet long, and 2 inches deep, 0.34 tons of gravel are needed. This will cost around $200, depending on your location.

Comparison table

Here’s a comparison table in which I rated each material on 6 parameters on a five-point scale (5 being the best score, 1 being the worst).

	Wood Mulch	Natural Grass	Artificial Grass	Pea Gravel
Comfort for Dog	Soft, comfortable for paws, but can contain splinters – 4	Gentlest and most natural for dogs – 5	Almost as soft as natural grass – 4	Rough and hard, not as comfortable for paws – 3
Odor control	Mulch does a good job of covering urine odor, but it starts to smell when it gets too wet – 4	Absorbs liquid and odors well, but over time grass starts to smell – 4	The urine odor may still be present – 3	Doesn’t absorb odors and provides good drainage – 4
Cost	The initial investment is not that big (100-200$), but you need to buy the refill regularly – 3	Really cheap (A bag of lawn grass seed will cost you from $10) – 5	You will have to invest $200-500 once, but such a lawn will last for 10 years – 4	Can be expensive ($200 or more), but extremely durable – 4
Installation	You just need to pour the mulch into the prepared area – 5	Sowing seeds is not difficult, but it takes time to grow the grass – 3	Installation is more complex. You may need to hire professionals – 2	Easy, but you may have to order a gravel delivery truck – 4
Maintenance	Spoiled mulch should be tossed out periodically – 4	Difficult to maintain, requires regular care and reseeding – 2	Can be simple washed with a hose with an odor control agent – 5	No problem with pee, but poop is hard to clean up – 3
Total score	20	19	18	18

As you can see, each option has its pros and cons, but mulch and natural grass still win out.

Whether you choose mulch, gravel, real grass, or artificial turf, this simple guide will help you create the perfect outdoor potty for your pup!

Step 1 – Prepare the essential materials and tools

After choosing the appropriate spot and ground cover for an outdoor dog potty, it’s time to gather all the required supplies and equipment.

Here’s the list:

1. Ground cover material (mulch, pea gravel, natural grass, or artificial turf).
2. Tools (a shovel, tape measure, level, and rake).
3. Drainage layer (such as pebbles, large gravel, or coarse sand).
4. Edging materials (wooden planks, rubber borders, bricks, or stones).
5. Weed barrier fabric (optional for preventing unwanted growth).

Step 2 – Prepare the area

Start by marking the boundaries of the potty area using string, paint, or stakes to define the space clearly. Next, clear the area by removing any grass, weeds, or debris to create a flat, clean surface.

Finally, dig a shallow base about 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) deep to ensure proper drainage, which will help keep the toilet clean and odor-free.

Step 3 – Install edging

Edging helps keep your chosen ground cover material in place. Use wooden planks, rubber borders, bricks, or stones to outline the dog potty area. Secure the edging firmly to the ground to prevent shifting over time.

Step 4 – Add Drainage

The drainage layer should ideally be added beneath any cover to prevent puddles and bad odors.

1. Add a 2-4 inch (5-10 cm) layer of pebbles, large gravel, or coarse sand.
2. Optionally, lay down a weed barrier fabric over the drainage layer for easy maintenance.
3. For sowing natural grass, you need to cover the surface with soil or turf.

Step 5 – Add the ground cover

Now it’s time to make it comfortable for your dog!

• Mulch: Add a 2-3 inch (4-6 cm) layer of dog-safe mulch, like pine or cedar.
• Gravel: Spread 2-3 inches (4-6 cm) of pea gravel. Make sure it’s smooth and free of sharp edges.
• Artificial Turf: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the turf securely. Use a filler (like quartz sand) for better drainage.
• Real Grass. Sow the surface with seeds and then water them regularly. You’ll have to wait at least a few weeks. You can also use the grass seed mat roll like this one:

Last update on 2025-01-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For more help, check out this video tutorial on creating a dog potty area with small pebbles:

Maintenance and Training

How to clean outdoor dog potty area?

• Pick up solid waste daily.
• Rinse the area with water occasionally and add deodorizing spray if needed.
• Refresh materials like mulch or gravel periodically.

Use treats and positive reinforcement to teach your dog to use their new potty. With patience, they’ll get the hang of it!

Outdoor DIY dog potty area ideas

Here are a few more ideas for building a beautiful and comfortable potty area.

✅You can make a dog exit from the house right to the potty:

✅If your dog tends to poop all over the yard, you can enclose the dog potty area with a high fence and put your dog out there for a walk.

✅To make your yard look more attractive, you can enclose the potty area with a decorative fence or simply put bricks, rocks, or other decorations around the perimeter.

✅How about adding an artificial fire hydrant? If your pooch likes to put his foot up to pee, he’ll definitely love this idea.

✅Make a canopy over the dog potty area, but this will require hiring professionals. A easier option is to install a large sun umbrella.

Here’s another video for more inspiration:

@kenzischamel Reply to @sheaglaspey the dog run was our best idea !! #backyardtour #hometour #goldenretrieverpuppy ♬ original sound – kenzi

You can even create a potty area on your patio or balcony. However, this can be a bit tricky and may require a variety of tools and carpentry skills. If you live in an apartment, check out my list of the best doggie potties.

FAQ

Conclusion

Creating a designated potty area for your dog is a great way to keep your yard clean and organized. You can build a DIY outdoor dog potty area using materials like mulch, fine gravel, real grass, or artificial grass. Take into account the unique characteristics of each material to choose the best option for your needs.

Don’t forget to add a proper drainage layer at the bottom. You can also enhance the space with some landscaping elements for a more attractive look.

Once the potty area is set up, it’s time to train your dog to use it exclusively for toilet breaks. With patience, regular practice, and positive reinforcement, your dog will quickly learn it.

Check out my article on how to create a dog-friendly backyard for more ideas!