Complete Guide To Make Your Own Dog Loo

If you’ve been following us on social media, you’d know that we moved from a house with a backyard to an apartment. We love our new apartment, and Ollie and Winks have settled in even better than they did at the house. The smaller space actually helps Ollie feel calmer with less space to guard and protect. Our apartment is surrounded by parks and also has a rooftop pet play area where Ollie and Winks can potty. However, I decided to make them a custom dog loo because I could see many benefits.

Perks of having a fresh grass dog loo

Frequency: While I give one big walk to Ollie and Winsks (the recommended amount of exercise per day for dogs of their size), dogs need to potty more often during the day. Having an easily accessible potty area in the balcony is convenient.

Real Grass: Real grass can direct and motivate dogs to potty. And the best part is, it also doesn’t smell compared to the artificial options. Proper watering and drainage further reduce odors.

Weather: If the weather doesn’t allow for walks (rain, thunderstorms and extreme heat), a dog loo provides a convenient alternative.

Health Conditions: Ollie has colitis, which means he gets tummy issues if he eats something that doesn’t agree with him. A dog loo is especially helpful for emergencies or for dogs with chronic health issues, anxieties about walking, or age-related limitations.

Why build our own dog loo?

There are multiple ways to build a dog loo. You can certainly buy one as well, as there are many commercially available options. I chose to build our own to customize it to our needs. Additionally, it works out to be cheaper than commercially available comparable products. I decided to have a wooden frame and real grass that could potentially grow, and I also added wheels for mobility. You can customize the size according to your space. Following is the complete list of materials I used, along with prices. If you do not want to build the frame and you are ok with a smaller size you can buy a similar frame from Turf Loo and use the grass from your local store.

DIY dog potty solution: Materials required

Following is a list of materials and prices in Australian dollars. You can use alternate materials to customize according to your needs.

Wood^1 2– $9.50 per meter – Decking Merbau oiled 140x19mm – 5.4m (cut to size: 2 pieces of 1250mm and 5 pieces of 640mm)

Wire Frame³ – $33.99 – RapidMesh 600 x 1200mm 25 x 25mm Black Wire Mesh Panel

Gardening Mat⁴– $6.77 for 5m (use 2m) – Saxon 0.915 x 5m Prepacked Weed Control Mat

Wheels⁵ – $7.50 each (4 required) – Easyroll 50mm Black PVC Swivel Castor with Brake

Garden Soil⁶– $5.33 per 25L (2 bags required) – Garden Basics 25L Garden Soil Mix

Turf – $7.64 – Sir Walter 0.5m² DNA Certified Soft Leaf Buffalo Turf Slab

40mm Screws⁷ – $4.17 (use 14 screws) – Pinnacle 5 x 40mm Black Countersunk Timber Screw (20 pack)

15mm Button Head Screws⁸ – $5.24 (use 12 screws) – Head Stitching Timber Screws (35 pack)

Other Tools⁹ – drill bit and handheld drill

Optional – Watering hose ¹⁰– $62.62 – Takagi RM1110BR Hose Reel 10 M NANO NEXT

Notes

1. I used Merbau because it is sturdy, weather-resistant, aesthetically pleasing, and smooth. It was cut to size at my local Bunnings store. Caution: Merbau can stain concrete balconies when watered. ↩︎
2. I used Bunnings cut-shop to get wood cut to size. Call ahead to your local store to confirm if they offer cutting services. ↩︎
3. Not mandatory, but it helps with structural integrity and securing the plastic mat. ↩︎
4. Keeps soil in place, aids cleaning, and improves drainage without losing chunks of soil and grass. ↩︎
5. Highly recommended for mobility. Wheels with brakes prevent unexpected movement, which can scare dogs with anxiety. ↩︎
6. Necessary for growing grass. Regular watering keeps the grass healthy and odor-free. ↩︎
7. Used to connect wood parts. Ensure screws are longer than the wood width (19mm) ↩︎
8. Used to attach wheels. If not using button head screws, you might need washers. ↩︎
9. Always pre-drill holes to prevent wood from splitting. Match the drill hole width to the screws for proper functionality. ↩︎
10. Essential for cleaning and maintaining fresh grass. If you chose to buy this praticular model keep in mind that you might need a washer to connect to your specific tap. Ensure your balcony has good drainage, otherwise consider including a draining system to your pallet. ↩︎

Step-by-step Iinstructions to make your own dog potty solution

Step 1: Prepare the Materials

Find an area large enough to lay out the wood and materials. Lay the wood pieces according to the diagram to visualize the structure. You can also paint the wooden pieces or add a protective layer (I wish I did this because the merbau wood stain can wash off for a while and stain the concrete).

Step 2: Make the Frame

Combine two pieces of wood by first drilling through them with the appropriate drill bit. Make sure to drill both pieces together for proper alignment.

Pass the screw through with the help of a drill. Once the basic frame is assembled, add the remaining pieces to the base for structural integrity. Secure each side with screws.

Step 3: Add Wheels

Screw in the 4 wheels to the 4 corners for mobility. Ensure the frame is placed in a location accessible for your dog and with good drainage (e.g., balcony, deck, or patio).

Step 4: Assemble the Layers

Place the wire frame at the bottom of the wooden frame.

Lay the plastic mat on top of the wire frame.

Add garden soil and flatten it out evenly.

Place the fresh grass turf on top and water it thoroughly.

Water the grass daily or after use to keep it fresh. If you plan to grow the grass, regular watering is essential. Replace the turf every few weeks if it begins to die.

Step 5: Introduce Your Dog to the Loo

You can introduce signals like ringing a bell whenever your dog needs to use the loo—more on this in our training section. Reward your dog with treats and praise when they use the loo.

If required, encourage your dog by placing familiar scents (like a small piece of soiled newspaper) on the turf.

Final thoughts

It’s been over a month since we made ours, and Ollie and Winks love it. My only regret is not sealing the wood to prevent it from staining the concrete, but it’s an easy clean. It’s great to have enough space for Ollie and Winks to do their potty when needed. A similar-sized potty solution would have cost much more than the materials.

Making your own dog potty solution is a practical and rewarding project that can make life easier for both you and your pup. No matter whether you live in an apartment or a house with or without a backyard, you can get creative and customize it to your needs. With a little effort and creativity, you’ll have a durable, hygienic, portable, and economical potty solution. Hope this post helps you get started. Check out our video on this for a visual representation. Happy crafting!