"Potty Patch" Doggie Toilet — Load Of Crap, Or Genuine Product?
Dogs, sheesh, who'd have 'em. They hump your leg, their poop stinks, and — worst of all, they pee all over your carpet. Well, meet the Potty Patch! It's an indoor restroom for doggies. Basically a patch of faux sod over a plastic tray that catches the pee. Now you don't need to get off the couch to walk the dog, you can just let her take a quick, stinky whiz right next to your kegerator. Whew!
But the Potty Patch "goes" where the Poo Patch, the Porch Potty, the Penthouse Potty, the Petapotty, and the Patio Potty don't go.... it seems to be a St. Bernard-sized scam! The dogosphere is full of complaints from people who never received any product at all, or who experienced extremely questionable customer service.
"Called the 800 number provided and went through the automated system…..then, and only after my order was placed and my credit card info was given, the automated voice informed me that if my dog was not a puppy and weighs more than 15 lbs, I should "upgrade my order for an additional $40.00." Now this became an $80.00 item. There was no option to cancel, or ask for customer service, just a voice pitching more items to tie into the sale. On the Web there is a small link to customer service and a phone number: 866-518-2294. I called and cancelled."
"Do not give them your credit card number. Within days of ordering it online I had two unauthorized purchases of video games on my credit card. I have never bought video games! Also, they told me that they don't have my order on file because it takes several days to update their computer system. I knew right then something was seriously wrong. Buyers beware!!"
I ordered this about the 7th of Jan and no confirmation, nothing. I have emailed them several times and no reply. I am begining to feel scammed!
I placed an order online and then e-mailed the website link to other members of my family, who told me that when they clicked on the website link my debit card information appeared! I immediately called the company. It took over 9 hours to get through. When I did finally get through I was told I could not cancel my order. I called my bank and stopped payment.
Doggies.com's "Dog Lady" did some following up, speaking to Christian Darby, the owner of PottyPatch.com. Darby admitted that his company was only now starting to fulfill orders from as far back as December 2008. Why? Because Potty Patch started running TV ads before they actually had anything to sell. But Darby says his company has now ramped up production and is fulfilling orders within about two weeks. Hmmmmm.
There have been fleeting reports of people *actually* receiving their portapiss as of July 1st, but we have to say, on esthetics alone, we'd definitely take care of our business on the white-picket-fenced Patio Potty.
(Photo: adamr.stone)
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Comments:
Hammacher Schlemmer has it. It costs more, but all their stuff is lifetime-guaranteed.
In the meantime, this looks like not a very sanitary thing to do.
This sort of business conduct makes me sick as a dog.
$80 plus shipping for a toilet? nah, i'd let the dog pee outside for free!
-dave
Since some credit card companies will issue a card to your dog, let your dog order it.
The website is currently down, so I can't see it myself to confirm, but to me, this sounds to me like an inexperienced entrepreneur trying to start up a business. It doesn't really sound like an intentional scam, it just sounds like they're in way over their heads and haven't figured out what the heck they're doing yet. They probably envisioned a slow build in demand that would allow them to use small scale production for a long time and didn't realize the jump in sales that would accompany TV advertisements.
In terms of the product itself, it's great for people who live alone and work all day and can't come home to let the dog out. That said, I certainly wouldn't want a plastic reservoir of dog urine in my apartment all day. I bet it smells lovely when you get home on a hot day.
@missdona: They make something sort-of like this for vet's offices (for cats, it's plastic beads instead of litter with a catch tray underneath the mesh tray holding the beads; for dogs, it's something like that only I don't think there's astroturf, but I don't have a dog so I never really paid attention) for when they want a urine sample without going in after it. I'm thinking you can get one of those cheaper (or for a comparable price) and it'll be much sturdier and much more clean-able.
@militarydave: I had a friend who got one of these because when she got divorced and moved from her house with a big fenced in yard to an apt, the dog refused to go on a leash, and she didn't want to get in trouble with the leash laws. I still think if she let him be uncomfortable long enough, he'd go on a leash, but she had so much else to worry about at the time, this was an easy fix to at least 1 worry.
As a condo dweller, I have one of these for my dog (not from this company!) - It is a total lifesaver! No more trips outside in my pj's in the morning... The doggy box is outside on our balcony - FYI I use mulch instead of fake grass, and my dog likes that much better.
@missdona: Yeah, how do you get the pee out without spilling the tray? I remember having to defrost our freezer in our dorm before moving out for the summer, and it was impossible to get that flat tray of water out without spilling some.
how awful. All it does is teach dogs that urinating and defecating is A-OK inside on synthetic material. And it promotes lazy pet ownership.
@K-Bo: Also, some dogs can't make it alone all day without going, and not everyone has sliding glass doors to allow for a doggie door insert, and those with normal doors might not want to modify/replace theirs.
Cats, sheesh, who'd have 'em. They lay around and do nothing all day, their poop stinks, and - worst of all, their pee will make your home stink forever.
Hi!! Billy Mays here with another fantastic product!! Do you want a high-maintainence pet , but don't want to be bothered with all that walking and exercise? Wish you could have all the pleasure of dog ownership without the inconvienence of all that responsibility? Then the Potty Patch is for you!!
(Mmmmm...that's good sarcasm.)
Can I buy one and put my brother-in-law's face on their instead? Cuz his aim is quite bad sometimes and he's really lazy.
And dogs? Cuter and smarter.
@Ratty: I'm not a lazy pet owner - but these things are a lifesaver when it's 3am and your dog has the runs! I can let my dog out on the balcony quickly, instead of getting dressed, putting her leash & harness on, then running down the condo hallway, getting outside, and then realizing I forgot my key to get back into my building at 3am. Lazy? No. Convenient? Yes.
If it makes you feel better, my box has mulch & is located outside, so no worries about training the dog to pee inside:)
And my dog still gets to go on nice walks etc... so it's not her sole toilet:)
@hillsrovey: i have no shame and do the morning trip in my PJs....and since it's usually after 10 AM, I REALLY have no shame.
@hillsrovey: if my dog is super desperate he goes in the basement next to the cat litter...which makes him a smart dog in my mind. seriously cleaning it up off of concrete is much easier than scrubbing carpet..
These things are disgusting.
If you own a dog, take it outside to pee. If you can't manage that, you aren't mature or responsible enough to own a dog.
Man, lots of folks really have opinions on where you should let your dog take a whiz....
Just get a plastic tray and a couple squares of real grass. You can make your own for under $15.
I wouldn't put it in my apartment, but I might put one on my patio for late-night potty emergencies. I'm a single female and sometimes don't feel like going outside and into the street at 3am.
@MightyCow: My dog has neurological problems and is slowly becoming incontinent. She can manage to run across my apartment in time to get to the wee-wee pad, but getting her down a flight of stairs, down the hall, and out the door in time for her not to tinkle everywhere is a losing battle. And yes, I walk her regularly several times a day. Sorry if that makes me immature or irresponsible.
@Ratty: Or, in the case of those of us who have dogs who, for whatever reason, already believe that carpet=bathroom, it allows us to not have to choose between living in filth or taking our dog to the pound.
I've been involved with the housetraining of dogs for more than 30 years. I have NEVER encountered a dog that could not eventually be housebroken... until Honda, one of my current dogs. She's been examined by numerous vets over the last ~6 years; I've pulled out all my personal training tricks and have even taken her to professional trainers, on one occasion going so far as coordinating her training with a move to a new apartment with brand-new (no pee-signal smells) carpeting. Nothing works, and the vets have all said it's a small-dog thing that just happens sometimes, lucky me.
If I lived anywhere else, she'd be a 100% outside dog. However, I live in a desert climate where the summer temperatures are too harsh for me to feel comfortable making her a 24/7 outside dog, especially because her size makes her more vulnerable to heatstroke, etc. So for about five-six months a year, I have to deal with an untrainable damn pissing dog in the house.
The ONLY reason I won't order one of these is because I'm sure it'd go the same way as the kennels, and the diapers, and the pee-pads, and all the rest. Instead, I had ceramic tile put down in my office, and when she's inside I lock her in with me, so at least I don't have to keep replacing my carpets and living in filth and odor.
tl;dr? Summary: Don't be so quick to judge.
@Brandi Hendrix: If I didn't assume you had a dog, I'd think you were saying you'd use this yourself.
I have 2 of the small Pet-a-potty [www.petapotty.com]
I use them with my small dog who can't hold it very log but I also do a lot of fostering for a local shelter and I don't like enforcing that it's okay to "go" in the house and the petapotty allows me to associate potty with grass. I chose the Petapotty and not the potty patch or similar products because the grass is elevated well above the tray and unlike other products the tray can be used with litter and it works with both artificial grass and natural nsod.
@Trai_Dep: I find using an old soup ladel works well for catching the dog pee with no mess to the hands. Poop? Old cool whip container.
Yeah, I know you were being sarcastic.
Hey guys...I got 2 pet iguanas that are 6 feet long each...This sounds like the ideal answer to my potty problem...How do you walk an iguana? Let me know...huh?Anyway, I've heard stories about not getting the product once you give them your credit card number. I'm more concerned about that. Anyone have any problems with the company? Let me know, so I can decide weather or not to send for one...It would sure make my day easier...Iguanas Rule...Lol
@MightyCow: My 10-year old toy poodle was perfectly housebroken and NEVER peed in the house until last year. He ended up being diagnosed with Cushing's disease and a side effect is peeing in the house ... on my carpet and on a chair. I take him out three to four times a day. This kind of product is a godsend for me saving my carpet and upholstry. Think twice before calling someone immature or irresponsible. Of course, you'd probably be the kind of person who would just put a dog down instead of dealing with a dog that wasn't perfect.
Doggone it, that sucks.