Help
Questions, answered honestly
Including the ones with awkward answers. If yours is not here, email us - we answer our own inbox, and we answer it promptly.
The basics
Start here
Where do I buy the sod?
Home Depot, or any local garden center. Around $8 worth of sod fills it. Depending on how your store cuts them that is one or two pieces, and occasionally one straight trim to fit. You can also grow your own from seed. That usually takes two to three weeks, though climate and growing method both change how fast it comes up.
How often do I change it?
Most customers get two to three months from each piece. That is an average, not a guarantee.
Light, drainage, climate, how often your dog uses it and how well you look after it all move that number. Looked after well, some people get six months. Indoors with no direct sun and little upkeep, expect two to four weeks.
Will my balcony smell?
No. Liquid drains straight through into the slide-out tray rather than sitting in the grass, and living grass handles the rest. Rinse the tray as needed and there is nothing to smell.
What size is it, and will my dog fit?
33.9 x 26 x 5.1 inches outside, 31.9 x 24 x 3.5 inches inside. One universal size, from a toy breed to a labrador. Bigger than a greyhound and it still works, it is just a snug patch. Put two side by side if you want more room - the wheels lock.
What comes in the box?
The Grassifier, its slide-out drainage tray, wheels, a 10-pack of porous liners, and a setup guide.
Sod and soil you buy locally. That is what keeps you off a subscription.
Setting it up
Sod, soil and drainage
How do I set it up?
Liner in the base, cut a few holes for drainage. About an inch of potting mix. Lay the sod on top. Five minutes on the floor, no tools.
What keeps the grass alive?
Treat it like a small patch of lawn - water, light, and drainage. Underneath, a purpose-built drainage and airflow system lets water leave and air in, so the roots do not rot.
Should I leave the tray in or out?
Out, if you can. The Grassifier drains freely underneath and you never have to empty anything. On a balcony where runoff matters, slide the tray in and empty it as needed.
What drains out the bottom?
If you water it regularly, much the same as any potted plant - dirty water. Throw some water underneath every few days to keep it fresh.
What is the easiest way to replace the sod?
- Gloves on.
- Cut the old piece in half with a serrated knife.
- Lift both halves straight into the trash.
- Lift the liner out with the old soil and bin that too.
- Fresh liner, fresh soil, fresh piece.
How do I cut the sod to fit?
Our Turf Knife is the easiest way. Garden secateurs work, they are just harder going.
Buying it
Shipping, guarantees and the awkward ones
How fast is shipping?
Quick shipping - 2 to 3 business days to most areas, from our US warehouses. Not sent from overseas.
Why don't you just send me the grass?
Because you would pay us up to seven times what a garden center charges, forever. We would rather you spent about eight dollars locally and kept the difference. That is the entire idea.
Why real grass and not fake?
Fake grass and pads need scrubbing or binning every day or they stink. Dogs also struggle to tell them apart from a rug, which slows toilet training down. Real grass is what they instinctively look for.
Why do retailers say out of stock online?
Sod is a live plant. Home Depot and most others only sell individual pieces in-store, not online, so it stays fresh. Call ahead to check stock or find out when the next delivery lands.
What if my dog digs?
Add the puppy dig protection grid. It sits over the grass and stops digging instantly - it is the accessory customers most often wish they had ordered up front.
What if it doesn't work for us?
Most dogs take to it, and quickly. We have sold 30,000+ potties, we average 4.9 from 872 reviews, and we have changed how a lot of people handle in-home dog toileting - you can read what customers say here.
What we cannot speak for is your dog. Training, habits and temperament vary enormously, and those sit with you rather than with us. Some dogs settle in within a day, others take a few weeks, and a small number never quite make the switch.
We would rather be upfront about that than imply a guarantee we cannot give.
For hygiene reasons we cannot accept returns on a used potty - we will never re-sell a returned product, and that is deliberate. If anything arrives faulty or fails in quality, we will make it right.
Still got a question?
Email contact@realgrasspuppypotty.com. A person answers, and promptly - not days later.