The GoPotty - Merit, feedback, & interest-gauging please!

[sepulchralx]

Hi all,

I've got a 12lb Yorkie named Newton who is about 8 months old and ever since I purchased him, I've been a member to this forum and have used many tidbits of advice via the search option.

For multiple reasons I've had to train him on the Potty Patch which he religiously and expertly uses multiple times a day for his #1s and his #2s! I found the potty patch to be easy to use, effective for training, and [partially] simple (but not easy) to clean. The biggest disadvantages are that it is too small a surface, too low to the ground, the grass gets impregnated with the pee smell, and not easy to clean. Another huge disadvantage is that after Newton poops a couple of times on it, he poops elsewhere (for fear of stepping in his own poop) unless I pick up and dispose of his droppings.

Anyways, I'm a mechanical engineer by degree, and during a late night shift at a power plant I was working at, I dreamed up an invention that would take the "potty patch" and other more expensive derivatives to the next level.

The GoPotty

As you can see in the attachment to this post, I've already sketched out and determined multiple design criteria as well as pursued a patent. Here are a bit more details the drawing does not detail:

1) self cleaning and drying (because of this the grass should not get impregnated with pee as badly)
2) self-cleaning the poop will allow the dog to continuously use the GoPotty.
3) 5 week+ poop reservoir which would hold air freshener of your choice
4) safe operation, would plug into any 120vac wall outlet.
5) a urine collection pan which would need emptied every 2-3 weeks
6) the product is pretty large and is basically an artificial, replenishing yard. It would weigh about 60LB and be a fiberglass construction.

What I am really looking for in terms of support are the answers to the following questions from any and everyone. Please keep in mind, this product would be more targeted to people who live in apartments, have 40lb (or less) sized dogs, and leave their pets home for long periods of time. Thank you for your participation, and mods, please let me know if this post is in the wrong place.

1) How much would you pay for this?
2) What are your concerns?
3) What suggestions might you have?
4) Do you feel personally that there is a huge potential for this product?
5) Do you think a treat-dispenser reward system would be a nice add-on?
6) Do you think a built in light for pets would be a nice add-on?
7) Do you have any additional interests (legal, marketing, investment, etc) in supporting my efforts?

Thank you!

Michael

[sepulchralx]

*WARNING-GRAPHIC* Newton using his potty patch

The GoPotty would be 10" longer and 6" wider.

[rubymoon2072]

wow that is pretty cool!! i love the idea of a light and also the treat dispenser...hope you get lots of responses and good luck. i would certainly help you spread the word once i tried it.

[sepulchralx]

Originally Posted by rubymoon2072

wow that is pretty cool!! i love the idea of a light and also the treat dispenser...hope you get lots of responses and good luck. i would certainly help you spread the word once i tried it.

Thank you. By the way, how much would you say one of these units should cost?

[rubymoon2072]

Originally Posted by sepulchralx

Thank you. By the way, how much would you say one of these units should cost?

i dont know i looked up the grass potty pads and you can spend up 60 or so depending on the size and where you buy it. i assume its costly to make...125 ish. i mean if it worked as you plan it to and it doesnt stink to the high heavens (my only reservation) i would certainly use this instead of potty pads. i was going to buy the grass one but the thought of cleaning it out grosses me out so i guess thats my reservation. i use disposable now and do feel guilty of my impact on the environment with using disposables.

[heapslp]

I think this is quite an interesting idea. I too am an engineer and love to dream up different ideas... A couple things I would take into consideration would be that this seems like it would work well when a pup is feeling well and their poop is normal. If they were sick and had diarrhea, I could see this turning into a big mess. I think there should be a simple/easy way to take off the grass material and clean it manually in case of this kind of situation.

One other thing to mention is that I think that there should be a sensor of some sort to defer the cycle if the pup happens to be on the unit at the scheduled time. Nothing would wig out my pup more than for her potty area to start moving while she's trying to go. Just deferring the cycle by a couple of minutes should be enough.

I think you're on to something here...

[Zoejane]

I want one and would spend a couple hundred for a decent invention.

[AlyHope]

I would spend a couple hundred if it worked well. Looks like an awesome invention, But I could see the poop comb smelling and getting nasty quick.

[Lilymo]

How safe is plugging into the mains where pee is involved and active chewers.

[sepulchralx]

Originally Posted by Lilymo

How safe is plugging into the mains where pee is involved and active chewers.

Minor detail. Sealed motor,electric cord in a stainless hose with 1/8" thick rubber insulation.

[Princesa Bella]

This seems very interesting!

[Zoejane]

How about making it enclosed on 3 sides. It seems like my baby wants privacy especially when she poops.

[ArmaniMan]

The one thing that concerns me is the hygiene aspects of keeping pee and poop around for weeks- maybe I am misunderstanding the initial post- but it sounds like pee and poop would sit in this product for weeks at a time, even if there was a way to keep the smell down- I believe the "ick factor" alone would turn people off

1) How much would you pay for this? 100-200
2) What are your concerns? see above
3) What suggestions might you have? How hard would it be to connect something like this to the plumbing lines in your house to have it dispose of waste itself similar to self cleaning litter boxes
4) Do you feel personally that there is a huge potential for this product? "huge" is hard to quantify- self cleaning litter boxes have done really well, so I think this could as well.
5) Do you think a treat-dispenser reward system would be a nice add-on? Yes & No- I am sure there are many people who would appreciate that- personally, I wouldnt be able to use it because I cant have food provided to my dogs when I am not home due to food aggression concerns- but I know a lot of people who would really like that
6) Do you think a built in light for pets would be a nice add-on? would be nice- my dogs accuracy improves with light.

[gracielove]

The reason I by passed the potty patch was because of the cleaning factor. Having to do the constant cleaning was a big turn off for me. I raised my kids with disposable diapers and I was not about to start having constant cleaning of wastes for my dog.

Gracie is the first dog that I have trained to use pee pads. All my other (many) dogs have been outside trained. Anything you invented that was "self cleaning" would sure attract my attention. Gracie also moves away from the poo and sometimes goes off the edge for fear of getting too close to the stinky stuff.

Don't know how high I would go in the price range. It would depend on how much of the work is eliminated. Right now I can just roll up the pee pad and put it in the diaper genie.

You have a good little guy. He is being so good in the picture!

[Teresa Ford]

The idea of storing pee and poo is revolting to me. If it could be used like a toilet and flushed that would be excellent . I use washable pee pads when dogs have to be confined to the house, but 95 % of the time they potty outside. I live in Fl. in a home, but understand how fablous it would be for people where it snows and / or in an apartment. I would still invest in the system if it worked. Cost ? around $200 sounds reasonable with a good money back policy of 30 day trial.