Although functionality is practically the same, however, in terms of size, made, price, and color they aren’t so similar. Being in the market for almost two years, will UGODog give veteran WizDog a run for their money? Is newer (and “improved”) always better? Having own WizDog and UGODog, here’s my review:

Note: Words in square brackets are correction requested by one of UGODog’s staff after reading my review. Italic are their exact words. Curly brackets are mine—additional info.

WizDog vs. UGODog

	WizDog	UGODog
Price	$39.95 – One time investment	$49.95 – One time investment
Structure	Plastic tray and grate	Plastic tray and two smaller grates
Color	Tray – Electric Blue Grate – White	Tray – Neutral Grates – Neutral
Specifications	Exterior – 28″ (L) x 21″ (W) x 1″ (H) Elimination space – 23.5″ x 15.5″	Exterior – 26.4″ (L) x 19.1″ (W) x 0.98″ (H) Elimination space – 25.5″ x 16.5″
Weighs	Approx. 3lbs.	Approx. 4lbs.
Grate	Beams of the grid is thin and level which may be uncomfortable for delicate paws, however, there’s a fix to it. *see below	Beams of the grid is thick and convex in shape which is much comfortable to the paw pads.
Cost of Grate(s)—sold separately	$9.95 exclude shipping cost	$15 per pair. Shipping cost $10
Grid Cell	Approx. 0.625″ square and 0.375″ deep	Approx. 0.4″ square and 0.6″ deep
Suitable Breeds	Small- to medium-sized dogs. However if you’ve a large dog, you’ll need to get another Wizdog and place them side by side with newspapers draped over the center and secured under the grates, making it a bigger potty pan. Wizdog, however, can sustain dogs weighing up to 200 lbs.	Teacup to large-sized dog (in terms of the supporting weight of a larger dog, not the size of the pan). I suppose for larger dogs, you could do what Wizdog suggested by placing two trays side by side for larger elimination space.
How Should It Be Used	It is designed for one dog to use at a time. Since my dogs don’t know how to take a queue number, I combine two pans for their easy access. For solid wastes, I flip the grate over the toilet bowl and flush them.	Similar to Wizdog, it is designed to be used one dog at a time. Discarding feces, same.
Cleaning and Care	Cleaning is a breeze. The tray has a smooth glossy finish making it easy to clean and a better sanitation too. Occasionally, the poop may be stuck in the grid, so it’s a bit of a hassle to clean if it goes into the grate, so keep a toilet brush handy. For maintenance, I soak the pan and grate once a week for an hour with bleach and warm water—this is to kill the mild acidic smell.	Similarly, it’s easy to clean. Since UGODog uses two smaller grates instead of one big grate, it claims it makes cleanup of the grates easier and more convenient. This isn’t the case for me; it’s slightly cumbersome. At the end of the day I still have to remove the grate to clean; so why is lifting two grates easier than one? Also, when poop lands in the middle of the two grates, lifting both grates requires steady hands or you pick the poop up and throw it! So how’s that convenient? Although the grid is much smaller, it doesn’t mean the poop (comes in all shapes, sizes, textures, and smells) won’t get struck or leave stubborn poop stain. You’ll still need to brush or soak the grid if needed to. [Smaller grids can be washed in most bathroom sinks. WizDog’s grid would be difficult to wash in any sink. That’s why the smaller grids are more convenient.] {Most bathroom sinks are small and oval in shape, and water faucets are set low so they still won’t fit in let alone wash them…kitchen sinks most probably. I suggest washing the grids in either a bathtub or shower area and I still have to remove two instead of one. } The company suggests using a wet paper towel for daily wipe off and mild detergent once a week or wiping it down with fragrant-free baby wipes for maintenance. We are talking about urine and poop, so a thorough sterilization is much preferred to rid the smell and stain and for prolong use.
Best Placed at	Can be placed anywhere you choose to train your dog to do his toileting. Because of its smooth surface underneath, it is best placed it over a nonslip mat or on rough tiles. So when your dog makes a run to the pan, it will not slip away.	Weighing just a little over a pound heavier than WizDog and its base is less smooth hence UGODog is less slippery if placed on “smoother” surface should your dog make a run for it.
Durability	WizDog is made of industrial grade polyethylene plastic tray, you can be certain it is here to stay for years. My dogs have been using WizDog since Oct 2004, and they still look as good as new maybe a little less electric blue in color…probably due to weekly bleaching!	UGODOG is made using an injection molding process, so it is a stronger and sturdier construction. This may be true. While I have UGODog for 3 months now so only time will tell how sturdy it can get. Having said, it won’t be fair to make comparison given the fact that my dogs use both potty systems simultaneously. Whereas for 5 years, there’s only one potty system in my house and it’s fully utilized throughout.
Guarantee	30 days	30 days
Shipping Cost	Shipping cost is not made available prior to, but you will have the detail just before you check out.	No shipping charges if ship within US but limited time only. [When you factor in shipping, UGODog and WizDog are virtually the same price to the consumer. In fact, often times WizDog is more, because shipping to many places in the U.S. can be more than $10.]
Service and Support	Prompt and friendly reply. Even though I get a further discount price (a privilege given to affiliates), the service and support given to me aren’t anywhere substandard. I was treated like any other customer—fair and just.	Not as prompt as I wanted it to but replied within 48 hours. Sadly, I don’t get additional discount being their affiliates. Just the regular 10% off coupon code. (See Pet coupon code.) [UGODog take breaks on Saturday and Sunday {I assume public holidays too} so no reply until the following business day. FYI, mine wasn't on the weekends or public holiday!] [We offer wholesale pricing for our affiliates. We want them to not only believe in the product but also use it.] {I wish they were more forthcoming when signed up their affiliate program. UGODog didn’t disclose in the email the percentage or price discount. I would have to ask them before my next UGODog purchase. In any case, I’m quite happy about the 10% discount (unless they tell me the wholesale price is 50% off) I got as this isn’t a product that requires replenishment on a regular basis}
Pros / Cons	Pro: Light weight. Pro: Free dog training ebook with purchase. Pro: Cheap. Con: Color can be very tacky for some especially electric blue isn’t your color, then Wizdog can be an eye sore in your living room. Honestly, who puts a potty pan in the living room? Wouldn’t it better to place it in the toilet or laundry area where traffic is light? And also hygiene, people. Con: Because of its color, it does look less chic and cheap (inferior quality).	Pro: Chic looking. Pro: Color blends in with décor only if yours is in neutral, gray, and white tone. Pro: Free Shipping within US. Pro: 10% discount, valid til 30 Jun 10 Pro: Sturdier and convex grid. Con: $10 more than Wizdog without coupon code. Special Note: When you factor in the 10% off and free shipping, it’s totally a different story…UGODog costs only $44.96 nett! Con: No replacement grid sold. So if your grid is damaged, you’ll have to buy the whole potty system.

Additional Information: UGODog’s Comparison
In addition to the above comparison, here are some texts extracted from UGODog’s website on comparing their own and rival product. Words in italic are theirs.

For their grids, WIZDOG uses lighting louvers cut to fit their base plate. The lighting louvers are not perfectly matched to the base plate, and therefore, there is some play between their grid and their base plate. Unlike WIZDOG, there is absolutely no play between the UGODOG grids and the UGODOG base plate, because the two were designed in tandem to match each other perfectly.

I can’t say for all, but for my WizDog there’s no play between the grid and base plate or much to be concerned about. If any, it isn’t much of an issue unless your dog keeps flipping the grid out of the base plate. Most dogs rarely like to play with their potty system unless they’re dead bored or ran out of things to play with. Furthermore, most domesticated dogs are clean creatures they don’t like to be around their toilet unless it’s their nature call. Should your dog choose to flip the grate, just place a rock over it!

WIZDOG grids, because they are lighting louvers, were never designed to support dogs or accommodate their delicate paws. They are designed to diffuse light. The UGODOG grids were specifically designed for the UGODOG and are not used in any other product of any kind. The UGODOG grids are specifically designed and engineered to support dogs and accommodate their delicate paws. Unlike the WIZDOG grids, the beams of the UGODOG grids are thick and convex in shape to cushion dogs’ paws. The square holes that make up the grids are sized small enough so that they do not trap the smallest paw pads of the smallest dog breeds.

While it is true that WizDog’s square holes are slightly bigger and may be less gentle on paw pads as compare to UGODog, this can be easily and cheaply fixed if you’re concerned that your teacup Yorkie’s paw pad might trap in-between the grid.

What you will need is either a planting net/mesh (preventing soil from leaking out of the pot) or mosquitoes netting or fishing net. (planting net is the better option as it’s thicker and harder). You can either cut exactly to the size of the grate or leave about 2 inches around the edges. Place it over the grip and tuck the remaining underneath it. And if there’s some play between the base plate and the grid, there won’t be any after you place the net! Voila!!!

[We’re surprised that you would recommend people have their dogs standing atop thin and sharp lighting louvers vs. the thick convex grids of UGODOG. I would assume that foremost among the concerns of your readers would be the safety and comfort of their pets.]

Of course, safety and comfort are the foremost concerns of any dog owners. I was merely making an easy-fix suggestion should they decide to get WizDog instead or give WizDog a second “life” rather than to condemn and discard it—for GAIA’s sake.

At the end of day is readers’ prerogative to make their own wise decision regardless of what I recommend or suggest.

Conclusion: I honestly think both WizDog and UGODog are equally good products that serve their purposes but at the end of the day I’ll have to go with WizDog being economical, its durability, and ease of removing one grate instead two. If UGODog is more your liking, remember to use my coupon code to justify the cost.

However, I have to give UGODog extra credit for being responsive on reviews of their product. This goes to show they do care and listen to their consumers’ feedback. With this, I will have to change my rating from 4.0 to 4.7. Maybe I was rash to critic on their support service, and maybe my email hovered around the cyberspace a couple days before deciding to land in their inbox.

Ratings:
WizDog Indoor Dog Potty – 4.5 pee/poop out of 5
UGODog Indoor Dog Potty – 4.7 pee/poop out of 5

• Type of litter box
• Absorbent materials
• Number of dogs using the litter box

I’ll briefly discuss all the above, and hopefully answer her question.

Type of Litter Box

In this case, I assume she’s not using ScoopFree automatic litter box (read my ScoopFree review here) or any self-cleaning litter box such as Omega Paw (right image). Conventional litter boxes (manual operated ) are far more inexpensive than automatic ones hence they require regular cleaning and changing of the litter or any suitable absorbent material.

Although with so many designs of conventional litter box available—from a simple plastic tray to a sophisticated “double-decked” box—their cleaning procedures are generally the same. Here are two models to illustrate my point.

Breeze Litter Box System: Basically, it has two trays. The pellets stay on the upper deck where it holds the poops while the urine pass through the pellets and down to the lower tray where a pad is placed. According to the manufacturer, the pellets need to change once a month and for the pad once a week…for one cat or dog!

Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box: The two things that differentiate Booda from any typical “single-decked” litter box are the built-in mini stairs leading to the litter tray and the hood above it. Changing the litter will depend very much on the quality of the litter you use and the number of dogs using it. As to cleaning the box, it’s made with easy-to-clean plastic and even easier with their disposable liners.

The Absorbent Materials

Clay and pellet litters are the preferred choices when using in conjunction with litter box. Nevertheless, newspaper and pee pad are also used in replace to litters. Dogs are less meticulous than cats about the absorbent materials, however be sure to use the same material consistently.

Litter (Clay or Pellets): With advance technology, more manufacturers are making better litter as compare to yesteryears. Many claim that their litter won’t clump when come in contact with liquid. However, if you have two or more dogs using the same litter box, in no time the litter will clump within two to four days if not by the end of the week.

Pee Pads: Most pee pads are super absorbent and some even claim they’ve odor-blocking protection. Unlike disposable, some washable/reusable pee pads are made of better material which holds the urine without soaking through it and they won’t leave stains even if feces and urine are left to dry for many hours. You can easily wrap off the dry feces markings with any damp cloth and wash the pad in the washing machine when needed.

Newspapers: Though newspaper isn’t the best option for housetraining, nonetheless it does serve some functions when you ran out of litter or pads. Since they aren’t absorbable at all even you placed half an inch thick of newspapers in it, it’d be best to change them after every use.

The Number Of Dogs

When more dogs use the same litter box, naturally, it requires more scooping up of feces, changing of the litter or pee pads or newspapers, and cleaning of the litter box.

Some dogs won’t mind doing their business if the litter box is a little filthy but some fussy dogs, like mine, would not eliminate in it if it were not cleaned after each use.

Conclusion:

Whichever absorbent material you use, you’ll need to change depending on the usage. From personal experiences, I’d suggest using good quality reusable pee pad as it’s more economical and user friendly for dogs. Some dogs are compulsive digger (kicking pellets out of the box) and shredder (tearing disposable pad into pieces).

Whether you have one or many dogs, it’s best to keep the litter box clean always, as this will encourage positive reinforcement—continue using of the litter box. Besides, with regular cleaning it’ll somehow prolong the lifespan of the product and keep your house smelling clean always.

Do remember to check with the manufacturers, be it the box or absorbent material, the proper way to using the product.

Like any other dog supplies, housetraining device is a matter of preference, practicality, and cost. If you do enough research, you can probably figure out on your own what’s best for you and your puppy. Nevertheless, I will give you a head start to save you some time and money. Here is a complete (as far as I know) analysis of two most popular housetraining devices, Wizdog and ScoopFree, for dogs, specifically for small dogs.

WizDog vs ScoopFree

	WizDog	ScoopFree
Price	$39.95 – One time investment	$139.95 – first investment which includes the first litter cartridge.
Structure	Plastic tray and grate	Litter box and litter cartridge
Size	Exterior measurement – 28″ (L) x 21″ (W) Elimination space – 23.5″ x 15.5″	Exterior measurement – 28″ (L) x 19″ (W) x 7″ (H) Elimination space – 14″ x 14″
Optional Accessories	No accessory is required.	Anti-Tracking Carpet – $24.95 Hood – $29.95
Refill	No refill is needed! It can be used as it is, or can fit either newspaper or training pads to absorb the urine.	The cost of each refill tray depends on the numbers of tray you ordered at one time, ranging from $14.99 to $19.95. Each tray lasts about 30 days depending on the number of dogs using it.
Suitable Breeds	Small to medium sized dogs. However if you’ve a large dog, you’ll need to get another Wizdog and place them side by side with newspapers draped over the center and secured under the grates, making it a bigger potty pan.No worries for owners whose dogs with long coat. The grate will prevent the coat from touching the urine, especially when she takes a squat.	Teacup to small-sized dogs, body length (shoulder to rear) should not be longer than 15 inches (best is 13 inches or shorter, so there will be a little room left for your dog to do the potty dance.
Transitional Period	Somewhere between a day to 2 weeks for a complete transition. Most dogs will automatically urine on the potty tray the very day you place it at their existing potty area. A few dogs might need a little getting used to when doing their number 2.	About 7 to 10 days. I believe it requires some training for the dog to getting used to the Crystal. My dogs had prior training to conventional litter box and are accustomed to litter pellets, so the transition was smooth and fast…almost! The only thing they had to get used to was the sound made by the rake when it sweeps through the litter. The best advice I’d give you is to have your dog fully trained to litter box before you make the investment.
How It Should Be Used	It is designed for one dog to use at a time. Since my dogs don’t know how to take a queue number , I combine two pans for their easy access. After that, I flip the grate over the toilet bowl and flush the solid waste.	No cleaning is needed and you “never” have to see or touch any messy waste. It automatically rakes solid waste into a covered trap. The only time you’ll need to come in contact with the litter box is when you change the cartridge. You may want to clean the frame once in a while.
Cleaning and Care	Cleaning is a breeze. The tray has a smooth glossy finish making it easy to clean and a better sanitation too. Occasionally, the poop may be stuck in the grid, so it’s a bit of a hassle to clean if it goes into the grate, so keep a toilet brush handy.	No cleaning is needed and you “never” have to see or touch any messy waste. It automatically rakes solid waste into a covered trap. The only time you’ll need to come in contact with the litter box is when you change the cartridge. You may want to clean the frame once in a while.
Odor Buster	Since it does not automatically remove the waste after each use, the odor will linger until you clean the pan. You might want to place the pan far away from human traffic, i.e. bathroom area.	The Fresh Step Crystal No Clumps litter locks in odors for unbeatable odor control. Crystals absorb wetness; there are no clumps of urine.
Best Placed at	Can be placed anywhere you choose to train your dog to do his toileting. Because of its smooth surface underneath, it is best placed it over a nonslip mat or on rough tiles. So when your dog make a run to the pan, it will not slip away.	Have to be placed near a power socket for it to work. Cannot be exposed to sunlight and moisture, so outdoor playpen and toilet are not ideal place to place the ScoopFree. Utility area would be your best bet.
Safety Measures / Prevent Destructive Behaviors	1. There is no electrical cord for the puppy to chew on or mess with it. 2. All liquid is absorbed by the newspaper that stays under grate on the plastic tray and the papers/pad cannot be shredded.	1. It’s best to use a code protector so that your puppy won’t have the opportunity to chew on the electrical code. 2. Dog, especially puppies, may chew and swallow the litter—Crystal. They may also kick the litters out of the litter box.
Paw Print Tracking	All liquid waste is channeled through the grate to the bottom of the tray and absorbed by newspaper (optional), preventing paws from coming in contact with the urine. Keeps your dog’s paws clean and dry.	The Crystals absorb wetness, there are no clumps of urine. However though, the crystals may be struck between paws, which then get scattered all over your house. So you might want to consider getting the anti-tracking carpet.
Durability	Since it does not rely on power to operate, and it is made of industrial grade polyethylene plastic tray, you can be certain it is here to stay for years. I’ve been using Wizdog since Oct 2004, and they still look as good as new.	It wouldn’t be fair for me to compare ScoopFree with Wizdog as I’ve the litter box for about 4 months now and only used it once—for 13 days.* I suppose it will last me quite a while if I use it with care.
Guarantee	30 days	90 days
Shipping Cost	Shipping cost is not made available prior to, but you will have the detail just before you check out.	Shipping cost is clearly stated before you made the purchase.
Service and Support	Prompt and friendly reply. Even though I get a further discount price (a privilege given to affiliates), the service and support given to me aren’t anywhere substandard. I was treated like any other customer—fair and just.	After four email queries, they finally replied…3 weeks later! That’s a big red flag. I wonder how long it would take them to reply to me if I encounter faulty issues with the product. Of course, you could always order it through third party suppliers, however, you still have to liaise with the manufacturer should there be a faulty issue—as it’s stated in their manual.
Additional Info.	Pro: Light weight – weighs about 3 lbs Pro: Free dog training ebook with purchase. Pro: Cheap	Pro: Scoopfree is an ideal housetraining devise when you have both cat and dog living under the same roof. Since it automatically clean the litter, you don’t have to worry about your dog eating feces again. Con: See my PDF Chart

Personal Note: You might wonder why I would use ScoopFree since I’ve been using Wizdog religiously for 4 years. It isn’t so much for my convenience rather it’s for my pet sitter. Once, my former pet sitter failed to show up for one day (I returned home from my mini vacation a day earlier—it’s not an intention to snoop on her!), and needless to say, my doggy toilet was filled with the accumulated wastes and not to mention the smell accompanied with IT. Without question, I fired her when she showed up the following day. Boy, was she surprised! Anyway, the ScoopFree is just a contingent plan I use when I go on a no-dog-vacation.

Conclusion: There are only a few things I would splurge on my dogs and housetraining device is not one of them. That’s why I don’t use ScoopFree on a regular basis, certainly not when I’ve three or more dogs. My cost for replacing the refills can really add up in long run. I’ve also used similar potty trays, which are slightly cheaper, but they are not as sturdy as Wizdog.

Ratings:

WizDog Potty Pan – 5 poops out of 5
ScoopFree Automatic Litter Box – 2.5 poops out of 5

If you are somewhat convinced that Wizdog is for your dog but still a little apprehensive, you might be interested to read my other indoor dog potty review: Wizdog vs. UGODog.

Essentially a litter box is an enclosed area where you provide an environment in which your dog will always use as a toilet. The process is not at all difficult but does require patience and some work on your part.

You could make your own litter box or purchase one. Either a dog or cat litter box will do, just make sure you get one with a covered top like the Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box. So it easier for you to clean the litter box when necessary and most importantly to control odor.

If you can’t be around to clean the poop immediately after, you might want to consider using Scoop Free Automatic Litter Box (Read my ScoopFree review here.) A bit pricey but it’s well worth it especially if Fido has poop eating habit. Also, you can be certain your house won’t have that lingering poop smell.

You will also need to add filler inside the box such as newspaper or pee pads.

Once your litter box is set up, it’s time to test it out!

Easy Steps To Train Your Dog To Use The Litter Box

1. Every 30 minutes place your dog in the area and wait for 5 minutes to see if it “needs to go”.
2. You should also use a keyword and point to the litter box. You could say something like “toilet” and point at the box.
3. If he uses it, immediately praise or give him a food treat after he’s done his business.
4. Usually your dog will start sniffing or circling around if it needs to go. If it doesn’t, take it out and let him free for another 20-30 minutes and then try again. Repeat this process several times a day until your dog starts using the litter box on its own.
5. Every single time your dog uses the litter box; you need to praise him excitedly. Your dog will soon realize his doing something good. You should praise your dog in a high pitch voice to exaggerate your happiness.
6. As well as praise, you should let your dog know when he’s been a bad dog. If your dog goes to the toilet in the wrong spot, point your finger, use a firm voice and say “NO.” If possible take the dog to the litter box and point to it, so your dog will start to understand the purpose of it.
7. Another great tactic is to place some of your dog’s urine inside the litter box; it will then start to think that the litter box is the area it is meant to pee in.

When starting out, most people find it easier to train their dog inside the house, rather than outside. Don’t worry though, once you successfully litter box train your dog, you can relocate the litter box to your ideal destination outside and work on getting your dog using the litter box in the new area.

Remember, litter training your dog can be a slow process, try and make training as fun as possible. Don’t get mad at your dog if results are slow, the key is to be consistent and persistent.

1. when he needs to go potty.
2. when he’s ready to come in after his business.

When house training our puppies, we are always on the lookout for signals to tell us when our pups need to go. And if you catch it in time, you are able to bring him outside before he soiled it at home. This is the most common housetraining process. Usually within a week you should be able to establish a housebreaking routine. However, there will be times when routine won’t work. How so?

Before I answer that, let me ask you two questions…

• When you consume more water than usual, do you frequent to the bathroom more?
• When you consume more food especially food that your stomach isn’t accustomed to, do you frequent to the bathroom more?

If your answer is yes to both questions, naturally our dogs will have the same behavior. There will be days when your dog is thirstier because the warm weather demands it. Another possibility could be that he was trying out your new dog food recipe or ate an extra doggie treat. This is the time when those three daily walks aren’t enough to satisfy his nature calls.

Why should I teach my dog to use the doorbell?

Rather than checking up on your dog constantly for that signal, why not teach him to use the doorbell as a signal to indicate his toileting needs. This technique isn’t revolutionary; it was introduced since 1950’s if I remember correctly, the twist here is that the gadget is much more improved and simpler to train.

It all started was using a bell hang around the doorknob and adjust the length to the height of your dog’s nose. When your dog needs to go out, make him physically nose or paw the bell before you open the door. Do likewise when he is through with his business provided you hang one bell at the front doorknob. Most dogs will learn this very quickly within a day. Smart dogs only need to watch other dog do it once to get it registered in them. And for those stubborn dogs they will figure it out if you are consistent.

There are two downsides to this gadget:

1. Whenever someone enters or leaves the house, the bell will somehow ring. This can be quite a nuisance when you have oncoming guests at home.
2. And when there is strong wind, the bell will keep ringing until the wind stops blowing. Your poor dog will probably wonder why there are so many toileting to do.

With Pet Doorbell

All you need is to place the pet doorbell on the ground or table or mount at the side next to the door. When he needs to go out, get him to paw on it. Wolah the bell rings, the door is opened and Fido is heading towards the fire hydrant.

Actually this pet doorbell can be used both ways and not just for potty reason. You place another pet chime outside front door. However though, this is best used when you have your own garden with good fencing. You don’t want Fido to wander off somewhere else after his business. Maybe your dog wants to have a little solitary time under the sun or rolling on snow before coming in to be with you again.

One warning, some smart dogs will abuse this wonderful system and take every opportunity to get out of the house more often. Be discerning but never yell or punish your dog for sounding the false alarm. Otherwise, he will hold it in and soiled it indoor. When false alarm happens, do take him outside but make it a quickie (after all there is nothing much to release). And if he does it again after returning for 20 minutes, just ignore him. Your dog will probably go off to play or sleep.

I highly recommend this housetraining technique. Not only your dog is properly housetrained but you also train him to communicate better with you.