Answers
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Where can I put the SnoutHouse?
You can have the SnoutHouse installed anywhere on your lawn. The best places are those that are level, receive direct sun, and are not heavily shaded by trees. The system needs to be flushed by rain and completely dried by the sun. Rain and sun on your SnoutHouse are essential. As far as your dog is concerned, edges and corners of his roaming area are good locations. If your dog already has a place he regularly goes, that might be the best spot. [ Back
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What kind of maintenance does a SnoutHouse require?
The solid waste needs to be picked up every couple days. The contained area makes it a quick and easy task. Once or twice a year, depending on the location and use, the unit needs to have maintenance work. This involves pulling back the fabric and mulch, spraying down and drying the fabric, and raking out any debris from the rock. This is done to stop any weeds or plants from rooting into the fabric or rock and to maintain the barrier between the rock and mulch. The mulch will have to be replenished as needed and the fabric replaced every 3 or 4 years. The more seeds and weeds you have in your SnoutHouse, and the more your dog paws at the mulch, the more often maintenance will need to be performed. [ Back
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Can more than one dog use a SnoutHouse?
We recommend installing a double unit or two separate units to give each dog enough space to do his business. This also reduces frequency of cleanups required by the owner. [ Back
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What about my dog who likes to raise a leg and mark?
We can install a male marking post in the unit. This will help. However, if your dog is very territorial and marks all around his property, a training program could be implemented. You would need to tolerate some marking in other locations, but reinforce the SnoutHouse for marking with a reward - treat or affection. All solid waste would still be deposited in the SnoutHouse. [ Back
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My dog is a knothead. Are you sure he can learn this?
We are quite confident that any dog can learn to use a SnoutHouse, but it may take longer and require more patience on the trainer's part. Smaller dog breeds may take more time to train. [ Back
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Do you offer a guarantee?
The nature of this product makes it tough for us to offer a guarantee. Without knowing the dog and the owner's patience level, we can't really guarantee the outcome. We are confident that any dog can be taught to use a SnoutHouse. Some dogs may take longer to train than others, and some dog owners may require more patience. One way to think about it is that if you and your dog just can't get together on this, you could pull out the rock, put in some dirt and have a great flower box or tomato garden. [ Back
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What is included with a SnoutHouse purchase?
Included in the price is the installation of a SnoutHouse and a training manual which shows you how to train your dog to use the SnoutHouse quickly and easily. [ Back
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Will waste buildup be harmful to the ground?
The solids are picked up every couple of days. The nitrogen in a dog's urine is what causes the brown spots in your lawn. It's like over fertilizing your lawn. There are commercial products available that can help neutralize the nitrogen if you're concerned. The best treatment is rain, or including the unit in your lawn watering. If the unit is removed, regular flushing of the ground with water, over a couple weeks, will sufficiently dilute the nitrogen. [ Back
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How long will it take to train my dog?
That really depends on you and your dog. If you follow the training program diligently and strictly, you should have your dog using the SnoutHouse regularly within a couple weeks. [ Back
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How long does an installation take?
A typical installation takes about 4 hours - depending on the weather conditions. [ Back
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Your dog will use the SnoutHouse throughout the winter. The unit does need to be kept relatively free of snow to help maintain the boundaries. [Back to the top]
We use a method of motivation and positive reinforcement. Beyond that, I can say that our training program is an integral part of what we are selling. If we spelled out our program in detail it would be kind of like giving away the farm. [Back to the top]