Allow your dog to poop on the patio

An interview with Linda Yaple of Cosmopolitan Canine in Houston, Texas. She invented the Penthouse Dog Potty, a  self contained unit that fits on balconies so city dwelling dogs can relieve themselves.

1. How did you come up with the idea?

The Cosmopolitan Canine is a family owned and operated business that started with a move from the suburbs back into the city. With all of our non-canine kids grown and out of the house, my husband and I decided to pack up our two dogs, sell the house, and move into a downtown high rise. At the time, we never realized that simply letting our dogs out into the backyard to do their “business” was a major luxury. After the move, and many nights and rainy days of countless elevator rides and sidewalk visits, I finally said to myself, there has got to be an easier way. Later, after creating the Penthouse Potty for our family, my sister, daughter and I decided to create a business to help out other uptown pooches and owners who might be having the same problems we were. So in 2004, The Cosmopolitan Canine was created to do just that.

2. How long did it take to bring your idea to market?

It took approximately one-and-a-half years from concept to a custom-finished product. During that time, we consulted with several plastic fabricators to get our mold exactly the way we wanted it. We also searched for the most skilled carpenters we could find to build our wooden frames. We were also testing various drainage system ideas to determine which would be the most efficient and simple-to-use.

3. What makes your product unique?

Our drainage system is by far the most user-friendly on the market. Our stylish design appeals to the discriminating dog owner who wants only the best.

4. Are you planning any enhancements/improvements to the product?

We’re always open to new research and ideas and are currently looking into making our Penthouse Potty in different sizes.

5. What is your professional background? Did that line of work or education help you in developing this product?

With a wide variation of background of the three owners, we bring an array of skills to the table. We have a variety of backgrounds including accounting, real estate and telecommunications. But the main thing we have in common is our life-long love of dogs and a desire to make life simpler for people who share this view about our four- legged friends.

6. Throughout the entire inventive/manufacturing process what was the hardest obstacle you faced?

The most time consuming was the development of the drainage tray and obtaining a patent. This process took much longer than we expected. We didn’t want to cut any corners, but it was definitely worth the wait!

7. What type of pets do you own?

Our family pets include two dogs: a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Sadie and a rescue mix named Katy. Our cats are a Maine Coon, Mattie, a black-and-white named Zeke, and a stray, Leah. We are currently in the process of adopting another rescue dog and visit our local SPCA for lots of petting time at least once a week. We also have an office cat that just adopted us named Tommy.