Choose the correct Doggie Dooley for your needs:
Models 2000 & 3000 - pail-style models require digging a hole 48" deep. Width of the hole is 14" in diameter for model 2000 & 15" in diameter for model 3000. These units have built-in overflow devices, which allow stool to digest within the unit and drain gradually through the overflow tubes. It is very important to add at least 1 quart to 1 gallon of water daily. If water is not added daily, the unit will start to dry out and will need to be started-up again with water & digester powder.
Models 3500 & 3800 - pyramid-style models require digging a 20" x 20" square hole. Depth is 14" for Model 3500 and 23" deep for Model 3800. Unlike the "holding tank" pail-style models, the pyramid-style Dooley's drain directly into the ground. Maintenance requires adding 5 gallons of water 2 times a week. Note: You can extend the capacity of the smaller 3500 unit by digging a 10" diameter by 12" deep hole in the center of the 20" x 20" x 14" hole. For multi-pet households, the 3800 has an expansion kit which extends the bottom of the unit and requires a deeper hole.
General Information:
These units do not work as effectively in soils with heavy clay content. To check for proper drainage, add 5 gallons of water after digging the hole. If the water drains completely in 48 hours, the unit should work properly.
The manufacturer recommends using Dooley Waste terminator (digester powder) with all units, especially if dogs are fed a highly digestible food such as Iams, Science Diet, or Eukanuba, or other premium foods.
Too much chlorine in your water can stop or slow digestive action. Leaving a pail of water in the sun will evaporate the chlorine. This could take from 1-2 hours, or up to an entire day if the chlorine level is very high.
Digestive action will start at 40° F and increases as the temperature rises. When temperatures drop below 40° you will want to discontinue use of the unit. When it warms up again, simply re-start the unit as in the beginning (adding water, stool, and digester powder).
Select a site for these units away from your house, tree roots, the path of you lawn mower, and an area of your yard where there is never standing water. Try to locate an area with minimum clay content and check for proper drainage first.
