We bought this to put on our deck to keep the dogs off that part of the deck. We have three rescues who, if the weather is bad, refuse to leave the deck to go to the 2-acre yard they have to go potty! They want to potty on the new deck, which will not only ruin the deck but will make the entire area reek of dog urine and feces! This keeps them off the deck and forces them to go down the stairs to the yard.