Litter Box Training Dogs

Why Should I Try
Litter Training Dogs?

Litter box training dogs is a practical, safe way to teach your dogs to eliminate in a designated area, inside your house. It is an especially good idea for people who live in apartments or for the elderly and handicapped, who might have difficulty taking their pets outside to eliminate.

Litter box training dogs is also a good idea for those who must sometimes leave their pets alone for an extended period (while they're away at work, for example) and won't be available to take the dog outside whenever he needs to go.

Litter box training dogs who are older and suffer from incontinence, might find litter box training a huge relief for their embarrassing problem.

Litter Box Training Dogs:
Best for Small Dogs and Puppies

Litter box training dogs and puppies who are small or will stay small is the most practical approach. Larger dogs (above 35 pounds) will have trouble "targeting" a small litter box accurately, so unless you have a relatively large area to devote to litter box training dogs, like a tub or shower stall, it is probably best to focus on training large dogs to go outside, or perhaps start litter training or paper training them as puppies, and then have them transition to relieving themselves "outdoors only" when they are old enough to wait several hours for you to take them outside. If you will be gone for 8 hours a day, your puppy should be able to wait for you when he is about 4-6 months old.

The Right Supplies for Litter Box Training Dogs and Puppies

When you begin litter box training dogs, the two most obvious things you'll need are Litter and a Box. (You knew I was going to say that, didn't you?)

You'll also need clean up supplies to take care of any accidents, in or outside of the puppy litter box room. It's important to thoroughly clean and eliminate odors from dog urine and feces so that the dog is not attracted by the scent and tempted to eliminate again in the same area. Litter box training dogs means teaching them to eliminate indoors. There will inevitably be some accidents as they learn how to distinguish their litter box area from the rest of the house.

Trash Receptacle: The good news is you won't have to pay the yard clean-up service to come by, nor will you find yourself stumbling across "surprises" every time you mow the lawn. However, you will have to find a way to get rid of dog poop as well as urine- and feces-stained dog litter. Gross! :-)

I recommend simply keeping a covered trash can nearby and bagging or scooping the dog waste into that. Alternatively, you can plan to flush the dog poop down the toilet, but better not flush too much litter down there, or you might clog it up!

When it comes to choosing litter for litter box training dogs, there are several good options to consider, some made expressly for this purpose. I don't recommend using cat litter because your dog will track it over the house, dig in it and possibly eat it.

Good alternatives are wood pellets (designed for wood burning stoves and available at Home Depot), specially designed pet litter, newspaper, or "wee wee" pads.

Purina makes Dog Litter specially-designed for litter box training dogs which is composed of pellets made from recycled paper and wood pulp. This would be an excellent choice for puppy litter training.

Choosing the right box for litter box training dogs will be your next main decision. If you have a tiny dog, you could use a large cake pan or similar container, but a box designed to hold litter will probably be a better choice. Any large uncovered cat litter box should be fine. If you have a male dog, and are worried about "leg lifting" issues, you might want to get a litter box with a tall sides or a cover. If the dog feels this is too "den like" though, he might want to eliminate there. Try compromising by cutting off the top of the cover so the dog can still see out of the top of the box, and won't have to crouch when he is inside it.

Here's a picture of a dog litter pan. Purina makes them (to go with their dog litter) in three sizes. This is the "standard" size which is the biggest; they also have Miniature and Toy which is the smallest.

Locate Your Dog's Litter Box

The next step in the litter training dogs process, is to decide is where to locate your dog's litter box. Since it won't end up being the most attractive, best-smelling room of your house, I recommend placing the dog litter area in an out-of-the-way spot. A second bathroom, the laundry room, or the garage are great options. The most important thing will to have an easy-to-clean floor nearby, since accidents are inevitable when you're puppy litter training.

If your dog stays in the garage or basement all day, try confining him to a small corner of that space (along with his litter box) while you're training him, to help him learn to use it. Having a doggie-door that attaches to the garage or spare room where the litter box is located is a great solution.

Litter Box Training Dogs Who Are Already Housebroken

If your dog is already housebroken, helping him transition to eliminating on litter should be relatively easy. If he relieves on command (sort of), simply take him to his litter box at his usual elimination times and tell him to go. (For more information on this see Potty Training Puppies: Make Sure He Goes.)

When you are first litter box training dogs, you will have to be patient to get them to feel while you wait for them to go at first. Some dogs may be reluctant to perform anywhere inside the house if it goes against their prior housebreaking training.

If he won't go after five minutes, keep him supervised or confined for a spell, and then return with him to the elimination spot every fifteen-thirty minutes until he goes. Litter box training dogs can be an exercise in patience, so keep your cool and remember that he is learning something new and it may take him some time to figure out what you want.

If you have any urine-stained paper towels, grass, or even a bit of feces from his last outdoor excursion, bringing this into the litter box could help him recognize the scents he associates with eliminating!

Once he pees or poops, or even looks like he's thinking about it, praise him lavishly! Your enthusiastic praise is the best training tool you have and will help him understand that THIS is what you've been asking of him all afternoon!

If you feel that he is reluctant to go indoors, because of previous house-training lessons, try taking the litter box outside, to his usual elimination area and train him to go in the litter box, while outside. (If your neighbors ask, just explain about litter box training dogs, and see if they don't try it after a few weeks!)

Once your dog will relieve himself in the box outdoors, then start moving the litter box out of his designated area, closer to the house. Move it to the porch, the garage, and finally to the place you'd like it to stay.

In litter box training dogs, there are two steps: Teaching the dog where to go, and teaching him where *NOT* to go! If your dog is already housebroken, he'll have the second step mastered. However, you will be treading new ground as you teach him about going in his new location. He may find it confusing that you are now asking him to go inside the house, when previously this was off-limits. So bear with him as you help learn about going in this new place. For some good tips and refreshers on litter box training dogs, and potty training in general, see the next section on puppy litter training.

Litter Box Training Dogs and Puppies - The First Time Around

If you are starting from scratch, litter box training dogs or puppies who have never been housebroken before, you have an advantage because you're prepared to put in the time it takes to potty train the dog anyway, right? Plus, litter box training dogs is very convenient, especially when it means you don't have to accompany your puppy on outside bathroom trips in the middle of the night.

Additionally, once your puppy starts to understand why the litter box is there, he can begin to use it whenever he has to go, and you won't struggle with household accidents caused by your waiting too long to take him outside. Your puppy will use his litter box whenever the urge strikes.

However, as with any potty training endeavor, you will have to be patient as your new puppy learns what is expected of him.

The important thing for you to do is get him on a schedule of eating and drinking and eliminating at regular intervals every day. This will help you gauge when he'll have to go to the bathroom so you can get him to the litter box at the right moment. Whenever he eliminates in the proper location, praise him heartily.

It is critical when you are litter box training dogs, that you control when and where they relieve themselves. When your dog is not eating, eliminating, or actively playing with you, you will need to confine him so that he won't have an accident in the house. When he is playing with you, leave the door to his potty room open (and close off other rooms to limit his access) so that if the urge to go does strike him, he'll have no problem heading back to the litter box. As he gets older, you can help him learn to go on his own, as I explain below.

If the dog ever does have an accident, you need to correct him appropriately.

With a combination of praise and correction, coupled with supervision and confinement, your dog should quickly learn his two primary lessons: Where to go and where *NOT* to go!

When first litter box training dogs, you'll introduce the litter box when you know he's likely to use it. Take your dog there as soon as he wakes up in the morning, after he eats, etc. whenever he might have to go. If he goes, praise him, if not, do nothing. Put your dog back in his crate and go about your business. I certainly recommend taking your dog out of the crate for socialization and exercise as much as possible. When he is out of the crate, keep a close eye on him for signs that he might have to eliminate. However, when you can not watch him closely, put him back in the crate. The crate will "supervise him" and make sure he doesn't have an accident in the wrong place.

When your dog is running around loose, it is hard to keep an eye on him and catch him in the act of having an accident, so while still litter box training dogs, it's best to keep them confined when you are not playing with them or supervising them directly. Some people like to tie the dog's leash to their belt so they can keep him close and he'll come with them from room to room as they go about their day. You'll be there to correct your dog quickly in the case of an accident.

When potty training my own dog, Kera, I found that confining her to her dog crate during the day when I was gone kept her safe and comfortable. She likes her crate (or "den" as she thinks of it) and is very reluctant to eliminate there.

However, if you have a young puppy or are gone for long periods of time (more than four hours) your dog may not be able to "hold it" while waiting for you to come back and you may not want to confine him to a small crate for such a long period of time. If you have a small dog, try putting him in a large crate with room for both the dog and the litter box inside it. As your dog grows into his crate, take the litter box out of it so he can have room to stretch out. By then he should be old enough to wait for his scheduled bathroom opportunities.

I recommend a combination of confinement and reward to teach the puppy proper bathroom etiquette. You will also have to punish your dog with a stern "NO" if he ever has an accident outside of the litter box.

The trick is that you can only use punishment if you "catch him in the act" of relieving himself in an inappropriate location. Use a loud firm "no" and pick him up (don't worry, he will stop relieving) and take him to the litter box right away. Give him a "potty" command of your choice, such as "busy, busy" and if he continues to relieve himself there in the box, throw him a party! Praise, praise, praise.

Never hit your puppy or rub his nose in it. This is cruel and will only serve to weaken your dog's trust in you and your bond with him. He may become fearful of you.

Also, never punish your puppy if you find a puddle on the floor after your puppy has left the area. You must catch your dog actively squatting, eliminating, or JUST (5 seconds) finishing an accident in order for your punishment to be effective.

If you can't catch your puppy in the act, you are not supervising him well enough. Put him into the crate until you can watch him every minute!

As you progress through the stages of litter box training dogs, your dog starts to learn what the litter box is for and is eliminating on a regular schedule. At that point you can start transitioning from confining him in a crate to confining him in a small room in your house, maybe a second bathroom, with a baby gate. If the litter box is available inside the room, and he's started to use it with your help, your dog may take advantage of the box when an urge to eliminate comes upon him.

Remember that keeping your dog in a room will not create the same "den like" atmosphere of a kennel or crate, and may give your dog opportunities for having accidents in and around the room, not just in the litter box.

If you find that your puppy is having accidents in the litter box room and not using the litter box, you may want to go back to keeping the dog in a small crate (just right for his size) and taking him and placing him on the litter box during his potty breaks for another week or so.

Once you can confine the dog in the small room with the litter box in the corner, and he is using it reliably to eliminate, you can move your dog and litter box to a larger room, maybe the kitchen or the garage. The key is to make sure that the dog continues to use the litter box, and does not develop the habit of going on the floor. If the dog is going on the floor, he has too much space, and you need to put him and his litter box in a smaller area.

Once he is accident-free in one area for one week, expand the area he has access to. If he starts having accidents, restrict/confine him more.

I like my dog to be able to relieve herself on a variety of surfaces, including grass and bark outside. Once your you have reliably litter box trained dogs, who are relieving themselves consistently at certain times of day, start taking them outside to a designated area at potty time to relive themselves there. Give a "potty command," walk them around in circles, and be patient.

If you think your dog needs help, bring a few urine-scented dog litter pellets to help him get the right idea. Praise for performance!

Need More Help
Litter Box Training Dogs?

For a comprehensive guide to litter box training dogs, check out Teresa Heath's fabulous E-book. She will let you email, or call her on the telephone so she can coach you through the process of litter box training your puppy or adult dog so you can do it right the first time and eliminate mistakes, messes, and mayhem!

This would make a great gift idea for the new puppy owner who is interested in Litter Box Training Dogs!

Other Related Articles:

1) Potty Training Puppies

2) Potty Training Dogs

3) If you have a female dog, also refer to the article on Dogs in Heat.

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