Yes, you did read that title correctly – dog litter boxes. You may live in a high rise apartment or have severe weather that makes it difficult to take your dog outside regularly or you may wish to indoor potty train your dog to make it more convenient for him to go to the bathroom whenever he feels the need. Whatever your reasons, a dog litter box may be the ideal solution for your indoor potty training needs.
I have two miniature dachshunds, and both dogs are litter trained. One was litter trained as a puppy and the other, a dog I adopted when he was six years old, had never been house broken or potty trained. The one who was litter box trained as a puppy always uses the dog litter box without fail. The older dog still has accidents and sometimes misses the dog litter box when he’s going to the bathroom, although this is no different from outdoor potty training an adult dog who has never been house broken. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you may wish to supplement your training efforts with puppy pads (also known as wee-wee pads) to catch any accidents close to the dog litter box.
Where Do You Get a Dog Litter Box?
You will need to start with the right supplies for successful dog litter training. A litter box appropriate to your dog’s adult size is the first item you’ll need to get and there are different brands and sizes of dog litter boxes available. The one I use, and the one which is easiest to find, is made by major pet supply manufacturer and is readily available in most pet supply stores. Lesser known brands can also easily be found on the internet if you don’t like the sizes and styles your pet store has available.
What Litter Can You Use For Dog Litter Training?
Once you have your dog litter box, you’ll need appropriate litter for your dog. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), dogs who eat large amounts of clay litter can develop gastro-intestinal distress (vomiting, diarrhea) or even an obstruction in their lower bowels. While there is little anecdotal and scientific evidence that shows it is truly dangerous for dogs, it is best to avoid clay litters for your dog litter box just to be safe. There are many options available (there are even commercial brands of dog specific litter on the market) such as pine pellet litter, recycled paper pellet litter, wheat based litter, or cedar chips and pine sawdust. You may need to experiment to find the dog litter best for both you and your dog. I use pine litter pellets for my dog litter box.
Where Should You Put The Dog Litter Box?
Placement of your dog litter box is important. You want it to be discreet for odor and visual reasons, but place it somewhere too remote and your dog may decide to use someplace else in the house to go to the bathroom. A bathroom or corner of a large room is a good choice. Our dog litter box is in the far corner of our large living room, behind a folding screen to keep it hidden.
How Do You Litter Box Train a Dog?
As far as the actual training for your dog to use the dog litter box, it isn’t much different from other indoor potty training methods or even outdoor potty training methods. The key is recognizing when your dog is showing signs that she needs to go to the bathroom. For example, walking around in a circle or sniffing the floor. Dogs also tend to go to the bathroom when they first wake up or just after they’ve eaten, so look for those “potty signals” after either of those events and gently place your dog in the litter box if you suspect she is ready. It won’t happen the first time (or likely the second or the third), but she will use the dog litter box eventually and when she does, give her lots of praise and a small treat as a reward.
Depending on your dog’s personality, you can also try quickly picking him up and putting him in the box if you catch him eliminating somewhere else in the house. Some dogs will pick up on this cue right away, but others may be distressed by the interruption and think they are being punished. Use a quiet and gentle voice if you choose to do this to minimize your dog’s reaction.
Litter box training dogs is not for everyone, but for the dog owner who can’t be there all the time or one who isn’t able to get outside easily, a dog litter box can be a great choice for dog potty training.
