If you have a small dog and are wondering whether or not it is possible to litter box train your small friend, the answer is ‘yes’. A small dog, which is often smaller than a normal-sized house cat, can easily be house trained to use a litter box.
There are many pros to litter box training your dog, as well as a few cons.
PROS:
– Your dog is small. It has a small bladder, and when it has to go, you may not have time to get it outside, especially if you live in an apartment or duplex on an upper floor.
– Since your dog is so small, a litter box may be a more comfortable spot for it to go. A small dog may too intimidated by people passing by, cars, or other dogs.
– You don’t have to interrupt dinner, nap time, or your workout to run your dog outside for an impromptu toilet session.
– When it rains, you get to smile as other dog owners are getting wet and you are not.
– If you live in a location that gets cold and icy winters, then a litter box can be a godsend, as small dogs get colds and hypothermia easily.
– Cleaning up a dog mess outside can be a messy job, and leave behind residue on the grass.
– The ability to scrub a litter box is sanitary.
– You can leave the dog for a longer period of time.
CONS:
– It is more expensive to buy dog litter than it is to let the dog go outside.
– The smell can be unpleasant immediately after the dog goes.
– You must have room to place the litter box. Having the box in the open, in a kitchen corner, or in the bathroom can be unpleasant, especially for guests.
– If you have both a cat and a dog, they may get in fights over the boxes.
As you can see, litter box training a small dog has more pros than cons. If you think that litter box training a dog is ideal for you, then read on.
Step 1:
– If your dog is used to going outside, it may be more difficult to get your dog comfortable using a box. If you find this to be true, you may have to take the litter box outside and have the dog get comfortable using it there before moving it inside.
– If you dog is not yet house broke, or is paper trained, this process is likely to be much simpler for you. Step one is to acquire a litter box. You can find litter boxes made specifically for dogs. They are usually larger and higher than a cat litter box. If you have a very small dog, like a chihuahua, then a large cat box will most likely work for you. Be sure that the box has at least a six inch wall, but the dome type with a lid are the best.
Step 2:
– After you have acquired a box, it is time to introduce the dog to it. Have it setup with no litter or anything in it. Let the dog see it, run in and out of it a few times. This will let the dog know that it is okay for him to enter it at his will, and that it is nothing to fear.
Step 3:
– After you have introduced your dog to the box, remove him from it and proceed to fill it with a litter of some sort. You can buy dog litter, or use cat litter. Some dogs may attempt to eat it. If you find this to be a problem, then you will need to either train the dog to not eat it, or stick with newspaper.
– Line the inside of the cage with newspaper. If you dog is already paper trained, the transition to using the litter box is likely to be fast.
– When you notice the dog whining, or it is time for his scheduled ‘potty break’, take him to the box and place him in it. He may be curious and immediately go. Others will panic and attempt to run out. Don’t force the dog inside, or trap it inside the box. This may permanently scar the dog from using the box.
Step 4:
– Patience. It will take time before your dog regularly uses the box. Once this happens, however, it is time to introduce litter. The process will likely start completely over when you introduce litter. Do not completely fill the box. Leave newspaper on the bottom of the box, and add a pile of litter to the back one-third of the box.
– After your dog has again adjusted to using the box this way, remove the paper, fill the entire box with litter, and then add a small folded paper to the back third of the box, atop the litter.
– Finally, after the dog has again adjusted, remove the paper entirely.
This is a fairly simple, yet time consuming process. At best, it will take a few weeks; the worst, a couple of months. The key to be both patient and consistent. Effort now will be well worth it in the future.
