subject: Litterbox Training Your Dog [print this page] There is no training behavior that causes more stress for new puppy owners than housetraining. The consequences of a poorly trained pup will cause problems for many years so dedication during the first several months, or even a year, is necessary. Toy breeds are notoriously difficult to train, and sometimes require some innovations in training.
There are several issues with training toy breeds besides them just being harder to housetrain. Small dogs are often on a free choice diet with food available at all times which makes training more difficult. They tend frequently graze feed throughout the day, eating many very small meals. Water is also often consumed frequently in small portions; all these small portions lead to their small but frequent elimination needs. Regardless of how small the spot on the carpet is, it is frustrating for pet owners. Another issue in training toy breeds is that they tend to be more particular about what kind of weather they are willing to go outside in. Cold, wind, rain, affects the small breeds more quickly, and going outside to pee is not very appealing when the snow is 6 inches high and your legs are only 4 inches long.
Many owners are now changing tactics and training their dogs to use a litter box. The box can be as simple as using newspaper or puppy pads in designated area. Your dog will train to this method quite quickly but in the long term soggy newspaper or the ongoing expense and environmental impact of puppy pads are problematic. Another option is to get a litter box that is specifically designed for dogs. Most of these offer a grass like area for the dog to use. The liquid waste drains away and the solid waste is easy to pick off the grass and flush in the toilet (much easier than using a pooper scooper in real grass!). The care and cleaning of the litter box is fairly straightforward, remove solid waste as soon as you notice it, drain the urine collection cup daily, remove and wash the grass and clean the surfaces every few days.
Once you have selected the type of litter box you will use find a location in your home that will always be accessible to your pet, choose this location carefully because until your pet is very well trained you do not want to move the box. The best time to start is first thing in the morning because your dog will be anxious to eliminate. Set them in the box and encourage them to go pee. If they start to sniff and circle praise them and continue to tell them to go pee. If they do not go and dont want to stay in the box dont force them to stay. Allow them to get out of the box and keep them close at hand, either teathered to you with a leash, or in a pet carrier or crate. After a few minutes return them to the box and encourage them. If they have an accident before they use the box quickly clean it up, dont scold them. After you have cleaned up, take the paper towel or cloth that you cleaned the urine with and rub it across the surface of the grass or pad in the litter box. This will leave a scent on the box that will tell your pup that this is a good place to go. For the first few weeks when you wash or replace the grass or pad you may want to rub the used one on the new one so that some of the scent remains. At first dont expect your pup to remember where the box is or what it is for. Take your pup there on a regular schedule and encourage them. If they use the box praise them and give them a small treat. Soon your dog will be going to the box by themselves.
Make sure that the box never gets too dirty. Most dogs will avoid their box if it has solid waste in it or if the grass or pad has not been cleaned or changed in a long time. Your dog may let you know that the litter box is not up to his standards by going on the floor right beside the box (keep this in mind when you choose the location of the box because this will happen with the best trained dog if you let the box get too dirty).
Litter training is not exclusive to toy breeds. Larger sized litter boxes are available for any size breed and are especially helpfully for apartment dogs, older or crippled pets, or dogs that stay home alone all day. A dog that typically goes outside can be trained to occasionally use a litter box which may be helpful during especially inclement weather, when you are out longer than expected, or when your pet is not well and needs to make frequent, urgent trips to the bathroom.
