How to Train Your Dog to Use A Litter Box
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Introduction
Ah, the joys of getting a puppy! You and your family select your new little furball and get to enjoy the excitement of preparing for the pooch to come home. Heading to the pet store, you grab a little doggy bed, some cute, wee toys and a litter box. Wait, what?
Yes, you read that right. For the small breeds, a doggy litter box might just become your best friend. And thankfully, teaching a pup to use their box is about the same amount of work as teaching them to “go” outside.
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Defining Tasks
Most of us have seen a kitty litter box, but doggy litter boxes are far and few between. They're similar in size and shape, although they usually have one side lowered for easy entry. You can fill them up with a variety of things, although word on the street is puppy pads or newspaper are the best options. Some even put down a little square of sod every few weeks to help their dog transition between indoor and outdoor bathroom breaks.
It's easier to train your little furball to use their box from birth, but mature dogs can learn too! It can take weeks or even months of persistence, but if you succeed, your pooch will have a convenient place to go without wrecking your home.
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Getting Started
To help your pup make an easy switch to the litter box, it's good to be prepared. Remember, it can take some time to perfect, and even adult dogs may make the odd accident where they shouldn't. Good things to have for this task include:
- A Litter Box: This one is obvious, but deciding which one to buy may take a bit more thought. Make sure your dog can get in and out of it with no problems.
- Treats: Especially at the start, every successful trip to the box deserves a treat and lots of praise!
- A Liner: As previously mentioned, you're going to want to put something inside the litter box to help contain the mess. Paper, puppy pads or even a patch of grass are great options.
- Cleaning Supplies: There will be pee! And poop! At the start, be prepared to find messes on your floors. As your pup progresses, you'll have to get used to cleaning out the box.
- Patience: Scrubbing nastiness out of your carpet isn't fun. But by setting a realistic expectation for the box-training process, you'll be more likely to stick with it.
Keep in mind, small dogs simply can't hold it as long as their larger cousins. Puppies are notoriously bad for this, but even fully grown minis have a hard time with accidents. A litter box can be the perfect solution to this problem, saving both of you from the unpleasantness of puddles and piles on the floor.
Below are some great methods for getting your pupper used to their box. If at first, you don't succeed, try another method! Different dogs respond to different things, so hang in there!
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The Regimented Method
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Adopt a strict schedule
As soon as your pup wakes up, head to the box.
Plunk them in
Be sure to keep them there until they start to sniff and eventually pop a squat.
Make it rain treats!
Go over the top with praise so your dog sees it's fun to go in the box.
Set your watch
Bring the pooch back to the box every hour.
Be aware
Go even sooner if the canine has had some food or water.
Be consistent!
A few days of strict routine can be the perfect start to a life of litter boxing.
The Convenient Method
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Choose the right spot
Place the box near your puppy's bed, crate, or play area so that it is easily seen by the dog.
Get him there
Encourage your pup to go there often throughout the day, and praise them for successful trips.
Make it fun
When your dog approaches the box on their own, praise them some more!
Keep it tidy
Clean up the box after each pee or poop to keep things smelling half decent.
Move the box
As your doggo catches on, you can slowly move the box to a more private location.
The Stinky Method
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Get things ready
Set up your dog's new litter box.
Plant a smell
Take a towel that was used to clean up a previous pee and place it in the box.
Use poop
If your dog left a little log on the floor, throw that in there as well. (Use gloves or a bag!)
Allow some smelling
Let the pooch sniff out the box. They'll begin to associate it with relieving himself.
Clean it up
Once he's consistently “going” in the box, begin to clean it regularly. They won't need his own stink anymore to show them where to eliminate.
Written by Abby Clark
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 10/20/2017, edited: 10/07/2022
Training Questions and Answers
Yobi
West Highland White Terrier
One Year
Question
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Yobi was left on the streets and I adopted her when she was eight months old. She's a mutt, but looks exactly like a Westie, only with floppy ears. We used crate training and she knows to do her business outside, but lately we've been finding accidents in the house again. We've been trying to get her to use a litter box by putting it right next to her bed in the fenced area, and she has peed in the box several times. However, we hadn't been able to catch her right in the act, and weren't able to give immediate praise. How can we train her so she can use the box indoors wherever it's placed?
Jan. 1, 2023
Yobi's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, A few suggestions. First, work on preventing accidents in the home through strict management for at least three months, since frequent accidents will stall the progress you do make the times she pees in the right location. The litter box in the fenced area when you can't keep her with you is a great solution - continue that. You can also crate or keep her tethered to yourself when she hasn't peed in the last two hours - so freedom comes when the bladder is empty. Second, try switching litter in the box to disposable real grass pads, since she is comfortable with grass outside. This isn't absolutely necessary, but if you aren't already doing this, it can make the process a lot easier. If she is marking or going potty really frequently she may be trying to claim spaces of have an infection or medical need that needs addressing. For marking, I would have her wear a doggie diaper to remove her ability to spread scent while also keeping her tethered to yourself and clapping to interrupt any pee attempts while in the house, taking the diaper off to go to the box or outside to pee. If there may be a medical need, I recommend visiting your vet to address the underlying issue that might be causing incontinence. I am not a vet so can't give medical advice. Finally, imagine someone placing toilets in random locations that frequently changed around the house, and trying to get a toddler to potty train in that situation. That's a bit what its like to move a box around without a standard location pup can expect the pup to be in. If you need the box in various locations, I would add a second box rather than move the original often. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 5, 2023
Buffy
Chihuahua
8 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Calm down and litter train
Dec. 16, 2021
Buffy's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Sharon, I recommend using the Exercise Pen method or Crate Training method from the article I have linked below for older puppies. You can adjust the crate training method times, to add an hour to all the times listed there for an older puppy. https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy The following commands can help pup learn self-control, and make it easier to direct pup's energy. I would prioritize Place, Down, Out, and Leave It. Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Place command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Heel- Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Come - Reel in method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Off- section on The Off command: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-train-dog-stay-off-couch/ Drop It – Exchange method: https://wagwalking.com/training/drop-it Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Dec. 16, 2021