Many times, as a dog owner, we must all find ourselves waiting on Fido to
finish his business on a stormy night and thinking - "Why didn't I just get a
cat?" Cat owners have always had things a little easier that way - safe
inside on those cold late-nights when we're stuck outside holding the leash or
the door for our canine companions. Also, if your dog has trouble walking any
distance because of osteoarthritis or age related conditions, or perhaps suffers
from a medical problem which causes increased urination, a litter pan would
certainly be a helpful and humane alternative to having your dog beg to go
outside, get you out of bed, or wait for you to dress for the weather and take
him outside.
Well there's good news! Most breeds of dog can be trained to use a litter box
. Some breeders of smaller breed dogs will regularly train dogs to use a litter
box as a matter of convenience if they live in an area with harsh winters. It
just makes more sense than any other option. Larger dogs can also be taught to
select a "target spot" inside the home and return there as a matter of habit
- usually this is done with newspapers. So logically, if a dog can
be taught to go in a place that you choose, shouldn't it be a simple matter to
place a dog litter box in that target area? It is that simple.
Simple Steps To Litter Training Your Puppy
First
though we need to consider the basics. It is best to train a dog while still a
puppy. It isn't impossible to train an adult dog, but the earlier that you
develop good habits, the less likely the dog is to fall back to some previous
behavior. If your dog is older, that doesn't mean he is a lost cause, and may in
some cases only help to make your dog easier to train - providing that he has
developed some level of obedience already. Training a dog to do anything
usually involves identifying a positive behavior - and then rewarding it
repeatedly until the dog reaches a point where the desired behavior becomes
associated with a good thing like a treat or praise. Puppies respond better to
treats more regularly, so a food treat that you will associate solely with the
use of the litter box is a key. Try to find something that is small, but
very flavorful or with a distinct smell, not the regular food that the dog has
in his bowl at meal times. ( Cheese, small bits of cooked liver, small
slices of wiener, bits of carrot, or store bought dog treats should work - but
be sure the dog likes the treat before you invest in a big bag.)
Second, we need to catch the dog doing the behavior in the right place. The
best way to do this is to place the dog in an enclosed area with
newspapers or a small litter-box in the corner and watch for the puppy to go.
When the puppy goes, immediately praise him and offer the treat. Even
easier is to crate-train your dog. Rather than the long wait, put your puppy in
a small enclosed space right after feeding. Wait a short time and then watch to
see if the puppy is doing ok, then take him out and place him in the litter box.
The timing of the meal and the fact that he's now restricted to the large
litter box should increase the odds that he will be ready to go while you are
watching him. Remember too that dogs are more prone to bathroom stops in the
early morning when they wake or after you return home from work, school or
shopping.
Reward, Reward, Reward!
The reward you give your dog for going in the litter box is two-fold,
offering mainly the treat at first, but also the praise. After a few days you
will find that your dog will look forward to visiting the litter box and getting
the good things that go along with it. (snack & praise). Soon you'll be able to
let the puppy choose his own times to visit the litter box, but be warned, some
dogs have been known to "fake" a bathroom trip or two once they get into the
habit. Keep a sense of humor and reward him for trying, it will only
reinforce the idea that he's starting to understand. However if the fake trips
become too frequent. You may wish to save the treat and just offer mild praise
for false alarms.
The praise component is very important, don't neglect it! Remember that
there will be many times that you may be elsewhere when the dog needs to go.
It's a good idea to bring the dog to site and praise him when you get home or
when you discover his earlier handiwork - make sure that you only offer special
attention when your dog is on target.
Another consideration is the type of surface. Some dogs may already be used
to going on a plain surface or on newspapers. You can leave your litter box
liner bare, or line with a single sheet of newspaper - depending on the dog.
Either way, clean-up is still easy. If you have a dog that is used to going on
the grass, you may have a more difficult time switching, but it is worth a try,
and you may find an organic or recycled litter that will act as a good
substitute.
For smaller dogs, you may be able to use an absorbent litter, but do use some
caution here as you'll want to test your dog's reaction to the type of litter
that you use. If your dog is a "digger" then you may wish to avoid using a
litter at all. You should try to avoid clumping litters - whether clay
based or natural fiber - if your dog is curious about the "clumps" that form.
Experimentation is the only way to be sure that your dog finds the litter box a
comfortable stop, without also making it a site for exploration. Assume the
worst and be wary of any litter that might cause problems if ingested.
When your Dog forgets:
If your dog happens to eliminate in the house but in an inappropriate spot
(only while you’re home), clap your hands to interrupt her and take her quickly
to the desired location immediately. You don't have to get angry, just disrupt
the activity and establish that you wish the dog to stop. Many dogs will react
to a firm "No", or a loud "AH, AH, AHHHH!"
In Summary:
Any elimination in the pan should be enthusiastically praised and otherwise
rewarded as soon as it happens. It also will be helpful to reward even mild
interest and sniffing in the vicinity of the litter box. Dogs are bright and
will get you intent soon and enjoy this activity as much as any other game that
you might play with them. The extra attention to dog litter box training early
on will usually pay off with a life-time of easy clean ups and a contented pet.
Dave Moore is a writer,
web site designer and dog owner. He and his wife, Debbie, are the
owners/creators of a number of pet-related
web sites, including Dog and Puppy
Central, Dogpage.us,
Puppy Stork and Pet Net. They share
their home in Newfoundland, Canada with 2 dogs - Scrunchion and Hambone,
and 1 cat, Winky (famous feline astrologist and author of
Winky's Pet Horoscopes on Cat and
Kitten Central.
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