Dog Litter Box Training

Usually, dog owners take their dogs outside so that they can relieve themselves. Though dogs are trained to hold their bladder till their owner can take them out, most people are adopting the new trend of litter training their dogs. The litter box works best for dogs that are very small in size. Also, people do not have to worry about taking their dogs outside while they are traveling or when the climate is such that it is impossible to take the dog outside. Although it is easy to introduce litter box training to a young puppy, you can also train an adult dog who is accustomed to go out of the house to eliminate. Another advantage of training your dog to use the litter box is that your pet will not have to wait for you to come back home to relieve himself. This can also prevent the development of dog health problems that can be caused due to holding their bladder or potty. So, if you think that a litter box training will prove beneficial for your pet canine, here are some tips that you can follow.

How to Litter Train a Dog
The first step would be to find a good litter box for your pet dog. You can either choose a large cat litter box or buy one that is specially made for dogs. If your dog has completed paper or crate training, it will be easier for you to teach him to use the litter box. The next step would be to choose an appropriate place to keep the litter box. It is best not to keep the litter box near the place where you feed the dog. The dog may not like it and may refuse to use the litter box. Also, the box should be kept at a place where it is easy for you to clean as there are chances that the surrounding areas to become dirty at times.

Once you choose the place for the litter box, you can start with the dog litter box train process. Initially, you have to make your canine comfortable with the litter box. Encourage your dog to climb inside it as well as outside it just like you are playing a game. When the dog understands that there is nothing to be scared of the litter box, he will be more ready to start using it for the purpose of excreting. After this is done, lay some dog litter which is available in the stores where you can buy the litter box. Lay the dog litter in the box as the odor of the litter can help the dog to understand that it is the place that has to be used for elimination.

When you think that your dog has to eliminate, place him in the litter box and encourage him by using a phrase like 'use the box'. This phrase has to be used each time and soon, the dog will understand its meaning. Placing a paper towel or newspaper sprayed with dog urine in the litter box will also help in training the dog to use the litter box for these purposes. Whenever your pet dog uses the litter box correctly, do not forget to reward him with dog treats. If this is done regularly, your dog will definitely be trained to use the litter box within a few weeks time.

Problems Experienced During Training
Though teaching a dog to use the litter box is a possible task, it is surely not an easy one. Your dog may use the litter box for the first time, but this does not mean that he will use the box regularly without you guiding him. This is not possible and there are chances of accidents happening during this time. If your pet dog relieves himself at some other place in your house, do not reprimand him for it. Rather, clean the area well with bleaching powder and make sure that you eliminate all the odors because if not, the dog may eliminate again in the same place. If you see your dog eliminating or about to eliminate at a place other than the litter box, you have to shock him by saying a firm no and clapping loudly. This would make your dog stop, after which you can take him to the litter box. However, never spank or scold your pet dog for eliminating somewhere else other than the litter box. When he uses the litter box, remember to reward him with kind words, pat on the back, etc.

One thing you have to understand is that training your dog to use a litter box requires lot of patience as the chances of accidents are quite high. If you follow the correct instructions, your pet canine will surely learn to use the litter box on a regular basis. However, if he does not do this even after following the correct method or if he stops using the litter box after being trained to use it successfully, there are chances that he might be suffering from health problems. Hence, in such cases, consult a health practitioner to find the root cause of the problem.