How to Housebreak A Puppy Using A Cat Litter Box

Cat litter boxes are not just for cats anymore. They are an excellent tool for housebreaking a puppy quickly and with far less mess than using newspapers or the expense of puppy wee pads. They are also a great way to keep toy breeds in an apartment when it is not convenient to go for a walk in severe winter weather. When I was breeding Basenjis I used this house breaking method with great success.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aluminum baking pan with low sides
• Cat litter box
• Concrete mixing tub or livestock feed tub
• Any brand of cat litter
• Litter scooper
• Patience

1. 
   Shallow Baking Pan For The First Try

   FIRST TRY - It is best to start the puppy as young as possible. As soon as they are walking and leaving their bed to do their elimination is the perfect time. For toy to medium breed puppies use an aluminum baking pan for the first few attempts. Regular or clumping litter may be used as filler. The sides are low and the puppy can get in easier. For larger breeds use a regular box.

2. TRAINING - As soon as they finish eating place them in the pan and keep them there until they do their duty and praise them. Sometimes all they need is for you to scratch the litter to get their interest or to leave a piece of past waste for scent purposes. Do this with them for a day or two. Most catch on by day three. Dogs are naturally clean and do not like to soil their sleeping or feeding area.

3. 
   Concrete Mixing Tub For Medium to Large Breed Puppies

   LARGER BOX - When they have mastered the shallow pan and are going to it when they need it, graduate to the standard litter box as they gain more coordination. For medium to large breed puppies a tub used to mix cement or a shallow rubber livestock feeding tub may be used. These can be purchased at your local home improvement store or feed store.

4. GOING OUT DOORS - The shift to outdoors is easier than with newspaper or puppy wee pads in that it is more natural for the puppy. Just take soiled litter and sprinkle it where you want the puppy to go and they get the idea quite fast as to "Their spot". During this part of training still allow access to the litter box should your puppy get caught short. Praise them when they go outside and always leave a little of the waste in the area you want them to use just as a reminder.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient with your puppies. It takes some a day or two to figure it out
• PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE! When they do it right.
• The finer clumping litter is best for toy and small puppies as it is easier on their paws.
• Discourage digging for fun. Some breeds think digging to China in the litter is a new game. When the pup is finished eliminating take it out of the box.