How to Train a Dog to Use a Litter Pan
A dog litter pan is especially convenient and useful for pets that are suffering from mild incontinence or recovering from surgery, or that don't enjoy going outside during inclement weather. Apartment dwellers find dog litter pans extremely helpful, since it is sometimes difficult to get the animal outside quickly. Training a dog to use a litter plan is similar to potty-training a puppy. With time and patience, a housebroken dog can be litter-trained in a matter of a few days or week.
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Instructions
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Purchase the correct litter pan and some dog litter from a pet store. To choose the right size, make sure your dog can fit his entire body inside the litter pan and turn around. The cost of a dog litter pan and litter is slightly higher than similar supplies for cats.
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Fill the plastic litter pan with the pellet-style dog litter. Two inches of litter should be plenty. Don't overfill the pan, or litter may spill out of the cutout area where the dog steps into the pan.
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Set the litter pan next to the door through which the dog usually goes outside to go potty. If that is not possible, place it in a basement, laundry room or bathroom that isn't used frequently, since the pan will have an odor until it is cleaned.
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Place a small amount of dog feces in the litter pan. Show the dog the pan; when he sniffs at the feces, praise him. When he goes to the door or signals that he needs to go out, take him to the litter pan. Place him in the pan, and use whatever command or signal word you usually use to indicate it's time to go potty. The dog may be hesitant at first, since he has likely been trained not to relieve himself in the house.
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Praise the dog when he first uses the pan. The first time he does so, leave the feces in the pan. That will remind him where to go next time. Once he has used the litter pan a few times, clean it after every subsequent use. Use a litter scooper to remove feces, and replace the litter when urine is present on the surface or the odor is noticeable.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use dog litter in the litter pan. Dog urine is different than cat urine, and the pellets of dog litter are designed to reduce the odor of dog urine.
