How to Litter Box Train a Dog

Contributor

By Eric Letendre
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(2 Ratings)

Litter box training is excellent for small dogs or dogs that live in apartment buildings. Smaller dogs have smaller bladders, and therefore, tend to have to urinate more frequently. Dogs that live in apartment buildings don't have the luxury of going out whenever they need to. A possible solution might be litter box training. By following the steps in this article--you'll be able to litter box train your dog in no time at all.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Litter box
Kitty litter or sand
Patience

Step 1

Go down to your local pet store and buy a litter box for your dog. When I first start litter box training I don't put any sand or litter in the box. From my experiences, the dogs only dig it out.
Step 2

Find a place in your house to put the box, and make sure it is convenient for both your dog and you. You're now going to help your dog learn to go in the litter box every time he needs to pee or poop.
Step 3

The first step in litter box training is management. Don't allow your dog to have an accident any place in the house. Always make sure that you are keeping a very close eye on your dog so that if your dog starts to have an accident, you can bring her right to the litter box.
Step 4

Bring your dog over to the litter box every time he has to go; this is extremely important. I highly recommend using a crate when you are not home or when you cannot keep a close eye on your dog. The crate will confine your dog and not give your dog the opportunity to have an accident anywhere in the house.
Step 5

Bring your dog right to the litter box first thing when you get home. You can pick small dogs up and put them right in the box; larger dogs you will have to guide into the box.
Step 6

Once your dog is in the box, start to encourage her to go. I use the phrase, “get busy," and another popular phrase is “hurry up.” Keep repeating the phrase over and over until your dog starts to go.
Step 7

Once your dog starts to go, stop talking. It's important that you don't say anything once your dog starts to go. If you clap your hands and say what a good boy/girl your dog is, it can interrupt your dog and he may stop before he's finished.
Step 8

Reward your dog for going in the litter box the second she is done. In order for this to be successful, you need to manage your dog's behavior, guide her to the box every time she needs to go and reward your dog every time she successfully goes in the litter box. Good luck!