Training a Dog to Use a Cat Litter Box

Teach your dog to use a litter box and eliminate accidents.

Many pet owners would love to have a dog, but for one reason or another believe they can't. The main reason dog-lovers won't commit to a companion is lack of a yard. Teaching a dog to use a litter box can not only aid in housetraining, but can provide a way for the dog to relieve itself without needing a yard.

Things You'll Need

• Litter box
• Pellet litter or wood chips
• Dog treats
• Pet enzyme cleaner

Instructions

1. Fill the litter box half full with litter. Lay newspaper in the area the litter box will be. This will catch any accidents the dog may have, and will protect the floor.

2. Place the dog into the litter box and give the dog a treat. You need to make the dog feel that the box is a happy place to be. Let the dog sniff around in the litter box to become familiar with it.

3. Take the dog to the litter box after eating, playing or sleeping, to prevent accidents. State the bathroom phrase of your choice --- "go potty," or "go pee-pee," for example --- while the dog is in the box. Feed the dog a treat when it uses the box to eliminate.

4. Direct your dog to the box if you see it sniffing the ground, circling or starting to squat. If you notice an accident, bring the dog to the box and ignore it until it uses the litter box. Praise it after it uses the box.

Tips & Warnings

• Accidents may happen, especially if your dog is young. Wipe the spills with newspaper and line the bottom of the litter box with it. Dogs have a keen sense of smell; the old newsprint will encourage it to eliminate in the box instead of your carpet.

• Use a high-quality odor eliminator to clean any accidents. Pet cleaner removes the enzymes in the carpet that cause the dog to return to the same spot.

• Never physically reprimand the dog for having an accident, as this can create fear and aggression.

• Only use pellet or wood based litter for dogs. Dogs like to eat and ingest different materials -- litter is no exception. Litter can cause stomach upset and a host of other issues for dogs should it be ingested.

References

• My Italian Greyhounds: How to Litter Box Train Your Dog
• Dog Training Headquarters: Learn How to Litter Train Your Dog Quickly
• Dog & Puppy Central: Tips on Litter Training Your Dog