Dog Litter Box Training Doesn't Have to be Difficult

Many people dread the idea of a dirty animal living in their house but whether or not a dog knows where to eliminate is really down to whether the owner has properly conducted their dog litter box training. A young dog will often need to be taught how to use a litter box and if you have never done this before then the idea might be a little daunting; but it is actually a very straightforward affair and one which can be done with the minimum of fuss and mess if some basic necessities are attended to.

First, when a young dog is brought into a new house he will need to be taught which room he is expected to sleep in and retire to for his rest; this will also be the room where his litter box will be, and where he will be fed his meals. The best place is often the kitchen since these rooms are usually tiled and uncarpeted. Otherwise, if there is a utility room or other uncarpeted room available that would be just as appropriate.

When the puppy is first brought into the new home, his room must have paper covering every inch of the floor and it is best that for the first few days he spends most of his time in this room. Young dogs have small bladders and will eliminate as much as once every hour. The first thing you are achieving by having a room with a papered floor is that you are getting the dog used to toileting on paper and in a specific room. If you are going to allow the pup into other rooms then first ensure that he has eliminated before you bring him out, then after 45 minutes take him back into his room and wait for him to eliminate. When he has, give him lots of praise and allow him out again for a further 45 minutes. With this procedure you are further training him to use the paper and he is also getting used to the idea of using this room for this function.

As the dog gets used to doing this over time you may observe that he tends to use one part of the room more than another for eliminating. When it is clear that he is going to one side of the room and not the other, then you can begin to take up paper from the unused side of the room. This should be done gradually over time. The dog will be used to eliminating on paper and together with his tendency to go in one area rather than another – by taking up paper on the unused floor area you encourage this tendency. Over time you will be able to reduce the pup to eliminating in one corner of the room and then you begin to introduce the litter box in this place; keep putting paper under the litter box for the occasional ‘accidents’ and to reinforce the pups idea of using paper but so long as you continue to encourage him and praise him for his actions then you will find that your dog litter box training was less of a trial than you first expected.