Is Litter Training Right For Your Dog?
People love cats for their cleanliness and ability to use a litter box, however with cats usually not being nearly as affectionate, loyal, and loving as dogs, why not combine the better quality that cats have with your loving canine companion? This only makes sense to many people. Unfortunately, litter training a dog seldom works – unless, of course, you have the right dog.
You may notice the biggest problem in trying to litter train a dog is that they will try to eat the litter. This is really bad for their digestive system and not nutritional at all. Most of the time, when you place a dog inside a litter box, they will stand there and look at you, not knowing what on Earth they’re supposed to do. Other times, they’ll keep jumping out. You can keep the litter box in some type of a kennel that is big enough to support the litter box, you dog, a water dish, and some chew toys. However, as mentioned before, your dog will likely eat the litter and go to the bathroom somewhere else in the kennel.
It is not impossible to litter train a dog, it has been done before. Many people with small breeds and who do not want to have to clean up after their dog all the time have the patience to properly train a dog to use a litter box. If you have a small breed under 6 pounds, it will be much easier to try and train the dog to use the litter box. Just as with traditional yard training or paper training, a dog needs lots of guidance so they can understand what they need to do. Dogs have short memory spans, so you will need to be patient. Keep in mind that dogs respond most positively to edible rewards or praise.
In other words, when your dog goes to the bathroom in a spot of your liking, such as on newspaper, a puppy pad, the yard, or their litter box, you must immediately praise them and give them a treat. There are some products at places like Petco that may help assist you in your long and tiring journey of housebreaking or litter box training your dog. Such products include a spray, like “PETCO Potty Training Aid“, in which you can use to attract dogs to it and make them want to go to the bathroom in that spot. You should spray a good amount of it in a litter box, because litter is usually designed to mask odors. You can definitely use less spray on a pad or newspaper, or even an area of your yard.
There are also several sprays you can use if your dog forgets where to go potty, and goes on the carpet. Sprays like “Pet Organics No-Go! Housebreaking Aid” from PETCO helps to make your dog avoid going potty where they went before. The way that dogs brains work differs from humans. If they smell that they went potty somewhere before, they will think they are supposed to go in that same spot again, even if they got in trouble for it. Regular cleaning supplies don’t usually take the smell out. They can take out what a human smells, but they won’t take out the pheromones that dogs smell, so you want to ensure you get a product specially designed to cover up the smell for a dog.
To conclude, a dog can be trained to go potty just about anywhere you want them to. Of course, to litter train a dog, it only makes sense to have a smaller breed do this. It is unnatural for a large dog to climb inside a little box to go potty every time. After a good deed is done, act quickly to reward it so that this behavior is reinforced. It is easier to train a dog than it is to potty train a human child – so keep that in mind and remember to have lots of patience. In the end, it will be worth it.
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