How to teach a dog to do needs in the litter box

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 9 August 2021
Update Date: 1 July 2024
Anonim
How to Litter Box Train Puppies and Dogs
Video: How to Litter Box Train Puppies and Dogs

Content

When you decide to adopt a dog, you need to pay special attention to education. Regardless of whether you decide to adopt a puppy or an adult dog, it will be essential to start educating him upon his arrival in his new home. One of the most important steps in the first phase of education is teach the dog to do his needs in the right place.

In addition to avoiding dirt in the house, teaching your dog to 'go to the bathroom' is a excellent stimulus for your intelligence. If you have chosen to adopt an adult dog that already has up-to-date vaccinations and deworming, you can directly teach him how to do things on the street. But, if your new companion is still a puppy or doesn't have an up-to-date vaccination calendar, you'll need to wait for him to complete his first immunization cycle before taking him for walks on the streets.


In the meantime, you can teach your best friend to pee and poop in the right place inside the house. To do this, many people use the classic newspaper or absorbent paper, however, a more hygienic and practical option is to acquire a dog litter box.

Although we are more used to associating the litter box with cats, it is also possible to train your dog to use it correctly. Want to know how? So, keep reading this new article from Animal Expert and learn how to teach a dog to do needs in the litter box!

Box for a dog to urinate: how to choose?

Nowadays, you can find a wide variety of dog litter box models in the pet shops and on the Internet. The most economical options are usually those traditional reinforced plastic boxes, in which the sand can be accommodated. However, there are already smart toiletsfor dogs that incorporate a self-cleaning system and require a higher investment.


Regardless of how much you intend to invest in a litter box for a dog to urinate, remember to opt for a model made with resistant materials, as they offer a longer service life and allow for better sanitation.

While there are options for dogs of all sizes, it's often easier to find traditional litter boxes for small to medium-sized furry ones. If you can't get one big dog litter box, you can also opt for the ’eco-patios’, canine toilets or bathroom for large dogs.

To be sure you choose the right litter box or toilet for your puppy, measure the height and overall width of the body. Remember that the puppy should feel minimally comfortable inside the box. in order to go to the bathroom, being able to squat down and make a complete turn (360º) around its own axis.


Is litter box for dog urinating the same as litter box for cats?

No, the litter for the dog box is not the same as the cat litter. If you look at the dog sand, you will see that it is made up of thicker and more absorbent grains, since dogs tend to have a greater volume of urine and feces than felines.

In the pet shops physical or online, you'll find several types of litter for your dog's crate. In addition to grain size, you can choose between different materials and functions, such as economical sand with a high clay content, dog silica sand super absorbent, activated carbon sand to avoid unpleasant odors, biodegradable sand and even some scented options.

At deodorized or scented sands are not recommended, since they can irritate your dog's mucous membranes, cause allergies and even generate a repulsion towards the box. To avoid unpleasant odors in the box and in the environment, you can mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda into the dog's sand. This is a much cheaper option for your budget and safer for your best friend.

Tip: Also find out how to get a dog used in the transport box in this article by PeritoAnimal.

Box for a dog to urinate: where to put it?

Another very important decision you will need to make is choosing the most suitable place for the dog litter box to urinate. To help you, we have prepared some tips:

  • Some privacy is essential: toilet time is especially vulnerable for dogs, as they cannot defend or escape while peeing or pooping. Therefore, they need to feel safe at this moment to do their needs calmly. When choosing the ideal place for your furry's litter box, choose a discreet spot, but one that is also easy to access.
  • Away from food and drink: obviously, your dog's litter box should not be near food and water. Puppies distinguish very well the feeding and needing areas. So if you leave the box near the food, it's likely he won't use it.
  • Good lighting and ventilation: it will also be important to choose a place that has good ventilation and lighting. This will prevent the concentration of unpleasant smells in the environment, in addition to preventing the proliferation of mold, fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.

How to teach the dog to make needs in the right place?

The use of positive reinforcement is essential to encourage the dog to assimilate the sandbox as the correct place to urinate and defecate.When you offer your dog a reward for good behavior (for example, peeing in the litter box and not outside it), encourage him to repeat this action and make it part of his routine.

In addition, it encourages you to be willing to learn new tasks, tricks and basic commands for dogs. In this way, it allows your best friend to work intelligence and optimize their physical, emotional, cognitive and social skills. Therefore, positive reinforcement is the best method you can apply to teach a dog to pee in the right place.

Next, we'll teach you the step-by-step instructions for teaching a dog to do needs in the litter box.

How to teach the dog to do needs in the litter box

Find out how to teach your dog to do needs in the litter box step by step:

Phase 1

The first step in teaching your dog to pee and poop in the litter box is to present it correctly. For this, you must arouse the furry's curiosity to encourage him to approach the box and explore the interior. Puppies are naturally curious and this feature helps (a lot!) to teach them.

The idea is for the box to be incorporated naturally into the house, as part of the routine of everyone who lives in it, including your dog. Never force your pet to approach the box, let him demonstrate that he is curious to know what this new object is that is part of his environment and take the initiative to get closer.

To encourage him, you can simply sit or stand next to the box and call him, demonstrating that this is a safe place and that he is 'invited' to meet you. When your dog takes the initiative to approach, remember to reward him for recognizing his courage and encouraging him to explore the inside of the box.

Level 2

When your dog is comfortable in the litter box, move on to step two. Now, you will need to choose a word or expression that will determine the command to use the sandbox, for example: “use the box” or “pee in the box”. The goal is for your puppy to associate this command with the act of going to the box and using it to relieve himself. But how to do this?

First, you need to get your dog inside the box. Remember that, at this point, the dog's reaction to the box should already be positive, that is, it is essential that the dog is not afraid to approach the box and stay inside. The ideal is identify the approximate times when your puppy pees and poops. That way, you can take him to the box and give him the command to use it while he does his needs. This will make it easier for him to assimilate the new box as the correct place to urinate and defecate.

Having already accommodated your dog inside the litter box, communicate the command you chose to use the box. So, when you see that he remains inside the box and has peed or poop, just congratulate him and offer a reward to your dog. The objective of this step is to make the dog assimilate the use of the box to make needs as something positive and feel encouraged to repeat this action in their daily lives.

Remember that the command needs to be trained daily so that the dog can assimilate as part of the routine.. However, you should not overload him by training several times in a row or for a long time, but practice the command only at those approximate times of peeing or pooping.

Stage 3

To encourage your dog to assimilate the litter box as his 'bathroom', you can put a piece of wet paper or newspaper in your own urine inside the box. In fact, during the first few days your dog is learning to use the crate, you may not be cleaning the sand every day. The goal is for the dog to be able to smell its own odors in this region and more easily associate it with the correct place to urinate and defecate.

Remember to congratulate your dog, give him a pet and give a prize every time he goes to the litter box to relieve himself. However, the treat (or other reward) should only be offered to the dog after he has finished peeing and pooping, so as not to interrupt him at this delicate moment. And if you choose to use the clicker for dogs, this will also be the ideal time to shoot the ‘click'.

Generally, this step-by-step shows results very quickly, as, when dealing with basic or physiological needs, the dog does not need as many reinforcements to pee and poop. Our main job as tutors and educators will be to help you identify the sandbox as the right place to do this.

By following this short guide, you will be able to teach your dog how to clean up in the litter box. Furthermore, remember to maintain good hygiene in this region, because if the sand or the box is dirty, the puppy may not want to use it. Furthermore, poor hygiene can favor the proliferation of bacteria, fungi and other germs.

At least once a day, we recommend cleaning the sand from the box with the help of a shovel. And at least once a week, you need to completely change the sand and clean the box, using neutral soap or enzymatic detergents. Do not use bleach, chlorine or creoline, as these products are aggressive and irritate the dog's mucous membranes.

If you liked the article, also check out our YouTube video on how to teach your dog to sleep in bed: