Dogsmanship - The Dog Lover's Survival Guide

Puppy Litter Training: How to Litter Train a Puppy

The puppy has been selected, and is ready to come and live with you. It is time to decide on what type of potty training method that you will use. There are many options for people when it comes to potty training their puppies. There are classic training methods that include paper training and crate training. But many people are now using puppy litter training.

How Litter Training Works

We have all heard of cats and even rabbits being trained to use a litter box. Puppy litter training is becoming a practical form of potty training. For many people who live in small spaces with no yards, puppy litter training makes sense. This practice is usually reserved for smaller dogs, as a larger breed would have a difficult time using a litter box.

To begin puppy litter training, a place in the home should be found that will be convenient for the dog and out of the way. It can be helpful when training your dog, to create a schedule for the puppy. Make sure to feed the puppy at about the same time everyday. Don’t leave food out all day long. This can create a problem with over eating and a weight problem for your dog. By feeding the puppy at the same time everyday, the puppy will be on a set schedule for needing to go to the bathroom.

Selecting the right size litter box is important too. It should be big enough for your dog as an adult to be able to stand in. In order to litter train a puppy, you need to purchase dog litter for the box. This is sold in pet stores, and is a similar material to kitty litter. When you suspect your puppy needs to go to the bathroom, place them in the litter box. Tell your puppy how well they are doing, and make sure they stay in the litter box until they are done.

Reward them with praise and by petting them. During puppy litter training, encouragement is an essential piece to getting the puppy to return to the litter box. Praise and encouragement are the best ways to reinforce any training. Rewarding desired behavior will encourage the same behavior in the future.

To litter train a puppy is no different than to introduce a cat or rabbit to the litter box, and it is generally not too difficult to train your small puppy with this method.