I have heard and read some articles on litter box training for puppies to get them started potty training.?

Question

Has anyone did this or have any thoughts on it?

Answer 1

i have and they learn quick. at pet store they sell this litter that apparently has dog urine smell or something on it, and they love it! sometimes they want to play in it like a sandbox too, but it totally worked for me. i had two puppies that i bought about 5 months aprt and each one learned. if you don't clean it out they will do their business elsewhere, but it worked for us. eventually you can switch it to newspaper and they will be fine with it, but when just teaching them, stick with the litter. you need to reinforce it with praise, excitement and a dog treat each time and they'll totally get it!

Answer 2

I used to use that method, and would set a litter box (filled with hampster bedding) on one end of the puppy pen. It kept the puppies clean, they all figured out to go potty in it... however I ended up with puppy litter all over my house.

With my last litter my partner brought home puppy pads.. I laughed at him... but thought I'd give them a try. I set them on one end of the pen (BIG whelping box) and 4 of the 7 pups started using them right away (they were about 3.5 weeks old). When I would see a pup pottying on the blankets/towels I would pick it up and set it on the pads.. within a week all pups went to the pads to potty. At five weeks I started dashing them outside to potty when I woke them up... and I had puppy pads by my door just in case...

It was the easiest litter I've ever housetrained. My puppy buyers were thrilled. I kept 2 pups and think I had a sum total (including when the entire litter was still there) of 5 pee accidents and NO poop ones on my carpet.

Now granted, I bred these pups primarily for temperament and brains first.. but I will definately repeat doing this.

Lots of washable toys and bones keep the pups from using the pads as playthings.. and as the pups got bigger I ducttaped the pads together so they did not move as easily.

Answer 3

Not necessary and probably confusing.
Puppies can be very easy to train, dependent upon the breed you have. I raised Shar-Peis which are easy, easy, easy! But any other breed has been easy too, using my method. If you take the time, it will pay off and you won't have problems. Once a puppy starts having accidents in the house - you must remove the odor completely or they will think they can keep going there. NEVER NEVER NEVER put a pup's nose in it and yell "NO! BAD DOG!" If you don't catch them in the act - it's too late - the pup has already forgotten what they did and have no idea why you're upset. Dogs don't think the way we think and their memory is pretty much dealing with the here and now - not 10 minutes ago. Same for any other wrong behavior, like digging holes, rolling in something smelly, chewing up your favorite pair of shoes, etc.. it's all about prevention and catching them in the act. If you see them going - then you can say, "NO NO NO!" and put them outside to finish. Once they're done going inside, they already are thinking about what they're onto next.
SO ---- Remember this trick! Puppies pee within 5-10 mins after drinking water, Puppies poop within 5-15 mins after eating. You shouldn't give puppies access to food and water 24/7 or overnight. Not necessary, if feeding on a regular schedule. If you give them access, you are asking for accidents. The pup will go wherever - if in a crate, you'll have accidents in the crate. Really dumb because if crate training, that crate needs to be where the dog feels safe and secure and likes to sleep. (I recommend crates 100%!) Dogs like dens - they don't want to go pee and poop in their den - it's instinctual. It's their bed! Keep it that way!
Training needs to begin only after pups are weaned from the mother and are 6-8 weeks old. No earlier. Give the pup food and water and watch them! When finished, take pup outside immediately! When they go - PRAISE THEM!!! "Good Boy!" or "Good Girl!" If you do this consistently - you won't have any problems. The older the pup gets, they will start letting you know they have to go out - ask them too, "Want to go outside?" from day 1 when you're taking them out after a meal. They'll learn the word, "Outside" and before you know it, the pup will ask on their own to go out.
Try it and see - I promise this method is the only way it works without major issues and headaches for you. I have 4 kids and no time to be cleaning up after dogs. It was so much easier to prevent problems from day 1. Thankfully, it always worked and I never had a puppy who went in the house. Never.
Best Wishes! You can do it!

Answer 4

I've read this too and wanted to try it, but am worried that the puppy might be more apt to play with the litter and box than to actually use it for the bathroom.

Answer 5

well we've used newspapers as to when they were a puppy.And about a week after we tought them to use it outside.Like when they start barking or when u know they need the bathroom say"speak!"firmly and after they bark u let them outside on a LEASH so after they know they have to bark before going out you'll know when they need out.Its that simple.And when they complete it give them a treet once or twice and thats it cause u don't want them to think that everytime they bark they get a treet.but hope i helped bye :D

Answer 6

yes and I know several who have my dogs are to big