Fun Tip For Potty Training Puppies: Try A Dog Litter Box!

When we adopted our 2 Beagle-mix pooches at 6 weeks of age, it had been awhile since we'd had puppies.

Potty training quickly became an issue; the old standby of newspapers in a corner was messy at best. And hubby's back injuries made running the little darlings outside every couple of hours until I got home from work a painful challenge.

We considered the training pads, but with two going at it (er... on it),  I was worried about containment not being much better than the newspapers. But when I opened their first bag of Puppy Chow, I found a coupon for a litter box (no containment issues) and litter made especially for dogs.

Hmmm.... Who knew? A trip to PetSmart, and we were in business for the pups to do their business.  

What Is A Dog Litter Box Like?
The litter is so coarse, I wasn't sure the pups would go for it. This stuff isn't at all like cat litter. It's more like pellets, and it's made from recycled newspaper.

To my surprise, the transition was really pretty easy. Heck, I figured they were already used to newspaper.

At first we put some of the pellets on their newspaper. Then, we replaced the paper with the filled litter box and topped it off with a few scraps of soiled newspaper to give them the idea. It wasn't any time at all and they were heading for the box regularly with no mishaps!

The litter has a strong scent that effectively deodorizes the "deposits", at least initially. With two using it, the piddle accumulated pretty quickly, but it's obvious what's been soaked so it's easy to scoop out with an old spatula or scooper if you're not ready to completely change the box yet.

The poo sits on top, so it's simple to remove with a plastic bag. Top off the cleaned-up litter with a layer of fresh, and you're good to go for another few rounds.

More About The Doggie Litter And Box
The litter box itself comes in 3 sizes:

Standard (up to 35 lbs, $24)

Miniature (up to 15 lbs, $17)

Toy (up to 6 lbs, $13)

There's a lowered entrance either on the long side or the narrow end, depending on which size box you get.  They're made of a very durable rubbery plastic that won't crack.

The litter comes in 12lb ($8.49) and 25lb ($12.99) bags.


Pros & Cons Of Dog Litter Boxes
Clearly I'm a fan, but some people have found that their dogs don't take to it at all. More often than not, it seems those dogs are very small breeds with tiny legs and feet, so it may be uncomfortable for them to step onto the chunky pellets.

One woman tried cat litter in her doggie litter box and it worked great for her puppy. Others have tried putting the piddle pads into the litter box, which is also a terrific solution. (Plus, the pads prevent "overflow" problems, as well!)

Another issue is some pups like to chew on the crunchy (non-toxic) pellets.

For us, the dog litter box was a perfect solution. It gave hubby's back a much needed rest and no worries during the night. (Did I mention it was winter?) When it was time, they transitioned beautifully to going outside like the big girls they were.

So, if you have a new puppy and won't be able to take him out often enough, consider a dog litter box to help make housetraining easier. Depending on the size of your dog's breed, it can even be used indefinitely.

Your dog will thank you for it!