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Litter boxes aren’t just for kitties anymore.
If you have a new dog in the house and need a housebreaking helper, there are a number of products available these days that do a great job.
But if you’re going to be away at work, school, or play for many hours during the day, then I would encourage you to consider a litterbox made especially for dogs.
I tried one with my 2 dogs, and now I’m a huge fan!
How I Learned About Dog Litter Boxes
When we adopted our 2 Beagle-mix dogs 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 puppies outside every couple of hours until I got home from work a painful challenge.
We considered the training pads, but with 2 going at it (er… on it), I was worried about containment not being much better than the newspapers.
Fortunately, 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 The Dog Litter Like?
The litter is so coarse, I wasn’t sure the dogs 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 dog litter has a strong scent that effectively deodorizes the “deposits”, at least initially. With 2 dogs using it, the pee accumulated pretty quickly, but it’s obvious what’s been soaked so it’s easy to scoop that litter out with an old spatula or scooper if you’re not ready to completely change the box yet.
The poo sits on top of the dog litter, so it’s simple to remove with a plastic bag. Top off the cleaned-up litter with a layer of fresh litter, and you’re good to go for another few rounds!
What Is The Dog Litter Box Like?
The dog litter pan comes in 3 sizes:
- Standard (for up to 35-pound dogs)
- Miniature (for up to 15-pound dogs)
- Toy (for up to 6-pound dogs)
There’s a lowered entrance either on the long side or the narrow end, depending on which size box you get. The dog litter box is made of a very durable rubbery plastic that won’t crack.
The dog litter itself comes in 12-pound and 25-pound 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 we had 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 dog 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!
Other Ways To Litter Box Train Your Dog
- Tips For Litter Box Training A Dog
- Can Dogs Really Use A Litter Box?
- Benefits Of Dog Litter Box Training
- How To Teach A Small Dog To Use A Cat Litter Box
Our current dog family consists of 2 Beagle-mix sisters, Susie and Fluffy. Over the last 35 years I’ve had anywhere from 1 to 6 dogs at a time, so I definitely have tons of dog and puppy stories to share! By the way, our dogs are going on 2 years straight with absolutely NO commercial pet food or dog treats. I like to make my own food and treats for my dogs.
