Nancy Freedman-Smith, dog trainer and owner of Gooddogz Training, provides a place for dog owners to find positive training tips, canine-activities and places to visit along with the latest information on keeping your dog healthy and active. Nancy lives with her three young kids, Charlee and Finney the dogs, Yellow the parakeet and Tater-Tot the Hamster. Staying current, keeping fresh, and always learning new things is a must for Nancy and her profession because one thing that animals surely teach you is "the more you know, the more you know you don't know."
Litter training your dog
Many years ago before the rest of the commercial world caught on, I helped to litter box train quite a few clients dogs.
We didn't use a Pet a potty , with real or fake grass. Look close. The design flaw here is that it needs higher sides or guess what, stuff will get on the floor. Never mind that Business Weekly on line wrote about it this week, or that Sharon Osbourne is "putting one in her bedroom." We all know where the Osbourne dogs do their business and I don't see this as their solution at all. Attention Sharon and Ozzie! Send me a ticket out there, pay for my time and I will help you potty train your animals in no time, no problem!!! Pet- a- Potty would only work well for a few select dogs. Overall it is a bad idea, and especially for male dogs, if you get my drift.
But I did put my head together with clients and we used the bottom of an old crate. It worked out fine. The only problem we had was that the dogs liked to have something underneath, like a rubber bath mat, so that the crate didn't move around and scare them. This web site does a great job at explaining the process! These days you can also buy doggie litter, and wee wee pads to help you out.
Litter box training can be an excellent solution for small dogs with tiny bladders, for dogs who continue to have accidents no matter how hard you try, and I have even heard of larger dogs being taught to use the litter box from time to time. Litter training does not take the place of walks or a professional pet walker. When I lived in Boston, we used it primarily with dogs in high rise apartments, and small dogs who would not go outside in inclement weather.
If you decide to try this I wish you good luck!
What's that? You are wondering about teaching your dog to use the toilet, like the cat in Meet the Fockers, or the dog in Bruce Almighty? You could easily teach a dog to put their paws on the top of the bowl and even flush by teaching them to target, first, but if you think your husband has bad aim...
Comments
HA!!! Train the Osbornes dogs? !!!!
Never! .... and loose all the "en-grossing" dog drama that just draws the viewer to their show.
As a trainer I relate to your desire to get your hands on those dogs. Then flick those people on the forehead with a "WHAT are you thinking?"
Sandi
Pet Improvement
California
May 17, 2005 12:45 PM
Yah right! I can totally see little dogs using it, but BIG dogs? Just seems so...not right.
As for the Osbournes dogs?! Pfffft, I watch the dogs more then I do the kids, who completely get on my last nerve. =)
Posted by LaurenMay 17, 2005 01:15 PM
Nancy, that's a great site! I train alot of these little *elevator dogs* and the Teacups to use the litterbox, pads etc. and I never knew this site existed, until now! Thanks, Nadine
May 17, 2005 11:08 PM
I've also heard of training dogs to use the bathtub, or a shower. Easy to keep clean!
Posted by Susan FreimanMay 18, 2005 07:35 AM
Hi Susan,
I have to admit, I never heard of that one....but it sounds like something that may interest the Osbournes. (evil grin)
I know it wouldn't wash well around my house! -Nancy
May 18, 2005 07:46 AM
Couple questions: Why not put newspaper in the litterbox instead of litter?
What do you think of the the Wizdog system? It's supposed to keep their feet from getting wet(See this site: www.wizdog.com)
I'm thinking of using it with newspaper or adult diapers (cheaper than dog wee wee pads.).
July 21, 2006 10:07 PM
When we moved to a high rise a few years ago, I trained my older cocker spaniel to use a child's pool filled with some clumping litter and rubber mats so as not to slip for interim pp's - also got my Bichon to use it but he was not quite as "attached" to the idea - both would rather have the walk especially the little one but that was mostly a social time for him- heck he would have me and the cocker outside 24/7 slogging around the block for hours if I had let him - cocker has sinced passed away and the Bichon has moved to new digs so that he can run and jump whenever he wants. I am certain the cocker enjoyed NOT having to go out in the rain or salt on the ice some of the time and since he was older he really didn't want to spend all his time on the elevator - have a new Lhasa cross ShihTzu and puppy pad training her now and hoping to get her into a litter box but prob not with clumping litter so messy !!
Posted by BunkyJuly 31, 2006 05:06 AM
There is a great book out that is a guide on how to litter box train a dog. I used it to litter box train my chihuauhua. It goes over litter box training a puppy and a dog thats trained to use the bathroom outside. The website is http://www.litterboxtrainingfordogs.1hwy.com/ and the book is called Litter Boxes Aren't Just For Cats
Posted by Kristy HartAugust 2, 2006 11:57 AM
I recently found this book Litter Boxes Aren't Just For Cats and website about a month ago and used it to litter box train my pomeranian puppy. I have to admit it was much easier than housebreaking. =)
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