Litterbox Training

If you work full-time, live where there's often cold or rainy weather, or would like to skip those late-night treks outside for Iggy's potty breaks, you can teach your IG to use a litterbox.

The first thing to keep in mind is that litterbox training is more than simply plunking a litterbox down and expecting your dog to immediately begin using it. While that's a lovely daydream, it's not close to reality.

I start most foster dogs out in XL plastic kennel, with a comfy bed in the front and a cat litterbox in the back, lined with a washable potty pad (hospital incontinent pad) for kenneling when I'm not home. A little 'puppy training spray' on the pad will attract the dog to use the litterbox. Most puppies and dogs will start using the litterbox within a few days.

Litterbox inside XL Kennel (add a clip on water bowl before leaving your dog)

Once the dog is consistently using the litterbox in the kennel, if he needs to be left alone for more than a few hours a day, he should be moved to an area where he has more room, like an exercise pen. First thing in the morning and after meals, your dog can be put into the exercise pen for his bathroom duties. When you're at work, he can be in the exercise pen (put a top on it to prevent climbing or jumping out) with a litterbox, safe toys and clip on water bowl.

IGs in a 4'X4' indoor exercise pen with their bed and potty pads.

While many dogs need the confines of a litterbox to help remind them of the approved potty area, others are nervous about stepping into a box, and prefer potty pads laid directly on the floor.

If your IG is a leg lifter, you can make a high-sided litterbox by cutting one of the narrow ends off a large plastic tote box. Use a Dremel tool to smooth any rough edges, and line with potty pads.

Kramer poses in his high-side litterbox in an ex-pen.

When your dog begins seeking out his litterbox when it's time to 'go,' you can transition him, if you wish, to using a litterbox placed in any convenient area of your house, or use the litterbox only for times when you're away from home, and use outdoor housetraining for times when you're home. It's up to you and up to what works best for your dog.

Litterbox lined with washable potty pad

Litterbox training is definitely not one-size-fits all for IGs. Some do best with a litterbox, others would rather use potty pads laid directly on a floor. Some can be trusted to use disposable potty pads, others will shred them into a billion pieces. Some IGs even prefer cat litter or special dog litter in their litterboxes. Staying flexible, giving each change a couple of weeks before judging it as a failure, and realizing that litterbox training takes time will help you to help your IG master indoor housetraining.