How to Train Your Dog to Poop in a Litter Box

Hello, There are a few things that in general encourage pooping. 1. Most dogs will need to poop 15-45 minutes after eating; however, as they get older many can choose to delay that for a while if they are uncomfortable pooping somewhere or distracted. 2. Most dogs will be encouraged to poop, if they need to go timing wise, if they smell where another dog has pooped. There are sprays that mimic this smell that can be sprayed onto an area before you take the dog potty; however if the area is too dirty due to size or multiple poops, the dog will actually avoid that area. 3. Most dogs will need to poop if its time, after moving a lot - which is why many dogs poop on walks or after running around excitedly a lot. The more of the above that you can facilitate to help pup poop in the litter box, often the easier getting a puppy to poop will be. Start by making sure the box isn't too dirty from previous potty trips. Spray a potty encouraging spray onto the litter before taking pup to the box if they haven't pooped yet that day, as needed. If the box isn't at least four times wider and longer than pup's size already, I would use a bigger box; at least temporarily until pup is used to going potty in it. The bigger size can help is also feel cleaner and give pup space to circle and move around. You may need to walk pup around the box on a leash before having pup go into it, to keep them focused and encourage their bowels to get moving. When you start to get a successful poop, calmly tell pup to "Go Potty" and give a treat afterwards, so that that verbal command can be used later to remind pup to focus on going poop. Work on preventing poops from happening in other locations as much as possible. That may mean using a crate when you can't supervise pup and they haven't pooped during that 1/3 of the day yet (morning, afternoon, or evening). It may mean keeping pup close to use using a hands free leash clipped to yourself and pup. It might mean setting up an exercise pen with a non-absorbent bed on one end and the litter box in the opposite end, so pup can't wander away to poop elsewhere while you are busy or gone. Finally, if all else fails, it may be worth trying a substance other than litter in the box, at least temporarily, until you can slowly add more litter back on top of the new surface once pup is used to pooping in the box. The easiest surface for the majority of dogs to adjust to pottying on is real grass - disposable real grass pads can be purchased and put into the litter box if needed. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Jan. 5, 2023

Hello Gianna, First, I would set up an exercise pen so you can create a larger area where pup can go potty but be left there for a bit longer and have less pressure from your presence at first. Check out the exercise pen method from the article I have linked below. Since pup isn't a young puppy, you can adjust those times by adding about two hours to what's listed - so pup goes potty every three hours and right after eating and activity, instead of every 1 hour. Exercise Pen method: https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy I would then try one of two things. The first thing you can try is a temporarily larger litter box since pup is used to having a MUCH larger area outside. I would use a shallow plastic storage container and cut or melt through the front to create a low lip, or you might be able to find a large plastic container with one side that's already low enough. You want this box to be as close to the size of the exercise pen space as you can get it - so large, and through the use of the exercise pen time, pup's only option for going potty. You might even want to modify a small baby pool with low sides that you can put the pen directly along the side without any gaps potentially. Whenever you catch pup finally going potty in the kiddie pool, be spying on pup from the other end of the room (low pressure), so you can be ready to praise and walk over to reward and let pup out. This helps pup learn that the quickest way to get out and get a reward is to go ahead and go potty. When pup is used to going potty in an indoor potty in that location, then keep the exercise pen set up but switch it out with a decent sized litter box and continue your training. A second option is to use a few disposable real grass pads to cover the floor of the exercise pen, rewarding pup when they finally go potty there. Most dogs who are outside potty trained, transition more easily to a grass pad. Don't buy astroturf. Get real grass, like freshpatch.com or doggielawn.com or porchpotty.com - most of these can also be bought on Amazon.com. Once pup is doing well with the grass pads, then gradually remove the extra ones until there is just one. When pup is going potty on the one inside the exercise pen well, then place that one grass pad inside a litter box. Continue to reward whenever pup going potty on it. At this point, you can either stick with grass pads if you like them, or if you want to transition to doggie litter, one small handful at a time sprinkle doggie litter on top of the grass pad. Over a two week period you will be gradually adding doggie litter a little at a time every day or two until the grass is completely covered with the doggie litter and pup is using the doggie litter - at which point you can remove the grass pad underneath. When pup is a this point and if pup is consistently quickly going potty in the box, then you can also progress in the steps to phase out the exercise pen, like the exercise pen method describes. Don't be overly eager to phase it out though - it would be better to leave it set up too long than not long enough to avoid pup regressing with potty training. If accidents begin again, go back to using it for another few weeks before starting to phase it out again. Inside potty training is based on location as well as teaching pup to go on a certain type of surface, so try to keep the potty location as consistent as you can throughout the next few months, especially during training. I also want to affirm your decision to use an box, or grass pad is you decide to stick with that, instead of a pee pad. Pee pads tend to be the most confusing indoor potty in terms of pup having accidents on carpet and rugs. Doggie litter boxes or grass pads are usually better choices if the person is willing to use them. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

June 13, 2022