How to Litterbox Train Your Puppy or Older Dog

There are many circumstances where it can be difficult to train a dog to go to the bathroom outside. For example, if your apartment is on the 4th floor, or your apartment complex doesn't have a decently sized backyard, it is going to be difficult for you to take your dog outside each time it has to go to the bathroom. You may also have trouble letting the dog out frequently if you are disabled and cannot walk easily. These situations call for litter box training your dog.

You will need:

Litter
Litterbox
Treats

Take the following steps to litterbox train your dog:

Step 1:
Find a place for your litter box. You want it to be away from the public areas of your home such as the living room or the kitchen. A back room or bathroom is ideal.

Step 2:
Set the litter box up and add the litter. You can buy these supplies at any pet store.

Step 3:
Take your dog to the litter box first thing when you wake up in the morning. Do this before you even pour your coffee. The dog needs to know that it should use the bathroom in the morning. Wait with your dog until it goes. This may take a while the first three days, but your dog will have it down by the end of the week.

Step 4:
Give your dog a treat and praise your dog when it goes in the litter box. This will cause the dog to associate its actions with something that pleases you. It will then want to continue doing this.

Step 5:
Take your dog back to the litter box after each meal and after each nap. These are key times when your dog will most likely need to go. Stay with the dog until the dog is finished, and then repeat giving your dog a treat and praising her.

Step 6:
Turn your back toward your dog if it has an accident in the house. Do not speak to the dog or look at the dog. This will let the dog know that what the dog did did not please you. The dog won't like that feeling and won't want to do it again. After a few times, the dog will get the picture.

Step 7:
Put your dog's water dish away at night so it won't have to go to the bathroom during the night.Step 8:
Stick to the schedule for one whole week and, by the end of it, your dog will be trained to use the litter box.

Tips and Warnings:
Look for any signs that your dog has to go and take it to the litter box.

After one week, the dog should be able to go to the litter box by itself.

Never hurt a dog or scream at it if it has an accident. The dog will not learn this way and will suffer a broken spirit.