Depends on the puppy I’m afraid! Mine would try to eat the litter, or dig in it as a fun game, so we needed the grate. That said, I like the idea of something tall bc it lessens the chance they’ll get it halfway on the tray, which definitely can happen!
It’s totally up to you. Some people are perfectly happy with open litter boxes. I am not. I walk around my house often in socks or bare fett. Stepping on pellets HURTS!!! I also have one dog with IBS, and when he has tummy problems, he will eat litter. That, I admit, is not a common problem.
Boys are perfecty capable of only getting their front feet into a box with sides too, believe me.
This is simply developmental. It just takes time for boys to figure out that what’s going on “back there”… matters!
Make sure it has a low opening on one side, though, for the puppy to get in and out, right?Thanks all - I found a much larger box with high sides so will give that a go first. If it doesn’t work, it can become toy storage.
yes it does!
Very true, they are not cats (though I think my younger one things she is sometimes the way she balances on the back of the couch!) But litter box training can be super helpful for a variety of reasons…. If you live in an apartment, for example, it’s not safe to take an not-yet-vaccinated puppy out onto the street to do their business. We raised our first pup in an apartment, but had a tiny shared yard that was safe to use. The tray (we used a grate-covered tray so he couldn’t chew the pads) was still super helpful late at night or early in the morning, so our downstairs neighbors didn’t have to hear us right outside their bedroom window when they were trying to sleep! We live in a very temperate climate, but I know a lot of people use in the winter too—- if you’re in the middle of a snowstorm, it can be hard to find a spot for a small dog to do their business. And having it can also be really helpful if you have to leave your dog, so they have somewhere to go (I know a lot of people have doggy doors, but that’s not safe for a small dog, at least where we are, because of coyotes and hawks). I think everyone just needs to do what works for their situation, and indoor training can be a helpful supplement to walks and outings outdoors!
Also, who is the adorable pup in your profile pic? We’d love to see more pics and get to know you and your dog!
A Charlie / Toffee ‘lookalike’, the colouring is lovely 💖
Lol it’s true, I am biased 😊
Not only ALL of what you have written, but MANY larger breed breeders are now discovering the joys of litter box training for their litters of puppies! So for someone to come on and act like this is something “not done” in the rest of the dog world… they are simply not keeping up with the times. MANY small breeds use litter boxes for the same reasons we do. There is no reason to restrict yourself to one or the other. And being open minded about a new method that makes life easier (and has never caused a single blockage in HUNDREDS of puppies I know of) seems only sensible to me.
Be aware that washable pee pads often lead to puppies turning into dogs who can never differentiate between pee pads and other items made of cloth left on the floor. (like small scatter rugs, or a towel unintentionally dropped on the floor) This has become a long-term problem for SO many people I know who have used washable pee pads that I ONLY use them for whelping pen bedding.
My kids do homework on the floor (they do have desks they don’t ever use), and both of them like to have Sundance keep them company while they work on homework. Multiple times Sundance proudly peed on homework. He also peed if mail fell on the floor in the kitchen, with perfect aim. He occasionally peed on stray paper after we switched to pine pellets but we finally got in the habit of keeping paper off the floor. In fact, the only accidents he was having involved paper, and they didn’t really seem accidental! The association was so clear, I wouldn’t dare create an association with cloth. We have carpet and rugs, but also my husband is notorious for leaving clothes next to the hamper instead of in it. Sundance also has an association with sawdust from pine pellets, but this is harmless because no one has sawdust lying around in their house. However I work a lot with wood in my garage and Sundance has peed on sawdust before. His aim is spot on, too. This tells me that litter box training is powerful and it works, but pine pellets are the best liner for us, and I keep the sawdust in my garage cleaned up. Which is actually a lot easier than keeping random papers off of the floor!
Yes that is definitely the downside. I use the pads in one room in the house and that seems to keep the area rugs and shower maps clean.Be aware that washable pee pads often lead to puppies turning into dogs who can never differentiate between pee pads and other items made of cloth left on the floor. (like small scatter rugs, or a towel unintentionally dropped on the floor) This has become a long-term problem for SO many people I know who have used washable pee pads that I ONLY use them for whelping pen bedding.
It is very easy to use boxes that have grated tops so that a puppy cannot access the pellets, so they can't eat them. These are the trays I use, but I am sure there are others with adeqauate space under the grate also:
Amazon.com: Pet Awesome Dog Potty Tray / Puppy Pee Pad Holder 25”x20” Indoor Wee Training for Small and Medium Dogs : Pet Supplies
Amazon.com: Pet Awesome Dog Potty Tray / Puppy Pee Pad Holder 25”x20” Indoor Wee Training for Small and Medium Dogs : Pet Suppliessmile.amazon.com
If you don't want to use one, then don't use one. Using a litter box does not mean that people don't walk their dogs or that their dogs don't go outside. It's an alternative - and one I wish I had when it's monsoon-like rain outside or 30 below windchill (or when we're traveling and Perry does NOT want to use a pee pad in the middle of a 20+ hour travel/ flight time with no access to the outside).
