Litter training small dog?

[thoughts_refracted]

I have been considering litter training my mini dachshund. There are a variety of reasons:

1. We live in Minneapolis Minnesota but are from Portland Oregon (this will be our second winter). Obviously, the weather is different. He has a very hard time in the snow (and HATES walking in it). I have tried to clear a patch for him but it doesn't seem to help much. I don't mind taking him out but it really seems to bother him. Sometimes when we have to go out, he sits on the edge of the porch and looks up at me mournfully as if to say, "Do I really have to?"

2. He is often left for up to eight hours. I hate to leave him this long but anyone who works outside the home understands the necessity. Though I know he can hold it for eight hours, I would feel better if he had access to a bathroom spot.

3. My boyfriend's mother frequently watches him. She loves the company and he certainly prefers her house over staying home alone. She is getting older and I am concerned about her having to take him out in the winter. Though he could just not go, they both enjoy it so much that I hesitate to terminate the visits.

I am interested in hearing people's opinions. However if your opinion is some version of "taking your dog outside is part of being a good owner," please know that I would never do anything to harm him. I am contemplating a solution that others have suggested and that seems viable. I would like to hear both the positive and negative aspects of litter training.

Things you should know: he is really easy to train and he eliminates on command.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I would fear confusion. Letting him potty suddenly indoors trying to establish a boundary for what is acceptable indoors or not may be hard for your little one to get in a timely fashion. I had a litter trained dog for 3-4 months.. Puppyhood to 6-7 months old. We lived on the 6th floor of an apt, she came home middle of winter. I can also say, changing potty pads also gets old pretty fast. I'd rather pick up poop outside, than have it inside. Even small poop smells pretty fast inside, even on good food.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I dont know much about litter training them... but I have my yorkie wee wee pad trained and I love it... it works very well and he doesnt have to go out in bad weather. So I think it is a good idea... but maybe stick with the pads... I would think the litter would get messier... I know its a very unpopular idea on here and you will get many negative responses so feel free to PM me with any questions.


Elissa

 

[thoughts_refracted]

Mafia Princess: confusion is one concern I have. However, I have found several testimonials from people who have done it successfully and they suggest that it isn't as big a problem as you might imagine. Just as with potty training a puppy, it is about diligence and praising at appropriate times.

Poodle Mommy: I wasn't sure about whether to use litter or pads. There are others options as well but I'm just not sure of what to try. I am curious as to the smell factor: do you have a problem or is it easy to manage?

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it.

 

[FoxyWench]

it can be done, easily, and training is done the same way as training a dog to go outside...

i do suggest using a wee wee pad and put it IN a litterbox or on a plastic tray or something.
Many dogs dont like to stand on the "doggy litter" which is a wood pellet and tends to be hard and roll underfoot, and the cat litter is very easily tracked though the house and sticks to paws...

change the pads frequently and be consistent.

my chis are pad and outside trained, when its not snowing.raining ect they go outside, however if its too long between visits, or the weather is bad they go on the pad...they know thats the spot they go...

 

[lives4dogshows]

I've never litter-trained a dog before, let me know how this goes! and the best of luck to ya!!

 

[PoodleMommy]

I live in a studio and I havent had any problem with smell.

I use 2 or 3 pads a day and when I notice a poop, I flush it right away.

Also, anytime I am out somewhere... my yorkie will go on grass right away without a problem.

Elissa

 

[Maxy24]

I am not a fan of the idea simply because it seems many of the people who try to train it end up with dogs who go other places in the house. But if you're gonna give it a try then try it this way. Use the pads in a litter box, it's more of a visual and makes it different from the rest of the floor it gives specific boundaries so the dog doesn't go a few inches off the pad. Put it in a place where it can stay, the dog learns the location more than anything and moving the pad can often cause the dog to continue going where it used to be. Tel us how it goes!

 

[FoxyWench]

i agrre on both those, putting the pad in a box or tray of somesorts provides a visual boundry, this is much easier than simply putting the pad on the floor, and pick one place and leave it there...

and smell shoudlnt be an issue if you pick up any poop imediatly and flush it down the toilet, for the 3 chis we change the pad twice daily with no smell or issues....
good luck

 

[thoughts_refracted]

Thanks everyone for the overwhelmingly positive response. I still haven't decided what to do. I plan to research more and then decide. I'll let you know what I decide and how it goes.

Thanks again.