Stargazer Papillons

Litter Box Training

A litter box provides a wonderful place for your Papillon to potty without having to worry about the weather outside. No more sending your poor little Pap out in the rain, the blowing snow, or the scorching heat. This method is great for apartment dwellers too! I have found Papillons are very quick learners and readily adapt to using the box when made available to them with very little training at an early age. Don't worry though, just because your Papillon uses a litter box inside doesn't mean he can't potty outside when you are on a walk or during play time.

The key to any successful potty training program is dedication, persistence, and commitment on the part of the Papillon human parent. Mistakes made are not the fault of the Pap, they are yours.

To begin potty training your Papillon to use the litter box you need to start with a litter box. You can purchase one that is specifically made for this purpose at your local pet store. These provide one side that has a "cut out" area with a lower side than the other 3.

Here is a litter box made for dogs from the pet store.

You can also use an actual cat litter box. A large covered cat litter box is nice for your male Papillons who lift their legs.

Another idea is to visit your local Walmart or similar store and purchase a rectangular plastic tote box with lid. A nice size would be a tote that measures 22 inches long x 16 inches wide x 5 1/2 inches tall.

plastic tote used as dog litter box

It is important that your Papillon can enter and exit the box easily. Find a permanent location in your home where your little butterfly can quickly find and access it. (If your home is multi-level, you might consider placing a box on each level).

Next, you need to decide what material will be placed in the litter box for your Papillon to use. I began my Paps using the same kitty litter I used for my cats. The problem this caused was that it clumped into the pads of my puppy's feet and then hardened. We need several "foot baths" each day to loosen and remove this clumped litter. Also, as the puppies jumped in and out of the box, litter was thrown around the floor - thus I was sweeping the area repeatedly through out the day. I finally switched to a "pellet" litter and I must say, it is wonderful! No more "foot clumps" and much less sweeping needed. There are many types of pellet litters on the market. Please be sure to read your labels! I personally use "Cozy 'n Fresh" pine pellets. These are kiln-dried and are clean and sterile with the aromatic hydrocarbons and oils removed. They are also dust free, environmentally friendly and non-toxic even if ingested. You can check these out by visiting: www.cozynfresh.com.

Now it's time to set up your potty area. Place your potty material into your litter box and put the box in the area of your home you have decided on. If your Papillon puppy came to you already litter box trained your way ahead of the game, if not, you will need to confine your puppy whenever you cannot be watching it. An x-pen (exercise pen) can be a valuable tool for confining puppies. Set up an area with the litter box and room only for your puppy to turn around and lay down. Puppies don't like to potty where they will be laying down or sleeping. The puppy will be choosing to go potty in the box vs. potty where is is laying down. This confinement is necessary when you are not able to be watching the puppy. Most mistakes in housebreaking are made by giving too much freedom too soon.

When you are able to watch the puppy and pay strict attention to the puppy, take the puppy out and play. Watch for signs that your puppy needs to potty. These include: sniffing, walking in circles, pawing the ground, etc. Immediately take your puppy to the litter box. Stay there with the puppy and keep it in the box until it goes potty.

Puppies need to potty first thing in the morning and usually each time they wake up from a nap. Another time they usually need to "go" is after playing hard. You will have to watch your puppy to determine how long after eating or drinking it takes for him to have the need to potty. Your attention to these times and the placement of your puppy in the box will greatly add to the success rate and speed with which your puppy begins to understand what you want and expect of him.

Be prepared to reward your puppy with each successful "potty in the box" by praising and providing a tasty treat. The more you praise and treat the positive behavior of going potty in the litter box, the faster your puppy will understand what you expect of him.

As your puppy gains experience and consistency in using the box you can begin extending the confinement area. Again, remember - not too much freedom at once. With dedication on your part, your puppy will soon understand you want him to potty in the litter box and he will start running there to potty each time the need arises! Ultimately, you want to see your puppy playing and when he has to potty, to stop his play and run to the box, do his job, and return to play! SUCCESS!

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