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I know some people paper train their puppies, and others use "wee wee pads"...
but I had a crazy idea that I think might work...

Has anyone tried using a litter box full of sod?
Living grass, planted in a litter box or something of that nature?

I work third shift, and I leave Roscoe in my room while I work. So far he hasn't pooped, but he has had pee accidents. I take him out as soon as I get home, and he goes.
I am a pretty sound sleeper during the day.
Often times, Roscoe can't wake me up, so he has accidents, generally in the kitchen or in the bathroom.
I don't want to crate him during the time I am asleep because I can sleep anywhere from 6-10 hours depending on how tired I am, and that doesn't seem fair to him.

He does well going outside...when I am able to take him out.

That is why I thought a box of sod would work. He would still know that grass is his "potty area" for when I take him out, but if he absolutely has to go while inside, and I can't tend to him, he can use the box.

He's a Jack Russel mix, and he is really smart, so I think he'd catch on to the idea.

Am I on to something? Am I out in left field?
Opinions please.

>>I know some people paper train their puppies, and others use "wee wee pads"...
>>but I had a crazy idea that I think might work...
>>
>>Has anyone tried using a litter box full of sod?
>>Living grass, planted in a litter box or something of that nature?
>>
>>I work third shift, and I leave Roscoe in my room while I work. So far he hasn't pooped, but he has had pee accidents. I take him out as soon as I get home, and he goes.
>>I am a pretty sound sleeper during the day.
>>Often times, Roscoe can't wake me up, so he has accidents, generally in the kitchen or in the bathroom.
>>I don't want to crate him during the time I am asleep because I can sleep anywhere from 6-10 hours depending on how tired I am, and that doesn't seem fair to him.
>>
>>He does well going outside...when I am able to take him out.
>>
>>That is why I thought a box of sod would work. He would still know that grass is his "potty area" for when I take him out, but if he absolutely has to go while inside, and I can't tend to him, he can use the box.
>>
>>He's a Jack Russel mix, and he is really smart, so I think he'd catch on to the idea.
>>
>>Am I on to something? Am I out in left field?
>>Opinions please.

ANSWER:

It's better than other indoor materials, but it's important to realize that teaching a dog to eliminate indoors on any surface is still telling him to use the bathroom inside your house. That can lead to lifelong accidents.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I have read about "litterbox" training dogs so I don't see why your idea wouldn't work! I say give it a try, especially given your working/sleeping situation. Your dog likes to go potty outside and when that is not possible, you know it feels bad when it goes in the house - it is not out of spite or laziness - he probably holds it as long as he can right? I know my one dog has an accident maybe twice a year and he feels really bad - like I am going to scold him. I don't because we all have accidents and I know he wouldn't do it on purpose. I think you should try your idea - it would help in clean up (from accidents on the floor) and I think it might alleviate some stress off your dog so that he doesn't have to feel bad about peeing on the floor. Keep me posted - I would love to know how it works because I have 2 little dogs (about 3.5 years old) and they pee all over! They are paper trained now but it is very cold where I live and they don't want to go outside right now. So let me know - what have you got to lose? Good Luck! Life with a dog, to me, is giving him or her the best that I have and really working together to make it a good life for both of us and you can only learn by trying new things!

I think it would start to smell. how would you clean it up? Would you just replace the sod?
My mother litter box trained her min pin. She put wee wee pads in the bottom of a large plastic crate, then put newspaper over them. Jessie uses the box if mom isn't home to take her out.
She has not had an accident on the floor since she was around 5 months old. She is now 7 yrs old.