10 Best Dog Breeds for Litter Box Training

A litter box is a good option for small dog owners who live in an apartment or those who don’t have the time or energy to walk their dogs. This convenient and neat method of house training can be a real lifesaver during this challenging phase.

There are several varieties of litter boxes in the market but the basic principle is an enclosed area with artificial or real grass, pellets, shredded paper, or a disposable pad.

Unfortunately, not all dog breeds can be litter box trained. So, if you are considering adopting this method to housebreak your puppy, here’s a list of the dog breeds that respond well to it.

1. Maltese

The Maltese is a clean and cute toy breed that rarely stinks. He doesn’t shed or bark either, making him a great choice for apartment dwellers.

On the opposite side, he has a hard time using the outdoors as his bathroom. Due to his size, his bladder is also quite small. Even if you dragged him outside to relieve him, you may not make it on time. This is why using an indoor box litter for the Maltese is a good fit.

The Maltese breed is easy to train, so showing him to run to the box when nature calls will be a breeze.

2. Bichon Frise

This insanely cute ball of fur also responds very well to litter box training. For one, Bichon Frises are one of the easiest to housetrain.

If you are consistent and dedicated to teaching him where to eliminate, it won’t be long before he learns what is expected of him.

Secondly, since he’s a toy breed, adopting the litter box will not seem too strange for him.

3. Shiba Inu

Weighing only 15-22 pounds (8-10 kilos), the Shiba Inu comfortably fits in most litter boxes.

Although he doesn’t do well when it comes to obedience training, this dog is surprisingly easy to housetrain. Whether you are using a crate, pad, or litter box, the Shiba Inu will quickly follow what you tell him to do.

For the best results, begin the training as early as you can to make the process easier and faster for you.

4. Japanese Chin

This tiny bundle of joy that originated from Japan is an alert and intelligent dog. He can be snippy if he wants to but for the most part, he’s an absolute delight.

Due to their neatness, Japanese Chins are easy to housetrain. Often, pet owners choose pee pads or litter boxes to train them as they are small and easy to fit in them.

5. Miniature Schnauzer

If you are looking for a dog that won’t drive you nuts during housetraining, this one certainly fits the bill. As soon as he leaves the comfort of his siblings and mother, he can comfortably be house trained.

Miniature Schnauzers also score high on obedience training, meaning they will follow your commands pretty well. As long as you reward him when he goes to the litter box, he will adapt to the changes quite fast.

6. English Bulldog

From minimal shedding to being less vocal, the Bulldog is a popular dog for urban living. He is a real couch potato that doesn’t mind lounging on the sofa all day.

While this has advantages of its own, having him wake up from the sofa to use the bathroom outside is a real challenge. The solution? A dog box litter.

Thankfully, he’s a medium-size dog breed which means he won’t mind eliminating in an enclosed box full of litter.

Beware though that bulldogs aren’t the easiest dogs to train. However, with patience and dominance, training will prove less difficult.

7. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are not only tiny but easy to housebreak as well. They are also eager to please their owners. This is why they are great for indoor box litter training.

Whether you live in a high-rise apartment or just need a place where your toy dog can go during adverse weather conditions, a litter box can help. Like other training methods, this requires plenty of patience and commitment.

8. Border Collie

Border Collie dogs are famous for being highly intelligent. They are also famed for pleasing their owners. Together, these two traits make border collies easy to train.

If they see you as their leader, they will have no problem doing what you tell them to do. For this reason, litter box training seems to be the best method to use.

Being medium-sized, he can fit in most trays without a problem. As soon as your border collie is old enough to be housetrained, order a box litter and let the games begin.

Positive reinforcement has been known to really motivate him during the process so give him plenty of that.

9. Pug

Pugs are low-activity, friendly, and outgoing toy breeds. Their favorite activity is curling up next to you.

Thanks to their even temperaments, pugs respond quite positively to a number of training methods. Their size also makes them great candidates for litter box training.

Sure, pugs can be hard to train but using a firm voice and offering rewards will help you get through to your dog.

When you see signals of him wanting to use the bathroom, lead him to the box and keep him there until he does his business. Once he does, hand him a treat and pat him in the back. A few times of doing this will get him in the swing of things.

10. Chow Chow

Lastly, litter box training a Chow Chow can be a very rewarding and successful undertaking. It’s true that this breed is not the best when it comes to housetraining but if you do it right, you’ll be out of the phase in no time.

Brace yourself for a few accidents the first week or so. Offer lots of treats and avoid yelling. With time, he will understand the purpose little box and will put it in good use

Final Thoughts

Litter boxes are just those things that work well for some dog breeds and not others. As a rule of thumb, if your pup is large, very hard to train, and has a natural instinct to dig, you are better off using other methods to housetrain him. Else, feel free to purchase a litter box.