HOW TO KEEP THE DOG OUT OF THE LITTER BOX
Can your dog just not keep their paws out of the litter box? There's something about that kitty Roca that they can't get enough of! Un-fur-tunately for us pawrents, this means there's a lot of "ew" and "oh goodness, no!" coming from our mouths.
Keeping the dog out of the litter box is probably the #1 problem dog and cat owners face. Not only is it a yucky habit, but it can also cause your kitty some stress too. Luckily, there is a solution and you've come to the right place! Dogs getting into cat poop is what we're all about!
Like most paw-blems, the best solution is finding the root cause. Understanding why your dog keeps getting into the litter box is a great place to start. From here, you can start to get a clearer picture of dog behavior, their feeding habits, and their relationship with your cat.
The good news is that we have the answer to all these problems. Keep on reading for the full lowdown. However, if you want to get straight to the quick fixes, click the button below.
WHY DO DOGS EAT CAT POOP?
There are a few theories on why dogs eat cat poop. Some say it's boredom, some say it's a poor diet, but we say it's a combination of all the above. Here's a little more about the yucky problem pawrents are faced with.
Dogs are Natural Scavengers
Have you ever wondered why your dog is so drawn to the dustbin or can't resist begging at your heels for food? It's because they're natural scavengers. It's in their nature to seek out scraps and snacks wherever they can. Un-fur-tunately, this is often in your cat's litter box.
Dogs Like The Smell
As disgusting as it sounds, your doggo may actually like the smell of your cat's bathroom behavior. This is because it smells like your cat, aka their best fur-end, and the leftover cat food is too good to resist. Let's face it, most doggos will jump at the chance to eat cat food!
Dogs Need a Nutrient-Dense Diet
When your dog keeps on snacking at their kitty Roca, you may want to evaluate their diet. This can signal a vitamin deficiency that needs tending to. It's best to consult with your vet here and look to switch your dog's food to one that's higher in fat, fiber, and protein.
Dogs Get Bored Easily
This last point is particularly interesting as it largely depends on how you react to your dog doing something they shouldn't. If they know they can get a rise out of you, they will probably be more excited to do it again. After all, dogs can get bored easily, especially if not properly stimulated.
If you're concerned about how your dog reacts and seeks attention in negative ways, you may want to consider puppy obedience training.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUPPY OBEDIENCE TRAINING
Many think that just because your dog is past their prime puppy years, they can't be trained. Well, we're here to tell you that you can teach an old dog new tricks! It just takes patience.
With that in mind, here are our best puppy obedience training tips that can certainly be carried over to older dogs.
- Implement a feeding schedule
- Ensure that they're potty trained
- Teach strong verbal commands
- Socialize your dog with other pets frequently
HOW TO INTRODUCE A CAT TO A DOG
Cats and dogs living together, a match made in heaven or a disaster waiting to happen? Well, it can go either way. It all depends on how you introduce a cat to a dog, and how well you establish those initial boundaries. Trust us, these boundaries are key to keeping the dog out of the litter box!
When you've mastered introducing a cat to a dog, you will also achieve a purrfect fur-endship. The goal here is to create a seamless introduction that can help support a relationship based on respect. In other words, no more litter box snacks!
Here are our best tips to help you get your cat and dog acquainted:
- Create a kitty-safe territory
- Associate one another through scents
- Let your cat safely explore the home
- Supervise visits
- Practice, practice, practice!
The best results are the ones where hoomans are calm and collected. Keep your cool and keep up the introductions - slow and steady!
HOW TO FEED YOUR DOG THROUGHOUT THE STAGES
As we mentioned, your dog's nutrition could be a big contributor to why they're always stealing tootsie rolls. From deficiencies to the wrong calorie intake, there's a lot that goes into feeding dogs. With that being said, it's always best to consult your vet as they will be able to provide better insights rather than Dr. Google.
With that being said, here are a few tips that helped us solve the pesky problem:
- Get the right food for their age
- Understand how much to feed them and when to feed them
- Know when to switch to senior food
- Consider homemade pet food
- Think about your pooch’s level of activity
These are all questions that you can take to your vet too! By having this research ready, you will be well on your way to getting a better snapshot of what's happening with your doggo's digestive system.
WHY DOOR BUDDY IS THE BEST SOLUTION
Using a simple and affordable latch is a quick and convenient solution for how to keep dog out of litter box. It also provides owners with the freedom to continue throughout their day without being disturbed by frequent meows or a scuffle in the litter!
With Door Buddy, your cat has easy access to their litter boxes, and your doggo can’t jump over or paw through any gaps! Gone are the days of being grossed out and dealing with frustrated cats!