I've never done it. My sil was just telling me about her mil using pee pads on the deck in place of walking outside. The mil doesn't walk well and the dog provides companionship. Other relatives come over and help with clean up and regular walking of the dog. My brother indoor potty trained his dog the same way.

It sounds better than using pee pads! Yes! Do it!

I read a story where they trained a male lion to use a cat box.....in an apartment!

Well- they sell dog litter and dog litter boxes so it must be possible. And there are videos from Animal Planet offering tips.

People who live on boats often have dogs, and teach them to go in specific areas. Not litter box per se, they usually use carpet on deck. But you could put it inside a litter pan. Here is an article on it:

Dog training

Sure, Mia is trained to use pee pads or the dog patch boxes. It's got fake grass and a catch basin system below. Lots of various types and brands. I am not able to get out and walk her and he is gone at work so she knows exactly where to go and is very good. I don't know what she would do with a regular cat litter box though she probably wouldn't like it.

https://youtu.be/NKhoFeV9400

I'm using this when the weather is too cold for my four month old puppy.

https://www.amazon.com/IRIS-Extra-Large-Training-Holder/dp/B0006ABVGQ/ref=pd_bxgy_199_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0006ABVGQ&pd_rd_r=MKQV73KV1J0VFCRJXPTZ&pd_rd_w=Rxz3s&pd_rd_wg=RtX3d&psc=1&refRID=MKQV73KV1J0VFCRJXPTZ

I highly recommend getting the largest one regardless of dog size. :)

Many cat litters absorb and clump. I have never ever seen any of the cats I have had eat litter. On the other hand I have had dogs that try to eat the cat poop and litter will cling to it, so in many ways I would think that dogs that tend to eat non dog food items probably should not have a litter box.

I bought a grassy carpet pad for my dog when we had hurricanes. No way would he use it and neither will my new dog. It sure would be a big help on horrible days.

Walter would use the cats litter boxes rather than make a mess so it will depend on the dog. Perhaps if he had made messes we would have noticed his kidney failure sooner. Most of the pet pads are too thin and do not absorb enough to be useful. I used the pet pads on a washable human multilayer pad for one of my elderly cats when she could no longer comfortably use the high sided litter pan. I think it may be the texture on those grassy carpet pads that are sold for dogs that they dislike. Some show dogs use areas that are covered with wood shavings so those could be tried.

I've had 2 toy breeds that at some point in their lives were unable to go outside, both successfully trained to use pee pads.

If you decide to try the litter box, please do not use cat litter. As my vet explained to me, dogs are curious, and will stick their noses into lots of things, including cat litter, where the litter sticks on the nose, the dog licks it, and the litter is swallowed. This can lead to the litter swelling in the intestinal tract and can lead to blockage, which if left untreated might kill a dog. I'm not familiar with dog specific litter, so I can't speak about it.

My vet is pretty strict, and advised me to keep all cat litter boxes at a height, away from my dog's access. I've a feeling some have dogs, and cats with litter boxes, and perhaps the dogs swallowed a bit of litter without harmful side affects, but I'd not take the risk.

Annegriet, some dogs need a defined space (this could just be a box with pee pads in it, or a small tray around pee pads. Some dogs simply go on a pad with no boundaries. I've tried the paper pads, which I far prefer for convenience, but for a while I tried these washable 'human' incontinence pads. I was washing and drying pads daily with no time for much else so I stopped - and it was actually more costly.

A friend has a large older lab who suffers from mild dementia, and her dog now uses a space with 4 large pee pads - although she sometimes 'forgets' where to 'go' due to the sun-downers.

ETA: I second maifleur01 comment: often one sees changes in dog feces better when it's on a pad, which can lead to early detection/diagnosis of health issues. However, I wouldn't recommend pads only for a healthy active dog... going outside is natural, and the exercise is good for them :-)

A friend of mine has trained her shelties to use a cat litter box on the deck of her apartment. The dogs have been doing this for a few years now. I can ask her for training details if you request. I am not sure what she puts IN the boxes - she lives on the other side of the country.

When a friend of mine was expecting her first baby they were living in a high rise in Chicago. It was winter. They trained their (female) toy poodle to use the walk-in shower in the guest bathroom.

That'd be one clever dog...

All of the training I have done with my dog has really been a matter of utilizing the behavioral tendencies she has already had - from training her to potty on a tray with (at first, newspaper) pads, to her flopping onto her back when I say “show me your b00bies”.

Regardless, training to use potty pads is entirely possible, you simply have to start early and stay consistent. :)

A friend of my sister has litter box trained her dogs. That's about the only way I'd have a dog these days unless it was an outdoor only dog. Litter box would not be my choice for a Great Dane, but a small dog, it's a (as the cliché goes) "no-brainer" for me.