How To Keep Dog Out Of Litter Box

Why Is Your Dog Suddenly Interested In The Litter Box?

If your dog ignored the litter box for months and now can't stay away, something has usually changed. Knowing what changed helps you pick the right fix.

• A new dog, or a new cat. A dog who just arrived, adopted or brought home as a puppy, often finds the litter box within days. A new cat brings a new litter box into a dog's space.

• The teenage phase. Adolescent dogs get bolder. A puppy who left the litter box alone can start raiding it as they grow up.

• Boredom. Dogs explore with their mouths, and a dog with too little play and exercise looks for something to do. The litter box is right there.

• Stress or a change in routine. A move, a new baby, a new work schedule, or a new pet can bring back puppy habits, including eating stool.

• Habit. Once a dog finds the litter box, it becomes a reward they keep going back to. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to break.

• A change in diet or health. A new food, or a dog who suddenly seems hungrier than usual, is worth mentioning to your vet. So is an older dog who suddenly starts.

Veterinarians point to habit, boredom, and stress as the most common reasons, with medical causes less common, according to PetMD's vet-written guide. For more on why dogs find the litter box so appealing, read why do dogs eat cat poop.

3. Teach "Leave It"

A solid "leave it" helps your dog walk past the litter box. Keep treats handy, watch your dog as they approach, give the cue, and reward them right away when they turn away. Keep sessions short and consistent. Training works best while you're home to reinforce it, so pair it with a way to control access while you're out. Start with puppy obedience training basics.

4. Give Your Dog Something Better To Do

If boredom is behind it, more play and exercise helps. Puzzle feeders, chews, and a daily walk give your dog an outlet. Try these brain games for your dog.

6. Control The Door With Door Buddy

The most reliable fix for most homes is to control the door to the litter box room. Door Buddy holds the door open a cat-sized gap, so your cat comes and goes and it helps keep the dog out. There's no gate to step over, no door left wide open, and no cat meowing to be let in.

• The Door Buddy Dog Door Strap + Door Stopper Combo goes on with adhesive, with no tools and no holes, and you adjust the gap to fit your cat. The foam Door Stopper keeps the door from closing all the way, so your cat's gap stays open.

• The Door Buddy Cat Door Prop is the stronger choice for large or persistent dogs. It installs with a screwdriver and the included Torx wrench, reusing your door frame's existing strike-plate screw holes, so there's no cutting and no new holes.

One honest note: set the gap to your cat, then check it against your dog. A very small dog may fit through a cat-sized gap, so a dog close to your cat's size may need one of the other fixes here too.

Here's how one Door Buddy customer put it in a 5-star review:

"This thing seriously changed our lives! Our dog would constantly be getting into the litter box in the closet and we could NOT think of a way to solve the problem."

Door Buddy invented the no-cut cat door alternative in 2014, and we're still the original, assembled in the USA. Over 1 million have been sold, with 50,000+ positive reviews, and every one is backed by our 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee.