To want to use litter tray for dog

[Saltnchilli]

AIBU to want to toilet train dog to use litter tray inside the house rather than the garden?

We have quite a large garden and I worry that I won’t always see when pup goes to the toilet outside (small dog/small poo).
I don’t like the thought of the kids running out there potentially in the dog poo or saving goals and sliding on the grass where she potentially has wee’ed.
At the moment, puppy is puppy pad trained by the back door in the utility room, so it’s quite discreet, but she’s now at the age to start toilet training outside.
Am I weird for wanting her to carry on indoors, is it a thing?

How small is your dog?

I mean it’s not something I’ve known people to do but in theory it’s no different to a cat just be warned your dog may end up refusing to go toilet on walks and this could make kennels during holidays more awkward.

Why not train the dog to go in one spot in your garden (surely the same as going inside in one spot) or not at all? My cousin has trained her dogs to not poo in their own garden. It does mean going out at least three times for walks.

Can you not fence off a section in garden for the dog? Or you could get one of grass pee trays people put on balconies.

When I was a child next door neighbour trained their dog to go on the patio. Patio was cleaned with disinfectant after each poo/wet

Or you could take the dog for a walk... which is where they are supposed to go. I'd avoid using cat litter. My father's dog can easily hike for 3-4 hours without a single wee or poo because he waits to go at home into his litter tray on a balcony. They trained him because they didn't want to walk him several times a day, he hasn't had a wee outside in 9 years of his life.

Our dog pooed in the house 3 times in total when she was being toilet trained and it’s the most horrific smell indoors. I can’t imagine ever wanting that as a choice!

Exactly!!

Just train the dog to go on cue. Then you'll know where it is, and can clean it up straight away.

I’d suggest proper toilet training for your dog.

Take them out, at regular intervals, to a specific area in your garden. Have a “toilet command” for them that gets rewarded. Keep building on this and it will become second nature for the dog.

No idea why on earth you’d want them to use a litter tray, would definitely not want a dog doing that in my house. And that’s no offence meant to dogs, as I’ve had dogs and cats, they’re both awesome.

WTF do people bother getting pets without researching and realising what their requirements are? One of the first things I learnt before getting a pup was that you don’t just let them out on their own to shit in the garden. Toilet training should be the most basic thing you learn when taking on a pup.

My schol friends family raised guide dog puppies and they were all taught to toilet in one specific area.