Help with Digging in litter box

[banzai75x]

My puppy is 12 weeks old. I have only had him for 1 week but he has taken to a litter box quite quickly. He goes in there all the time when we are home but when we aren't home, he decides he wants to pee on the diaper bags around the area.

The problem is, when he does decide to go in the litter box, he starts digging violently and making a mess. I don't want to say "No" to him, or else he might think we are saying no to going potty. What should I do?

Also, I think he is going on the diaper bags because he is annoyed that we aren't home during the day. Because during the night and when we are home, he goes in the box constantly. I do take him out in the mornings/afternoons in order to teach him on the grass.

My pupyy is 12 weeks, 5lb Cavalier King Charles.

[Doberluv]

Wow, that IS a problem! I don't know really....I guess all you can do is go in there with him and watch that he doesn't dig so much...you can calmly take his legs and slow them down, just try to show him...."easy boy." LOL. Then reward for gentle digging. LOL. But I know you're not there all the time, so that is a real problem to train that. What about pads instead of litter? You're right about the drawbacks of scolding. He may indeed get confused and stop going in there at all. Then you'll really have a mess.

You're puppy must be very cute. Do you have pictures? Good luck to you!
Maybe Creature Teacher will know what to do.

[bubbatd]

I've never had a litter box or piddle pads for a dog so I'm really no help, except that a 12 wk old pup would want to cover his poop and therefore make a mess. Obviously he would be happier going outside......can't you help him ??

[banzai75x]

The reason why we are training him in the litter box is because we aren't home for most of the day. We both go to work, and so are gone from approx. 8am - 5pm. Sometimes my fiance can get home for lunch but not all the time.

I know puppies need to go at least 10-12 times a day so the litterbox/pads was the idea until he can hold it in.

So we are dual training him. In the mornings, I take him outside to the grass where he goes #1 and #2. Then he eats breakfast, and we take him outside again and he goes #2. When I get home in the afternoon, I take him outside to do #1, #2 which he both does. The rest of the time, he is in his playpen or crate and usually will go in the litterbox. I think what happens is he gets REALLY excited and is throwing a tantrum or something. Usually when he wakes up after a nap, he'll go very calmly in the litterbox, with just a little digging.

My plan is to reduce the amount of litter in the box. Put a pad underneath the litter, and keep removing litter unti;l there is a very small amount.

[banzai75x]

I'd love to post pics but I don't know how.