I would like to use secondnature brand, but my puppy puts everything in his mouth.
Will this product work for us?
When something new is added to your puppies' immediate environment, he will probably exhibit an unusual interest in this item initially. This behavior, which is often referred to as investigative behavior, is perfectly normal behavior to exhibit under the circumstances. Always provide your dog with appropriate chew toys and make sure you interact with him as much as possible when you are home. While secondnature dog litter is non-toxic, if you do observe your puppy chewing on the litter, distract him by using a surprising command such as “Ahhh!” Lower your voice with this command so that your puppy senses your displeasure. As your puppy stops what he is doing, quickly redirect his behavior to an appropriate behavior such as coming to you when called. You may want to give him one of his chew toys and praise him for chewing on it. This method will replace chewing the dog litter with a more desirable behavior. After all, how will he know what is an appropriate chew toy unless you teach him!

Another housetraining aid for discouraging your dog from picking up the litter with his mouth is to introduce a taste deterrent to the litter.

How long does it take?
In as little as a week or two, you can get your pup off to an excellent start on the secondnature brand TOTAL HOUSETRAINING PROGRAM. Purina trainers have witnessed pups that seek out the pan on their own after a weekend of concentrated housetraining. On the other hand, every pup is unique and it may take a few weeks. Much depends on how consistent and attentive you are in following the guidelines on this site.

Will my dog always have to go inside?
I want to train my dog to use this system when the weather is inclement.
No. Your dog will not always have to go inside. While training to use the litter, however, we recommend that you follow the program exclusively. Once your dog is consistently using the product and you are certain that he/she knows where to go when inside, then you can begin to incorporate allowing your dog to go outside also. To ensure that your dog will always use the system when indoors, be sure to include using the pan in your dog’s daily routine.

Can my dog still “go” outside after being litter trained?
Yes. In-home research has found that almost all dogs have adapted well to using both the inside litter pan and the outdoors without any loss of housetraining behavior. While training to use the litter, however, we recommend that you follow the program exclusively. Once your dog is consistently using the product and you are certain that he/she knows where to go when inside, then you can begin to incorporate allowing your dog to go outside also. To ensure that your dog will always use the system when indoors, be sure to include using the pan in your dog’s daily routine.

If I have two puppies, do I need two pans?
We recommend one pan for each dog, or if they are small (less than 10 lbs) the standard pan will work for two dogs. If they each have one pan, this will allow them more options should one become too soiled while you are away from home. Place both pans side-by-side.

If I have two dogs, can they use the same litter pan?
Yes, if you have two dogs they can both use the same pan as long as they get along well with one another. One way to help ensure reliable pan use is to train each puppy to use an individual pan, and then remove one of the pans once they are both completely trained. Bear in mind that when two dogs are using the same pan, you will have to make an extra effort to keep the pan clean!

When/how often should I change the entire pan?
The litter pan should be emptied out and cleaned with a mild soap solution as needed or at least twice a month.

How long can I crate my puppy while I’m away?
Remember this easy crate usage formula ... add one to your puppy’s age in months. This equation will provide you with the appropriate number of hours your puppy can remain (up to 8 hours) crated comfortably. We recommend never crating your puppy/dog any longer than 8 hours. Until your puppy shows reliable pan use, we recommend not crating your puppy any longer than 2 hours at a time.

Does what I feed my dog affect the odor when he eliminates?
secondnature® brand dog litter has ingredients that help prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria. However, the type and quality of food can affect the odor.

How much litter does it take to fill each pan?
There is a fill line 1.5 inches from the bottom of each pan.
• Toy (approximately) 1.5 lbs.
• Miniature (approximately) 3.5 lbs.
• Standard (approximately) 6.5 lbs.

The amount of litter used depends upon several factors:
• Your puppy or dog's age – we know that puppies and geriatric dogs usually need to eliminate more often than young adult dogs.
• Individual metabolism.
• How much exercise your puppy or dog gets during a typical day.
• The health of your puppy or dog. Always consult your veterinarian when in doubt or if your puppy or dog develops a loose stool or seems to be urinating more frequently than normal.
• How often you clean the litter pan and how much litter is removed.

On average, how long will a bag last?
With one dog using the pan 100% of time, approximately as follows:
• Toy Pan: 12 lb. bag, 3-4 weeks and 25 lb. bag, 6-8 weeks
• Miniature Pan: 12 lb. bag, 2 weeks and 25 lb. bag, 3-4 weeks
• Standard Pan: 12 lb. bag, 1 week and 25 lb. bag, 2 weeks

What is the purpose of the gate, which is included with the largest litter pan?
The gate serves as a visual and physical barrier to help your dog target his elimination behavior. The gate is a housetraining aid to use if/when your dog walks while eliminating. Also, some dogs get lazy and stand halfway in and miss the pan. Thus, the gate will force them to be entirely in the pan because they will have to jump in to enter.

If I have a cat in my household and use secondnature for my dog, will my cat use the secondnature dog litter, and will this compromise my cat's litter box training?
He may try the secondnature dog litter, but remember, cats dig and bury their waste. secondnature was designed specifically for a dog's elimination so it is not as easy for a cat to dig in. In our home studies, owners observed that some cats may urinate in secondnature but if they have a choice of using clumping or conventional cat litters they will choose them over secondnature dog litter.

Will a pan for my dog confuse my cat?
The cat box must be kept separate from the dog pan. Cats can become territorial and so it is advised to teach the two animals to go in different areas so as to help prevent any problems.

How does the pan work for a male dog that lifts his leg?
The secondnature standard dog litter pan has 9 inch high walls to help prevent “leggy” males from urinating out of the pan. There are no "targets" in the pan so the male dog will not lift his leg as high as he would if he were outside near a tree or bush. The high leg lifting is actually a marking behavior where a dog is trying to over-mark a previous dog's scent. This should not occur in the dog's own home. The scratching behavior, which sometimes follows elimination, is also a marking behavior – they are leaving their scent. There should not be the desire for your dog to scratch or mark to show ownership of the territory due to the fact that unknown dogs (scents) will not be in your home.

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