Small animals are typically very intelligent creatures, and although some may have a mind of their own, most adapt quite easily to small pet litter training. The key, of course, is patience and consistency. Individual personalities must be taken into consideration when embarking upon a small pet litter training course;
however some basic principles still apply. In general, the simplest and most effective way to train an animal is by positive reinforcement. The idea is to encourage the desired behavior by offering a positive reward for performing the behavior. The most effective reward for training is generally food, such as a favorite treat, as long as it is given to the small animal in limited quantity.
The first step to be taken with small pet litter training is to provide a stable litter pan that can be firmly attached to the inside of the cage. Begin by keeping your small pet and its litter pan in a fairly small area. You might consider blocking off a portion of the cage if necessary so there is limited space for the small animal to use anything other than the litter pan as a bathroom. Part of the pan must have a low edge to allow the small animal easy access. Do not keep the litter pan exceptionally clean - leaving a small amount of urine or feces in the pan will reinforce that this is a bathroom area. Maintain the rest of the cage as a sleeping or feeding area. Place the small animal in the litter pan before taking it out to play, and return it to the pan frequently during play or any time your pet looks as if it may be getting ready to urinate or defecate.
If you happen to see that your small animal is using the litter pan, be sure to reward him with a treat! On the other hand, if you see that your small pet has relieved himself in a location other than the litter pan, place him in the pan – note that this should occur immediately following the accident in order to have any positive effect.
Once your pet understands what the small pet litter training game plan is, you can place litter pans in the room where your pet likes to play. You will want to have a few litter pans placed strategically as the small animal is not likely to wander too far in search of toilet facilities. If you notice a corner or area of
a room that your pet typically frequents, that would be a good location for a litter pan. If your small pet chooses a place that does not work for you, try putting some food there so that he will associate this location with an eating area and not a restroom.
Small pet litter training is gradual process, and invariably there will be a few accidents while your small animal friend is learning how it all works. The key is to reward successes, and never punish accidents. Patience and perseverance will definitely be necessary components of a successful small pet litter training program – but it’s certainly worth the effort.
