| Of the many benefits of training a dog to use an | | | | compassionate and logical solution. For other dogs, |
| indoor litter box, it is perhaps of highest benefit to | | | | however, it is compassionate to allow them to use a |
| handicapped dogs. Often physical handicaps come | | | | litter box, if their physical constraints allow them. When |
| with increasing age; sometimes physical handicaps are | | | | many dogs lose control over their mobility or |
| congenital; and many times physical handicaps result | | | | surroundings, they simply give up hope. Providing an |
| from the trauma of accidents. No matter the reason | | | | indoor bathroom station for their needs allows them a |
| for their handicaps, many dogs are faced with daily | | | | sense of accomplishment through their challenges. |
| challenges to relieving themselves. What used to be a | | | | Is this yet another example of assigning human |
| simple walk outside or down the stairs can become a | | | | emotions and characteristics to dogs, or is it a |
| painful and/or impossible trek for dogs. As an | | | | legitimate assessment? Many canine behavioral |
| alternative, a short visit to an indoor litter box may | | | | studies support this observation. In "When Elephants |
| provide them with a viable solution to this obstacle. | | | | Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals", it is confirmed |
| When people have handicap challenges, they have | | | | by many animal behaviorist's field studies that animals |
| access to specially equipped bathroom stalls, handrails, | | | | do have a wide range of complex emotions. One only |
| ramps, and other assists to their physical needs. As | | | | needs to observe the family dog over a lifetime to |
| valued members of our families, we can help our dogs | | | | know this is true. |
| with similar assists for their needs. Instead of a | | | | For the love, joy, humor, and loyalty dogs bring to our |
| specially equipped bathroom stall designed for people, | | | | lives, our response to them during their difficulties is |
| we can provide a litter box that is designed specifically | | | | nothing less than we would give other family members. |
| for dogs. A litter station that has a very shallow | | | | Compassionate care for our handicapped dogs can |
| entrance allows handicapped dogs to enter and exit | | | | include simple litterbox-training to assist with their |
| easily and safely. Instead of handrails designed for | | | | bathroom needs. It is certainly possible to teach an old |
| people, an indoor dog potty with taller back and sides | | | | dog new tricks, and an older handicapped dog can |
| will give a handicapped dog something to brace | | | | easily be re-trained to use a litter box instead of going |
| against when relieving herself. | | | | outside. With successful re-training, these dogs can |
| Why not simply put doggy diapers on a handicapped | | | | renew a sense of accomplishment and also fulfill their |
| dog? For many dogs, that is certainly the most | | | | inherent need to please us. |