RE: Did you always have to train pets for litter box?
Well, you train them to go outside; if you take them to the same spot in the yard every time and stay there until they go, maybe that would potty train them to always go in that spot? Makes sense to me, anyway. When i was in Japan, I was amazed at how big the piddle-pad selection was in the pet stores. They also have a large selection of different sized frames to hold the pads. Aparently, with the long work hours and tiny appartments in the citys, many dogs seldom get out fore walks so piddle pads are the only way to "go". Of course, many of these appartment dogs are tiny, but it seems to work for them. Dogs can use the pads because they don't instinctivly bury their waste. Cat's have the instinct to bury their's to hide their presence from predators. If you don't give them some sort of litter to dig in, I've heard of outdoor cats brought in trying to use the potted plants.