While it may seem like a huge task at first, potty training your puppy can be accomplished with some planning and observation. It is also helpful to get yourself and your puppy into a routine.
On average, puppies need to eliminate about every six hours. It is recommended that you take them outside as soon as they wake up, after eating or drinking and after playtime.
1. Start Early
It’s best to start potty training your puppy early. Puppies need frequent toilet breaks and their bladder control is still developing. They will need to go out frequently, especially after waking up or after eating.
Take your puppy to the designated bathroom spot when they show signs they need to eliminate, such as sniffing the floor or carpet, wandering away from you, excessive licking of their lips or tail, or running toward the door. They may also need to be taken outside after naps or playtime.
When they eliminate in their bathroom spot, immediately give them a treat and praise. This will help them associate going outside with something fun and good. Then, you can give them off-leash fun (or safe confinement time indoors if they are not yet house trained) to encourage them to use the spot again. Keeping a chart or notepad of your puppy’s potty habits will help you see patterns in their timing and locations.
2. Keep an Eye on Your Puppy
Keeping your puppy on a bathroom schedule, watching for pre-bathroom behaviors and taking them outside often helps prevent accidents. However, accidents will still happen. If they do, don’t punish them, as this may make them afraid to eliminate in your presence. Instead, immediately pick up the mess and take them to their outdoor bathroom spot. Be sure to sanitize the spot with an effective pet stain cleaner.
Take them out to the spot right after they wake up, after each meal and snack and before and after playing. By doing this, you will start to learn your puppy’s patterns for when they need to potty and where. Ideally, you should also be careful to avoid feeding them within two hours of bedtime to reduce the chance of overnight accidents. During the night, you should also consider placing them in their dog crate with a few inches of bedding and putting them to sleep shortly after they eliminate outside.
3. Don’t Punish Your Puppy
Trying to punish your puppy for having an accident is not effective and could actually make things worse. Rather than yelling and scolding your dog, try to catch them in the act of going potty indoors and then calmly take them outside by calling their name or holding them gently by the collar. Once they have finished their business, praise them and give them a treat.
If you can’t be home at regular intervals, confine your puppy to a crate or a small, confined area inside the house. This will help prevent them from eliminating in areas that are off-limits until they have developed good outdoor potty habits.
Some puppies, such as smaller breeds or those that have been raised in a kennel environment, may take longer to develop their bladder and bowel control. But with proper management and a consistent schedule of potty breaks, your puppy will soon be 100% house trained!
4. Don’t Give Up
Some puppies regress in their potty training, and it may take time to get them back on track. Be patient, and keep consistency in place – even if that means asking someone to help you out for a couple of hours each day so that you can take your puppy outside frequently and on the right schedule.
Puppy’s need to eliminate is often related to the amount of food they have in their system, so a feeding schedule that incorporates regular intervals and potty breaks can be helpful. This is especially true for young puppies, who may need to eliminate more frequently than adults.
After every elimination, use a clicker or verbal marker to signal your puppy that what they did was correct and immediately reward them with a treat. This helps reinforce the behavior and build positive reinforcement, which is essential for success.
