How to Potty Train Your Puppy
Senior Content Manager
Potty training is one of the most important steps in welcoming your new dog into your home.
Your puppy may initially see the entire world as their bathroom, so patience and consistency are key.
The time it takes to potty train depends on your persistence and your puppy’s ability to hold their bladder. Patience, consistency, and positivity are key to potty training your new puppy.
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Understanding Your Puppy's Needs
Several variables go into potty training a puppy, including their age, size, and learning history, and techniques and consistency.
Age
Puppies can’t fully control their bladder until around 16 weeks. Then, the general rule is that they can hold their bladder for about the same number of hours as their age in months, plus one.
For instance, a four-month-old puppy can usually hold it for up to five hours. Expecting your puppy to wait too long between bathroom breaks increases the risk of accidents, so frequent, consistent outings are key.
Note: If you're potty training an older dog, be prepared for a potentially longer process and adjust your approach accordingly to meet their needs.
Size
Size can affect potty training, too, as smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms, so they’ll need more frequent potty breaks.
Using a crate can also help with potty training. Dogs prefer to sleep in clean places like us, so they will try not to have any accidents. Just make sure your pup can lie down, stand, and turn around in the crate, but not too big that they go potty in a corner.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to potty training your pup, including signs they need to go, how to deal with accidents, and more.
Recommended Reading: How To Take Care Of A Puppy (10-Step Guide)
Step-by-Step Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy
1. Take your puppy outside frequently:
- Shortly after waking up.
- During and after playtime.
- After meals or water breaks.
- At least every two hours.
2. Feed your puppy at the same time every day to establish consistent bathroom routines.
3. Take your puppy to the same designated bathroom spot outside each time on a leash and use a specific word or phrase like “Go potty” to help them associate the area with elimination.
4. Watch for signs that your puppy needs to go outside, such as:
- Circling.
- Sniffing the floor.
- Crouching or squatting.
- Restlessness or pacing.
- Barking or clawing at the door.
5. As soon as you notice these signs, calmly take them outside to their designated bathroom spot.
6. Training a puppy requires close attention, so supervise them closely by:
- Tethering them to you or nearby furniture with a six-foot leash when you can’t give them your full attention.
- Confine them in a crate or behind a puppy gate if you need to leave the house, and take them outside immediately upon returning.
Recommended Reading: How To Puppy-Proof Your Home & Yard
7. When your puppy eliminates outside:
- Praise them quietly as they begin to eliminate.
- Reward them immediately after they finish with a treat, toy, or belly rub.
- Make it a big deal! Cheer, clap, and celebrate like they just won the Puppy Olympics. Let them know this potty break is the most important thing they’ve ever done!
8. If your puppy starts to eliminate indoors, quickly but calmly pick them up and take them outside to their designated spot. Praise them if they finish outside.
9. Don’t punish your puppy for accidents, as negative reinforcement can increase anxiety and hinder training progress.
10. If an accident happens indoors (which they likely will!):
- Stay calm and take your puppy outside immediately.
- Reward and praise them if they finish eliminating outside.
11. Thoroughly clean any soiled area indoors with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate odors, as puppies are likely to return to spots that smell like urine or stool.
How to Handle Puppy Potty Training Accidents
Dealing with puppy accidents during house training? As a certified dog behaviorist, I’ll share exactly what to do when your puppy pees or poops inside – and more importantly, what not to do.
Step-by-Step: What to Do When Accidents Happen
- Catch them in the act? Stay calm. A simple “oops” is enough – harsh scolding will only teach your puppy to hide their accidents.
- Quickly carry your puppy to their outdoor potty spot. This immediate connection helps them learn where they should go.
- Clean thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner. Regular cleaners won’t cut it – puppies can smell traces of previous accidents, which encourages repeat behavior.
Pro Tip: Remember that most puppies need 4-6 months to master potty training. Be patient! Just like human toddlers, every puppy learns at their own pace.The most successful house training happens when you focus on prevention rather than punishment. Set your puppy up for success with frequent outdoor breaks – especially after meals, naps, and playtime.
Step-by-Step: What to Do When Accidents Happen
- Catch them in the act? Stay calm. A simple “oops” is enough – harsh scolding will only teach your puppy to hide their accidents.
- Quickly carry your puppy to their outdoor potty spot. This immediate connection helps them learn where they should go.
- Clean thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner. Regular cleaners won’t cut it – puppies can smell traces of previous accidents, which encourages repeat behavior.
Pro Tip: Remember that most puppies need 4-6 months to master potty training. Be patient! Just like human toddlers, every puppy learns at their own pace.
The most successful house training happens when you focus on prevention rather than punishment. Set your puppy up for success with frequent outdoor breaks – especially after meals, naps, and playtime.
Common Challenges and Troubleshooting
Handling Inconsistent Potty Training Behavior
Identify the reasons why your puppy may be going inside. This could be due to incomplete house training, anxiety (such as separation anxiety), or changes in their routine, like moving to a new home or altering their daily schedule.
Whatever the reason, don’t worry—just get back on track and revisit the steps. It’s possible your pup wasn’t fully trained yet, even if you thought they were.
Take a look at areas you may not have focused on enough, like sticking to a consistent schedule, taking them outside often, and rewarding them properly.
If your fully trained pup has accidents, consult your vet to see if it’s a potential medical problem, such as a UTI or incontinence, or simply a behavioral one, like marking.
Pet insurance can cover these issues, helping safeguard your dog's health in case of any unexpected issues.
Accidents at Night
Unfortunately, you can’t wait too long between bathroom breaks, even at night. Until your puppy can hold it overnight, you’ll need to take them outside.
If you hear your dog whining in its crate late at night, although it may just be for attention, take them out anyway to avoid an accident.
Dealing with Distractions
Dogs have short attention spans, so keeping your pup focused during potty breaks is key.
Use a leash to help direct their attention, and keep them away from toys or other distractions in the yard. As tempting as it is, try not to play with them. Instead, calmly walk back and forth until your pup does their business. Patience is key!
Potty Training Takes Patience, Consistency, and Positive Reinforcement
Be sure to celebrate every victory, big or small.
Positive reinforcement, they’ll start to associate you with all those awesome rewards, which helps build a stronger, happier bond between you and your pup!
Using negative reinforcement, such as punishment, may make them more reluctant to engage in training. Instead of just learning what not to do, they’ll understand exactly what you want from them.
Enjoying this part of the puppy training process may also encourage them to be more open to being trained in other ways.
Furthermore, don’t forget: accidents will happen! When they do, stay calm, avoid punishment, and continue to reinforce good behavior.
Be consistent with their bathroom breaks and overall routine, designate a potty spot outside, and give them praise and a treat when they go there. Also, remember that every pup learns at their own pace, so be gentle and give your puppy the time they need to understand.
With time, patience, and positive reinforcement, your puppy will become potty-trained and flourish in their new home.
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Senior Content Manager
Kaelee Nelson is a die-hard dog mom, part-time dog trainer, and ultimate pet enthusiast. She recently rescued a puppy named Zoey who went from the streets of Mexico to the big lights in L.A. after Kaelee helped her become officially studio-trained for production work, with the goal of strengthen her dog's confidence as well as the bond they share. Kaelee remains passionate about pets in her role as Content Manager by helping owners prepare for the financial burden that often comes with giving our furry BFFs the best care possible. Enrolling Zoey in a pet insurance policy was a no-brainer for Kaelee, as it enabled her to get reimbursed for vet costs like spaying, vaccinations, routine care, and more.
