How to Potty Train a Puppy

Guide Note: Bringing home a new puppy is one of the greatest joys of life. You've got a new member of the family! Along with the many joys of dog ownership, however, comes one big responsibility: you need to potty train your new dog. Don't worry. This guide will walk you through the basic steps so you can successfully learn how to potty train your puppy.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • When he wakes up, it's time to go out. (Photo by Lars Sundström)
    When he wakes up, it's time to go out. (Photo by Lars Sundström)
  • Ah, puppies. They're cute, furry, sweet, and squiggly. When you bring home your new puppy, you’re not just welcoming a furry new member of the family—you're taking on the responsibility of being its caretaker. Part of taking care of your puppy is making sure it's housebroken. You may be steeling yourself to face countless accidents and mishaps, but as long as you've checked with your vet and know that your puppy's healthy, training won't be as hard as you'd think.
  • Follow these steps, and you'll be well on your way to having a happy, healthy, and housebroken member of the family!

Step 1: Establish a Routine

  • The most important part of house training is setting up a schedule. You (and your puppy) will know when it's time to go outside, which will greatly reduce the chance of accidents.
Set a schedule for your puppy. (Photo by Kym Parry)
Set a schedule for your puppy. (Photo by Kym Parry)
  1. The general rule is that for every month a puppy is old, it can wait one hour to go outside. This means a three-month-old puppy will need go to out about every three hours. There's no need to cut things this close, however! Plan to take your puppy out every two hours.
  2. Keep meals on a regular schedule so you can take your puppy outside after them.
  3. Stop giving your puppy water two hours before bedtime. It'll help him or her make it through the night without accidents.
    • Be aware that a very young puppy may still need to go out during the night. In general, you can expect puppies that are four months and older to make it through the night without needing to go out.
  4. Also take your puppy out when he wakes from a nap.
  5. Just finished playing with your pup? Time to head outside!
  6. Always lead your dog outside on a leash.
  7. Go to the same spot, which will help cue your puppy as to what he should do.
  8. Use the same word to tell your puppy it's time to relieve himself. This way you can train your dog to relieve himself on command.
  9. Praise your puppy every time she relieves herself outside: make sure to do it right after the act, not back in the house.

Using Treats in Training

  • It's fine to use the occasional treat as you train your pup, but you don't need to make treats a large part of the process.
  1. Praise is the best thing you can do to encourage your puppy.
  2. Too many treats can upset a dog's digestion, undoing all your good training.
  3. Treats can be useful if you're trying to teach other commands alongside potty training.

Step 2: Adapting Your Schedule

  • Go to the same spot each time. (Photo by Joni Byars)
    Go to the same spot each time. (Photo by Joni Byars)
  • You've got a schedule in place, but sometimes schedules change. These steps will help you deal with a puppy who goes off-schedule, and give you an alternative should you have to leave your puppy for a short time.
  1. Be vigilant: if you see your puppy sniffing the ground or circling, this could indicate she's about to relieve herself. Take her outside rather than risk an accident.
  2. If you have to leave your dog, place her in a paper-lined room or in a crate.
    • Be aware that paper training can delay successful housebreaking, as your dog will get used to relieving herself on paper-lined floors, and less accustomed to going outside.
  3. Make sure your dog can stand and turn within her crate.
  4. Don't leave your puppy alone for hours at a time. It could upset both your puppy and your housebreaking schedule. Instead, ask a neighbor to stop by and take your puppy out or hire a dogwalker.

Step 3: Coping with Accidents

  • Accidents happen. Especially when you're potty training a puppy. Here's the best way to deal with them—without derailing your potty training efforts.
  1. If you catch your puppy mid-accident, startle him to stop the accident, then take him outside as quickly as possible. Praise him as usual if he finishes relieving himself outside.
    • Never scream at or hit your puppy to stop his accident.
  2. If you find an accident after the fact, don't yell at your puppy. He won't understand why you're upset.
  3. Clean the spot thoroughly so the smell doesn't attract the dog to repeat the accident.
  4. If you can, put the soiled cleaning materials in your puppy's regular outside bathroom spot, so he knows where he should go in the future.

Conclusion

  • Although most puppies will be housebroken by the time they're six months old, some dogs aren't fully potty trained until they're a year old. Don't focus on how long the process takes. Enjoy playing with your puppy, be patient, and eventually you'll have a fully potty trained dog!

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