How To Potty Train A Puppy
Potty training is one of the first and most important steps when starting to train your puppy, as it will help set the foundation for building a happy and healthy relationship with your new furry family member. Successful potty training requires a consistent routine and plenty of patience. Our team of experts has compiled some helpful house training tips and basic guidelines on how to potty train a puppy.
Choose An Elimination Spot
Choose an accessible and convenient location to be your dog’s bathroom area or ‘elimination spot.’ By taking your dog to the same elimination spot, they will make a visual association and eventually an olfactory association with that location. Dogs generally like to eliminate where they have done so before, so by having these associations, cues to eliminate will develop over time. Choose a quiet elimination spot where distractions from other people or dogs do not interrupt or interfere with their business.
Give Them Privacy
When you take your puppy to their elimination spot, watch them from the corner of your eye while giving them a little space for privacy. Avoid talking, touching, or otherwise engaging with them until they finish.
Find A Schedule That Works
Potty training goes best when your puppy has a familiar schedule, so plan on taking your dog outside consistently. This schedule should be based on age and bladder size, as younger or smaller dogs likely need to go more frequently than older or larger breeds. We suggest scheduling potty breaks around key activities, such as after waking, before and after playtime, after meals or drinking, and before bed. Schedules help build an association between a full bladder or colon and their elimination spot.
“Typically, a puppy can control their bladder one hour for every month of age. If your puppy is two months old, they can hold it for about two hours.”
The Humane Society of the United States
humanesociety.org
Establish A Bedtime Routine For Overnight Control
Take your puppy to their elimination spot before bed so they start the night on an empty bladder. Your puppy’s potty training history and age determine whether or not they can sleep through the night without a potty break. Waking you up or having accidents are clear signs they need their schedule adjusted.
If potty breaks are needed during the night, do not engage with them other than to complete the task at hand. Take them to their elimination spot, allow them to relieve themselves, quietly praise them, and then return them to bed. Doing this prevents your pup from thinking it is time to get up and play.
🐾 Pro Tip: Schedule dinner for your puppy at least 4-5 hours before bedtime. Early dinner times will help provide ample opportunity for their body to break down their meal and water intake so they can relieve themselves and go to bed with an empty bladder and colon.
Attach a Cue
Say cue words such as “Go Potty” or “Potty Time” while your dog actively eliminates. Being consistent with this phrase will allow your puppy to associate it with their elimination, eventually leading to a cue that you can give to let them know it’s time to go.
Reward Your Pup
Use positive reinforcement dog training methods to improve your puppy’s potty training experience by treating your pup after successfully eliminating within their designated spot. Delivering rewards and praise immediately after your dog relieves themselves results in a faster connection to where they should be doing so. Once your dog eliminates, praise them extensively so they know they did their business in the correct spot.
Accidents Happen
It isn’t uncommon to have a few accidents in the house when potty training. When this happens, the key is to quietly clean it up and avoid scolding your puppy. Punishment can be counterproductive and cause your puppy to hide their accidents as you risk them associating the punishment with you, not their accident. This happens especially when puppies are punished at a time later than when the elimination occurred. Instead, clean up the accident and then re-evaluate your schedule, in case adjustments need to be made. Make it your goal to have two weeks without accidents before adding more time between potty trips.
“Potty training can be frustrating at times. But, by providing consistent schedules and direct supervision in between breaks, your new puppy will quickly learn where to eliminate.”
Kait Hembree VTS (Behavior), CVT, KPA CTP
Head of Training at GoodPup
With GoodPup, you get private, one-on-one dog training over live video calls with trainers who use science-based, positive reinforcement methods to help you potty train your puppy. Get started on your GoodPup training today!
