How to potty train your puppy
Your new puppy is going to have accidents. It’s part of the whole puppyhood experience. Learning to eliminate outside or on potty pads seems like a daunting task, but with consistency and positive reinforcement (and a little patience!), your puppy will be going to the bathroom like a pro in no time.
When to start potty training your puppy
You can begin potty training on your puppy’s first day home. From the very first day, you should begin taking your puppy to the area they can eliminate in, and you should reward them for successfully going potty in that space.
Tips and tricks for successful potty training
Always use the same area.
Select a specific area to take your puppy to eliminate. You should always lead them to this same area for every potty break.
Always use the same door.
If going outside, take your puppy out the same door each time they go to eliminate. If your puppy learns this is the door they go out of to go potty, they’ll begin to approach this door to ask to go out.
Take your puppy outside every 2 hours at 6 to 8 weeks of age.
Your puppy will need overnight potty breaks during this time. For every month of age, you can add an additional hour to how long they should be able to wait, meaning once your puppy is 3 months old, they should be able to wait 3 hours.
Positive reinforcement.
When your puppy eliminates in the correct spot, praise them and offer a treat immediately afterward. Learn more about why positive reinforcement is beneficial with puppy training.
Add a cue.
When your puppy is ready to eliminate, introduce your cue, such as “go potty.” Eventually, your pup will learn to associate this phrase with going to the bathroom, and you will be able to encourage them to eliminate by saying this cue phrase.
Do not punish your puppy for mistakes in the house.
You should not rub your dog’s nose in their urine or feces, and you should never strike them.
Calmly distract from inappropriate elimination.
If you catch them in the act of eliminating in the wrong spot, calmly distract them and then redirect them to the proper location. Reward them when they successfully redirect to the correct location.
How to crate train your puppy for potty training
Crate training helps your puppy learn to “hold it.” Your puppy’s crate should be just large enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down. If they have too much extra space, they may turn half of the crate into their bathroom. However, with an appropriately sized crate, they’ll become reluctant to eliminate in their bedding. Once you take them out of the crate, they’ll be ready to go! Immediately going outside after time in the crate is a great way to encourage them to eliminate in the proper area. Make sure to reward your puppy for going in the right spot!How to potty train your puppy in an apartment
Crate training is very important for potty-training dogs in an apartment. When you take your puppy out of the crate, you’ll basically have two primary options based on what your plans for potty-training entail.
The first option is to carry your puppy outside to prevent them from eliminating in the hallways. You’ll want to carry them until they’ve learned not to eliminate inside.
The other option is to train your puppy to use potty pads. You can carry them to the potty pads in a specific location of your apartment. If you’ll be using potty pads, you may want to avoid lining their crate with them so as not to confuse your puppy about which area to eliminate in.
How long does it take to potty train a puppy?
By the time your puppy is around 4 months old, they should be learning to ask to go outside to eliminate. Most puppies are fully potty trained by the time they’re 6 months old. If your puppy does not seem to be making progress by the time they’re 4 to 6 months old, we recommend speaking with your VCA care team to troubleshoot your potty training techniques.
Interested in learning what reasons may be to blame for slow progress in potty training? Learn about reasons why your pup might be house soiling.
