How To Potty Train A Puppy

....... a new owners guide!

If you're a new puppy owner the answer is always going to be 'Yes', because once you've brought that adorable little furball home housebreaking is your first (and most important) job!

You'll soon find out that puppies need to 'go' a LOT and they have no qualms about going just about anywhere.

Including under the table, on the Persian rug, behind the sofa (or even ON the sofa if he can climb up there), in the bedroom/kitchen/study.... as you can see, I really do mean anywhere!

Your puppy has no idea that this isn't the way we humans do things, and it's up to you to help him learn where you expect him to pee/poop as quickly as possible.

The good news is that if you follow my simple step-by-step guide to potty training your puppy (scroll down to see it right now) , you'll be able to avoid the majority of 'puddles and piles' and both you and your puppy will be happier!

But don't expect to potty train a puppy in 5 days, or 7, or 10.... those sorts of expectations are unrealistic and no matter what anyone promises you, it is extremely unlikely that your puppy is going to be housebroken within a week or two.

Of course there are always exceptions, and your little one may be a really quick learner, but it's best to expect the whole process to be ongoing for some weeks to come.

Your Guide To Potty Training A Puppy

If your new puppy is allowed to build up bad habits (such as peeing on the living room floor) it will make life much more difficult than if he gets into the habit of feeling the grass in the backyard on his paws before he lets loose!

You can't reason with a puppy, or explain what you want him to do, and he isn't capable (yet) of telling you when he needs to 'go'. SO, it's up to you to anticipate his needs and to build the right habits.

Puppy potty training begins the minute you bring your precious puppy home, so being prepared beforehand is always recommended. Here's a look at what you need to get started....

First of all you'll need the following:

• A plan for your daily routine


• A designated 'potty spot' outside (or an indoor dog potty/pee pads)


• A crate


• An understanding of the limited capacity of a puppy's bladder/bowels


• Plenty of patience!

Once you've got all that together you're ready to start potty training your puppy...

If you'd like to hear a quick overview of the information below before you start reading (some people find it helps them to fully understand the steps), why not watch this short video and then come right back here to get started.... How To Potty Train Your Puppy Video

1. Designate a specific 'potty spot'
   Make sure there's an area of your yard just for your puppy, and ALWAYS take him there to potty. Introduce him to it as soon as you get him home, before you even take him inside the house, and hopefully he'll be ready to relieve himself.
2. Realize that puppies need to potty a lot!
   The average 8 week old pup needs to go out approx. every 30 mins to an hour during the day, and most will need at least one potty break during the night for the first few weeks.

   Always take him to his potty spot after every meal, nap and playtime - and anytime he is whining, circling and sniffing, or seems restless or agitated (all classic signs that he needs to 'go').

   Check out my Puppy Potty Training Schedule to get an idea of what sort of routine works best.

3. Keep To A Predictable Routine
   Puppies really benefit from having a daily routine that they can count on. It also helps your efforts to potty train a puppy in two ways.....

   It has emotional benefits because it makes them feel secure - remember how puppies love repetition and habits? On a practical level, putting your pup's meals, naps and playtimes on a schedule will regulate his bowels and make it easier for you to predict when he needs a potty break.

4. Teach your pup to let you know when he needs to go outside
   

   Although at first you will be in control of when, and how often, your pup goes outdoors to pee/poop - but eventually you'll want him to let you know when the urge strikes! You can teach him to give you a 'heads-up' by using Poochie Bells.

   The idea is that he alerts you to his needs by ringing these little bells which are hung on the handle of the door you want him to use to go outside.

   To begin with you'll need to help him 'ring' them every single time you go out, and add a verbal cue such as 'Fido needs to potty' as you do so. Most pups will get the hang of this fairly quickly, and it certainly makes life much easier later on.

5. Never leave your puppy to run around indoors unsupervised
   When you're beginning to potty train a puppy, NEVER leave your puppy to run around the house unsupervised.

   Although dogs are naturally clean animals and will do their best not to soil in their den, your home is considerably larger than a dog's natural den, and it will take some time for a tiny puppy to realize that the whole house is his den and needs to be kept clean.

   This is why crate training a puppy is the quickest and most effective way to potty train a puppy. While your puppy is loose in your home, watch him like a hawk.. and at the first sign that he needs to 'go' (remember the body language for this... whining, circling, intense sniffing, arching his back or even squatting) scoop him up and get him to his potty spot.

   Whenever you can't watch him, put your puppy in his crate (where he will be much less likely to pee/poop at will. A puppy play-pen or a fenced-off area of the kitchen is better than letting him run free, but not nearly as effective as a crate.

   BUT don't put him there and then forget about him. He's still going to need to go outdoors in 30 minutes!

6. Pick a 'Trigger Word' and use it consistently
   When you're potty training a puppy, choose a word or phrase (called a 'trigger word') and repeat it quietly while you're encouraging him to 'do his business'. "Potty time" or "hurry up" work fine or choose something you're comfortable with. (You could say 'bananas' if you wanted to and it would work the same way, but if anyone overheard you they may well THINK you're bananas yourself!)

   Over time your little guy will come to associate this word or phrase with the actual action of peeing or pooping and eventually just hearing it will trigger the desired reaction.

   This is something that will prove invaluable when it's 20F below and you don't want to stand outside for the next 45 minutes!

7. Make sure your puppy knows when he's succeeded
   Always praise your puppy when he 'goes' in the appropriate spot. He wants to please you and this is how he knows he's been successful.

   If you want to you can give him a tiny, tasty treat as a reward too (I do this for the first few weeks and it really does help). Just don't give him a big treat because as he'll be making anywhere up to 24 potty trips a day he'd be eating his own weight in goodies in no time!

8. Don't scold, if he makes a mistake so have you!
   Unless you catch your puppy in the act of peeing/pooping in an inappropriate place (and I mean IN THE ACT, not 10 seconds later) there's no point in scolding him, he won't have a clue why you're mad and will just be scared. He may look guilty, but it's not because he knows he did wrong, it's because he can feel that you're angry and upset and that scares him.

   If he's had the opportunity to have an 'accident' then you've also failed somewhere and probably should be scolding yourself! Maybe you didn't supervise him closely enough, or you forgot that he needed to go out after lunch, or you were busy when he woke up and expected him to 'hold it'.

   When you want to potty train a puppy, your job is to make sure he's set up to succeed, and if he's made a mistake, chances are good it's because of one you made first.

   However, if he does squat right in front of you it's perfectly OK to say "No' or "Bad" in a loud, firm voice. It may even startle him into pausing mid-flow. Scoop him up immediately and take him straight to his potty spot and let him finish his 'business'. Then give him lots of praise.

   Even if he seems to have emptied his bladder or bowels onto the carpet, still take him outside and repeat the 'trigger word' so that he understands that this is where he's supposed to 'go'.

   One other point that I'd like to make is that puppies NEVER make a mess on your carpet out of 'spite' or because they're upset with you! They're simply not capable of thinking in that way. They also don't know that it's wrong (until their housebreaking education is complete anyway).... you'd be surprised how many puppy owners don't realize this.

This video covers just about all the 'how to potty train a puppy' tips I've mentioned about above and will help consolidate it all in your mind.

The speaker has a fairly slow and relaxed delivery, but the information is definitely worth taking a couple of minutes to listen to and although I didn't make the recording, I think it's a great way to recap.....

Return to '8 Steps To A Potty Trained Puppy'

Potty Train A Puppy - Outdoors or Pee Pee Pads?

This is because most owners have this as their final aim anyway, and if you teach a pup to pee/poop indoors it simply makes the whole process much more confusing, and frustrating, for everyone.

But of course, sometimes there are good reasons for having to potty train a puppy to pee/poop indoors, or on a balcony or porch.

If you're trying to potty train a puppy and you live in a high rise apartment building for example, or if you're disabled or have mobility issues, or if your pup is a very small breed and the weather is extremely bad etc. etc......

In these situations you have a couple of options - pee pee pads, a doggie litter box or an 'indoor doggie toilet'. The pee pee pads are probably the cheapest option in the short term (but they're still not cheap, especially if you plan to have your pup 'go' indoors 90 or 100% of the time).

However, puppy training pads do have drawbacks that make them my least favorite choice personally, although many other dog owners swear by them! A lot of puppies see them as toys, and often prefer to drag them around and chew them up rather than pee on them!

But if you want to use pee pee pads to potty train a puppy, either for a short while or long-term, I'd recommend checking out this webpage as it has lots of tips and advice to help you - Puppy Pads & How To Use Them.

You can also find reviews of, and information on, many popular brands of puppy training pads here - Best Puppy Training Pads

A doggie litter box may work better than the pee pads, but some pups prefer to play in the litter (or eat it!).

The third choice is an indoor doggie toilet which is more durable than the pee pads, and not as messy as the litter box. Several of them have 'fake turf' for the pups to use which helps them when you want to transition over to peeing on REAL grass later on.

Take a look at these models....

• Rascal Dog Litter Box


• Mini Pee Wee indoor portable dog potty


• UGODOG Indoor Dog Potty


• Pup Head Portable Dog Potty for LARGE dogs


• Rascal Dog Litter Box "Little Squirt" (tm) - DESIGNED JUST FOR TOY BREEDS!

The initial outlay is a bit more than the first two options, but when you're trying to potty train a puppy you need all the edge you can get!

Housebreaking Clean Up

Whenever this happens you need to clean it up immediately using a special cleaner/deodorizer such as Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Removerto remove every trace of urine/feces.

Puppies are attracted back to the same areas by their own smell and ordinary household cleaners simply won't do the job of removing all the lingering odor. Although YOU may not smell it, your puppy will, so always use a product that's been specifically designed for the purpose.

Although there are a whole host of dog urine cleaning products on the market today, some are better than others.

You can find a full list of the ones that I personally recommend on my Dog Urine Cleaning Products page.

A little extra housebreaking help.....

I love the '...For Dummies' series of dog training books, and this one's no exception.

The very words 'house-training' can strike fear into the heart of puppy owners everywhere! well, there's no need to panic if you have this book in your own, personal library.

Written with a humorous touch, this puppy training book is packed with practical tips and information to help you potty train a puppy with confidence.

Topics covered include :

• Your dog's instincts and learning style


• Taking the right approach to housetraining


• Equipment you'll need (such as crate, cleaning supplies etc.)


• Indoor and outdoor training options

It doesn't matter if you're a newbie, or an experienced puppy parent...if you want to potty train a puppy, this book will save you time (and trouble)!

If you know a friend or family member who needs help to potty train a puppy, why not help them out by sharing this page with them today?

Crate Training A Puppy

Puppy Potty Training Schedule

Puppy Training Tips

Dog Urine Cleaning Products

Help With Dog Urine Cleaning

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