When you welcome a new puppy into your home, there are a number of important skills, like crate training and socializing, that you'll want to get started on right away. While it can be fun to teach them their name or get them to sit or roll over, there are a few responsibilities that need to come first – namely potty training.
With so much dog potty training advice out there, it can feel overwhelming, especially if you're a first-time dog owner. Some potty training guides are overcomplicated, while others may leave out steps or assume your puppy already has other training or skills. Some guides are overly complicated, while others skip important steps or assume your puppy already has training experience. The truth is, housebreaking doesn't need to be confusing. Puppies simply need clear direction.
Even though we like to think of them as people, puppies don't think or rationalize like people do; we need to tell them exactly what we want them to do and encourage them to repeat that behavior. Dogs always learn best through consistency and positive reinforcement, after all. With that being said, the best way to potty train a puppy is to train them by reward, just like training them to do tricks, and this is the basis of the method we share below.
Why Puppy Potty Training Is Non-Negotiable
Before we dive into the "how" of potty training a puppy, let's take a moment to explain the "why" behind so many professional recommendations to start potty training as early as possible.
Potty training a puppy can be stressful and take a lot of time, effort, and consistency on an owner's behalf, but it's something that has to be done. Teaching your dog where and when to go not only keeps your home clean and sanitary, but it also creates a strong foundation for all future training. When your puppy forms positive associations with training and gets accustomed to structure and expectations, future obedience and trick training will be that much easier for both of you.
Training moments, like housebreaking, are also great opportunities to bond with your new puppy early on and build a strong relationship, where they both trust and respect you. Early, successful house training will lead to a lifetime of happiness. Most puppies take about three to six weeks to be reliably trained, depending on their individual personality. Be patient and persevere — consistency, patience, and persistence will pay off!
Now, let's move on to sharing our best tips for potty training a puppy.
1. Designate a Bathroom Area for Your Puppy
Choose a specific "bathroom area" in the front or backyard of your home and bring your puppy there every time they need to go. Having one spot helps your puppy associate that area with bathroom time, making it easier for them to understand what's expected. The familiar scent will also encourage them to go more quickly and reliably.
Once successfully house trained, they can then "go" anywhere during walks.
2. Make Visiting the Bathroom Area a Core Part of Your Routine
Like small children, puppies thrive off routine and will quickly pick up on patterns and expectations. Regularly visit your puppy's "bathroom area" multiple times a day, especially during common times that a dog will need to use the bathroom, like in the morning or after a meal.
Regular times you'll want to bring your puppy to their bathroom spot may include:
- First thing in the morning
- Before meals
- After meals
- At night, before bedtime
- Whenever you notice sniffing or circling behaviors that may indicate your puppy needs to go
3. Use Commands Consistently
When you are at the designated bathroom area, give your pet a command, such as "do it," "pee-pee," or "make." This is to train your pet, just like you would when teaching them to sit or fetch. Be sure to be consistent with the command you use to help your pet become familiar with it and understand what you expect from them.
Do not use commands that sound like other common words you would use, like "let's go!" or "go!", or similar to their name, as this will confuse them.
4. Give Praise – And Lots Of It
If your pet does pass a stool or urine, be sure to praise them in an 'over-the-top' type of way so they can see that you are very happy with them and they did well. The idea is to leave no doubt that it is good to do their business in that area and on command.
5. Only Give Your Pup a Few Minutes to Go
If your puppy doesn't go within a few minutes, bring them back inside and try again later. Watch them closely indoors, and if they show signs of needing to go, take them back out immediately. Waiting too long teaches them to delay, which is the opposite of what you want. Remember, the idea is for them to go quickly, on command.
6. Don't Clean Up Right Away
This may seem counterintuitive to what you've probably been told about always cleaning up after your pet, but we make this recommendation with good reason.
If your pet successfully passes a bowel movement on command, leave the stool there for a few days to a week if possible. This tells the animal instinctively that the designated area is the bathroom area. Once your puppy is fully potty trained, you can clean up immediately afterwards.
7. Understand That Accidents Are Going to Happen, But Need to Be Handled Appropriately
If there’s one thing you need to understand about potty training a dog before getting started, it’s that accidents are going to happen, no matter how sweet or good your puppy is. A big component of successful potty training is how you, as an owner, respond to these accidents.
If your puppy has an accident indoors:
- If you catch them in the act, firmly say "NO!" then immediately take them to the designated bathroom area and give the command.
- If you do not catch them in the act, say and do nothing. Even if you notice just seconds later, scolding may only cause anxiety or confusion. Some puppies may even return to the same spot due to the stress of being corrected.
Without saying anything (or internally fuming), take them out of the room, out of visual contact, and then clean up the mess. Dogs can sense and even smell your emotions, so take them out of the room and do your best to avoid becoming emotional or upset, as this will only make further training more difficult. Remember to spray an odor eliminator spray (obtained from the pet store) after cleaning, to deter them from going there again, as they can easily smell the spot and can be triggered to use that area again.
The idea behind this method of dog potty training is to teach them that the only time they get attention is when they do it correctly. To dogs, negative attention is often enough to attract them to do it again, as it is often more intense than positive attention.
Just remember these fundamental steps and potty training:
- Use a designated spot
- Give the command
- Praise profusely if successful
- Don't allow too much time
- If they go inside, no fuss — just clean up (unless caught in the act)
Early house training will ensure that instead of being a nuisance, your life with your pet will be happy, easy, enjoyable, and fulfilling.
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