Potty Training Your Puppy - A Comprehensive Guide

Puppy potty training is perhaps the first thing a new dog owner is looking to teach their puppy and a dog training guide will usually cover the basics.

You’re going to want to know how to help prevent accidents during new puppy potty training and how to quickly and effectively master this very important skill so that you and your puppy can begin to get comfortable 

There are many benefits to investing your time into dog behaviour and training for your puppy, including gaining some tips to train an aggressive dog or knowing how best to keep your puppy's attention. 

When Is the Right Time to Start Potty Training a Pup?

You may be curious to know whether a dog behaviour training guide will tell you if there is a right time to start training your puppy. 

Your home will likely be a whirlwind of excitement as you welcome a pup into the house, but training should begin as soon as they step foot inside in order to help them understand your expectations and give them clarity.

Whether it is training your dog to walk on a leash or knowing where to go to the toilet, the earlier you put guidelines in place, the faster your pup is going to catch on to learning these very important skills.

How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Pup?

A puppy house training schedule will make toilet training that much easier. If you remember to let your puppy out for toilet breaks consistently during certain times, then chances are there will be fewer accidents for you to clean up. 

It will take between four to six months to completely toilet train your puppy, however, and you can still expect accidents to happen during that time. 

Be attentive and aware of your puppy’s demeanour so that you can seek out tips to train anxious dogs if they are quite sensitive. 

If you want to reduce the length of time it takes to toilet train your puppy, then you will need to be available to let your dog out every hour during the day for several weeks in order to quickly cement the training. 

A Step-by-step Guide to Potty Train a Pup

Most new dog owners don’t know where to begin when it comes to how to toilet train a puppy, train your dog to come when called or train your pup to walk on a leash. It's tough with a new dog in the house. So don’t worry, you’re not alone. Our step-by-step guide for how to potty train a puppy will ensure you can confidently help your furbaby fit right in at home. 

Get into a routine

A routine will ensure you don’t forget to take your pup out to go to the toilet and is the first step in training your dog correctly. 

Be aware that the younger your dog, the more often they will need to go out because their bladders can’t handle waiting all that long. 

Teach your pet the potty cue

Establishing a cue will help to reduce the instances of accidents as your dog can let you know if they need to head out ASAP.

Most common cues include barks, ringing a bell or waiting by the door. Respond to one to cement the training that this will work for them. 

Use a secluded dedicated spot

Distraction-free is important for puppies and by taking them to the same, quiet spot each time, your puppy will begin to recognise that this area means that they should relieve themselves.

They might think rushing out the door means to play otherwise, so by heading there first and remaining as boring as possible for a while, you might be able to speed up the training process.

Reward your furbaby 

Immediately reward your pup if they relieve themselves in the correct spot with praise or small treats. 

Timing is everything here - be sure not to reward them too early and disrupt them!

This is a great time for you to begin implementing clicker training as well, by using a clicker and then offering a reward. 

Tips to Help Potty Train Your Pup

Your puppy potty training schedule is going to make potty training your puppy a breeze. Don’t expect overnight success and be patient with your young dog, they are learning so much about the world around them and everything can all get quite confusing at times. 

Avoid punishment

If accidents happen, do not punish your puppy for them. By the time you have come across the mess, it is likely they have completely forgotten about it, even if it has just been a minute or two. 

If you catch them making a mess in the wrong place, avoid running at them, yelling or scaring them, as this will only teach them to be scared of going to the toilet and you’ll only find more hidden messes instead.

Rather, redirect your pup by firmly saying ‘no’ and gently directing them to where they need to go. 

Make use of a crate

Crates are an effective tool if used correctly as you are relying on natural instincts that your puppy is born with. 

Dogs will not soil their sleeping place instinctively, so by keeping them in a crate for periods of time, up to a maximum of three hours, you can use this to your benefit with toilet training. 

Immediately take your dog to where they need to pee after letting them out of their crate and once they have relieved themselves, reward them. 

Use puppy pads if necessary

If you have to be away from your furbaby for more than a few hours at a time, then puppy pads will help you to train your puppy to relieve themselves only in certain areas. 

They are a great, temporary tool that helps to affirm training during times when you cannot follow the normal routine.

Take Home Message

Toilet training your puppy won't be an overnight success story, but with vigilance, patience and a great routine, you can expect your puppy to get the hang of it relatively quickly. 

It is important to remember never to punish your puppy for accidents, as you want to ensure that your furbaby feels safe around you. 

Feeling unsafe often results in poor behaviour, which is why some tips to train your dog around toddlers and tips to stop your dog from biting all help you to read your dog’s body language so you can identify when they are feeling uncomfortable and are more likely to lash out.