Potty Train Your Puppy in 3 Days: 114 Expert House Training Tips
Potty training is probably one of the first things you want to teach your puppy. And there is a reason for that! You don’t want to have to keep cleaning up after your puppy.
Well, it turns out, there are a few tips and tricks to make the house training easier on yourself and on your puppy. You are actually able to build the foundation of your puppy’s house training in 3 to 5 days. Really, that’s all it takes!
This article provides you with 114 expert puppy house training tips you can use to get your puppy housebroken quickly.
It is important to start potty training your puppy in time. This will prevent the puppy from getting used to the wrong behavior and he will be quick to understand that he has to pee outside. No two puppies are the same and there are also some breed-specific characteristics that can have an influence on your puppy’s house training. There are some things you need to take into account and others things that you should avoid with potty training a puppy. 123Tinki.com provides you with all the knowledge you need to successfully potty train your puppy. Read in this blog what you can do to successfully potty train your puppy.
What is house training a puppy?
The basic concept of house training a puppy is to teach him where he is supposed to do his business. Usually people want their dog to pee and poop outside, but in some cases it can also make sense to teach the puppy to relieve himself in a certain spot inside the house. House training a puppy is easier than house training an older dog. It is not that difficult to do, but you need to know how to do it right. Lots of people struggle with that and not being housebroken is one of the most common reasons for dogs that arrive at shelters. The preparation for house training a puppy starts before you even go and pick up your new puppy.
Once the puppy comes to live with you, you need to be an expert on house training, because you will have to put all your attention on your puppy and there will be no time to do extensive research on potty training a puppy. The time for that is now, and it is a great first step that you have found 123Tinki.com. We can teach you everything you need to know and answer any question you might have. Try to read up on the topic and have a game plan ready when the puppy arrives. There are different methods to get your puppy housebroken and you have to decide for yourself which method is the best for your puppy and your own situation. In order to quickly house train your puppy, you need to be well-prepared.
Potty train your puppy in 3 days
While it might not be possible to fully potty train your puppy in 3 days or even 7 days. This is the period of time where you build the foundation for your puppy’s house training. You need to be consistent from day one. Don’t allow the puppy to pee inside for the first couple of days. This will make it much more difficult to teach the puppy that he is supposed to pee outside. You need to be on top of your puppy’s house training right from the beginning. The foundation for the puppy’s house training is built in the first 3 days. Be extra consistent in this phase and regularly take the puppy outside. This will guarantee you to quickly get your puppy housebroken.
The foundation for your puppy's house training is built in the first 3 days.
Do you potty train a puppy?
There are people that think puppies are not able to learn and that you have to wait until the puppy is older before you can start teaching him. But that is not true. At 123Tinki.com we believe that dogs can learn at all ages. And the foundation for a dog’s training needs to be built as early as possible. It is much easier to teach puppies the right behavior from the start than to try and change behavior later on. If you allow the puppy to pee and poop inside the house for the first couple of days, he will not understand if you suddenly introduce the new rule. You need to introduce the potty rules from day one and stay consistent.
There will be some accidents, especially in the beginning. Puppies do not get delivered to you completely house trained, so you will have to get to work. However, depending on how much work the breeder has put into the house training it can be easier on you. Puppies instinctively avoid to soil the place where they eat and sleep. If this instinct is properly enforced, house training will be no problem. So choosing the right breeder can have quite a big impact on your puppy’s house training.
There has never been a dog in history that mastered house training without an accident, so do not worry if you have to clean up after your puppy from time to time. Keep in mind that everything is new for your puppy. He is still young and needs to learn everything. His bladder is still small and he doesn’t have full control over it, yet. Let your puppy set the pace for house training and take him out frequently. The most important thing to house train a puppy is consistency and persistence. Sooner or later every puppy will be housebroken.
- House training needs to start as early as possible
- Puppies instinctively avoid soiling their sleeping spot
- Choosing the right breeder means starting potty training with an advantage
- Let the puppy set the pace for house training
Did you know?
Puppies have a natural instinct not to soil their sleeping spot. With house training you try to strengthen this instinct.
Where to potty train a puppy
Most people probably don’t think a lot about where to potty train their puppy. At home! Where else? Well, while that is true, the potty training serves as preparation for the dog’s life. So while he will probably learn to go potty close to your home, he will eventually also go potty in different places and on different surfaces. In order to prepare the puppy for that, you should try to introduce different surfaces early. You probably have a certain spot that you use every time your puppy has to go potty. Try to find a spot close by with a different surface. Puppies that only have peed on patches of grass might develop problems to relieve themselves on other surfaces. So seek out patches of grass, gravel, dirt, wood chips and maybe even pavement, so that your puppy will get used to different surfaces. However, taking your puppy to that spot should not take too long. Depending on your puppy’s age, he can’t hold it for long and when a puppy has to go, he has to go now! So in some cases it might be more convenient to choose the patch of grass that is closer by instead of the gravel path a bit further. Another tip is to pick up the puppy, this will prevent him from peeing and you are probably a bit sooner at the spot your puppy is supposed to pee. Then you can put him down again on that gravel path.
- Choose a potty spot that is close to your home
- Let the puppy get used to pee on different surfaces
- You can also pick up the puppy to prevent him from peeing on the way
How do you potty train a puppy?
There are different approaches to potty training a puppy. All puppies are different and different things work for different puppies. Try to read up on the different methods and choose the one that fits your situation and your puppy best. It should be chosen according to your puppy’s character, but also the breed’s specific characteristics. You can use puppy pads or teach the puppy to relieve himself outside.
The most important things to remember with potty training are positive reinforcement, consistency and no punishment. This will help you to use the house training as a chance to build your relationship and bond with the puppy. Focus on the moments of success and celebrate them together, how small they may be. Praise your puppy when he pees in a spot you want him to. Do not hold back and make the puppy feel like the king of the world. Because this is the moment you are training for so hard. Scolding or punishment will do nothing for your puppy’s house training.
Puppies are not able to make the connection between peeing inside and being punished. So it will just seem like you randomly get angry at the puppy. The puppy might become scared of you and this only increases the chance of secret puddles. One thing you can do when you catch your puppy in the act, is to clap in your hands or make another sound to disrupt the puppy’s peeing. Try not to scare the puppy, though, this can have a negative effect on his trust in you. Just try to get him to stop peeing for a second, this will give you the chance to pick him up and take him outside quickly. Here you have to wait until he pees or poops, reward him for doing his business outside. Don’t leave the puppy alone outside, always keep an eye on him. He might just get distracted and start exploring the yard. Once inside again he will remember that he has to pee and have an accident indoors. So stay with your puppy and patiently wait for him.
The most important things to remember with potty training are positive reinforcement, consistency and no punishment.
Confined space
It doesn’t matter which approach of house training you choose, it works best if the puppy only has access to a confined space. This has several advantages. First of all, puppies instinctively try to avoid soiling their own bed. This is the reason why crate training can help to get the puppy housebroken. When the puppy has to go, he doesn’t want to pee in his own bed. He will start to cry and bark and that will be the sign for you to quickly take the puppy outside and let him pee there. Be careful though! You need to be quick when the puppy starts to get restless in his confined space. Puppies can’t hold it for long and if you wait too long he will have no choice but to soil his bed. If your puppy gets used to this, he will just start peeing in the crate or the confined space. So make sure to avoid this and always keep a good eye on your puppy.
This is another advantage of a confined space, it will be much easier to keep an eye on your puppy. If you don’t want to use a crate, you can also use a puppy pen or puppy gates. Some people like using a leash indoors instead of putting up bulky pens and gates. This will still keep the puppy confined to a certain space, but you don’t have to redesign your house. Also, choose an area with a floor that is easy to clean. Accidents will happen and the kitchen tiles are probably a lot easier to clean than the carpet in your living room.
Make sure to always stay close to the confined space. You need to keep an eye on your puppy so that you can recognize the signs that he has to go potty. This is the most important thing, always try to be one step ahead of your puppy. Stick to your puppy’s routine and take him out regularly. The confined space will prevent the puppy from walking away from you and leaving behind secret puddles, so it is up to you to be quick enough in taking the puppy outside. Once the puppy seems to understand the concept of having to pee outside, you can start giving the puppy more freedom.
Accidents happen
No matter how much time and effort you put into your puppy’s potty training, accidents will happen. So be prepared. If you catch the puppy mid-pee, just pick him up without saying a word and take him outside. Make sure not to run up to your puppy too quickly, he might get scared and that can have a negative effect on your puppy’s house training. You can try to make a noise to disrupt your puppy without scaring him, try clapping your hands, for example. Then just calmly pick up the puppy and take him outside. When you pick up the puppy mid-pee, he will stop peeing. This is a left-over instinct. When the mother used to pick up her puppies, they stopped peeing as to not leave behind a scent trail. When you take the puppy outside, wait for a bit and give the puppy a chance to pee. You need to thoroughly clean up if you find a puddle. Any scent that is left behind will remind the puppy of his accident and he will probably pee there again. There are special cleaning agents that remove dog pee completely. When you clean up, it might be better to put the puppy in another room or in the crate. He might see the moving cleaning cloth as a toy and that will be a perceived reward for peeing in that spot. Try to avoid this! The goal is to have as little accidents inside as possible, so make sure to reinforce going potty outside by using lots of treats and praise.
- Choose a training method that fits you and your puppy
- Do your research before the puppy moves in with you
- Punishment never works
- Use positive reinforcement to potty train your puppy
- House training helps you bond with you puppy
- Focus on the moments of success
- A scared puppy increases the chance of secret puddles
- When you catch the puppy in the act, use a sound to interrupt him
- Don’t leave the puppy alone outside, always keep an eye on him
- With confined spaces you can make use of the puppy’s cleanliness instinct
- Use a crate, a pen, puppy gates or a leash to confine the puppy
- Accidents happen, confine the puppy to an easy-to-clean space
- Learn the puppy’s routine and try to be one step ahead of him
- Give the puppy more freedom as he starts to understand the concept of peeing outside
- Be prepared for accidents
- Clean up accidents without making a fuss
- Don’t let the puppy play with the cloth as you clean up
- Use a special cleaner that completely removes the odor of dog urine
- The goal is to have as little accidents inside as possible
- Reinforce going potty outside with lots of treats and praise
How to potty train a puppy outside
Most people try to get their puppy used to peeing outside. This is often more sanitary and will save you lots of cleaning. Ultimately, your goal is to have your dog pee outside on your walks. There are several things to take into account or avoid in order to teach your puppy to go potty outside. Keep your puppy’s routine in mind and watch your puppy like a hawk for signs that he has to go. When puppies need to go, they need to go immediately. In the beginning you should always take your puppy to the same spot. Young puppies do not need to go on big walks, and the scent at that spot will remind them to do their business. The puppy will associate the smell with relieving himself and he will be quicker to pee or to poop in that spot. When you take the puppy outside to go potty, it is important that you wait with him until he has done something. Of course, you can’t stay outside indefinitely, so if the puppy still hasn’t done his business after 10 minutes, you can go back inside. Be careful, though, you went outside for a reason! The best is to confine the puppy, either in a crate or in a puppy pen. You can also put a leash on the puppy to keep him close by you. Watch your puppy like a hawk and take him outside as soon as you suspect that he has to go.
Take him outside again no later than 10 minutes after you went back in. Especially with young puppies you need to be attentive. When you are outside, don’t distract the puppy. It is probably best if you keep him on a leash so that he can’t wander off. Don’t allow him to play or walk around before he did his business. Otherwise he will forget why you came outside and only remember when you go back inside. After the puppy has peed you can play with him and let him discover his surroundings. You should not go on any big walks when you take the puppy outside to go potty. Young puppies don’t need that much exercise and everything out of their familiar surroundings will just distract from the reason you went outside; to go potty. When he has peed or pooped, you need to reward the puppy. Make sure to give the treat quick enough so that the puppy will associate it with going potty. Praise the puppy and let him know that he did good. This will make him want to recreate this moment the next time you go outside and once the puppy has made the connection between peeing outside and the reward, he is housebroken.
- Letting the puppy pee outside is often more sanitary
- Your goal is to have the dog pee on your walks
- Keep your puppy’s routine in mind and watch him like a hawk
- Always use the same potty spot in the beginning
- Use a leash to keep the puppy from running off and getting distracted
- Wait with your puppy until he has done his business
- Make the puppy feel like the king of the world for peeing in the right spot
How to potty train a puppy indoors
Most people prefer to teach their dog to pee outside. However, there are certain cases in which it is impossible to get outside quick enough or where it might be necessary for the puppy to pee inside. You shouldn’t just let your puppy pee anywhere inside. You still need to potty train him. Teaching your puppy to pee in a certain spot inside can also be a temporary solution. Until you move into a new place or until the puppy is old enough to hold it longer. All puppies have a small bladder, so if you live in a big apartment building the way outside might be too long. If this is the case you can put down old newspaper or puppy pads and teach the puppy to relieve himself on there. The basic idea is the same as when you teach the puppy to go potty outside. Try to learn your puppies routine and get to know your puppy’s signals for having to go potty. Every time you suspect that you puppy has to go, take him to the puppy pad. You can also use a leash to make sure that he doesn’t run off. Wait for him to pee or poop and don’t distract him. Reward him when he did. Give him a treat and also reward him with your voice. The puppy will quickly learn that he is supposed to pee in that spot. Another option to potty train your puppy in an apartment is to pick up the puppy when you suspect that he has to go. This will be much quicker than letting the puppy walk outside and there will be no accidents on the way. When you are outside, just put the puppy down and wait for him to do his business.
- In some cases it is necessary to potty train a puppy indoors
- Use old newspapers or puppy pads to potty train the puppy indoors
- Start potty training outside as soon as possible
- Try to learn the puppy’s routine and his signs for having to go potty
- Try using a leash to prevent the puppy from walking away again without peeing
How to potty train a puppy indoors and outdoors
it can be difficult to switch from potty training your puppy inside to letting him get used to peeing outdoors. But it is definitely possible. Once the puppy is able to hold it longer and can manage the walk outside without peeing on the way, you can start to slowly move the puppy pad or old newspaper closer to the door. Move it a little bit each day. When you reach the door, try putting the puppy pad outside in front of the door. The puppy will probably walk towards the door when he has to go and maybe even cry a bit, then it is up to you to be quick enough to open the door so that the puppy can use the puppy pad outside. This teaches the puppy to walk in the direction of the door when he has to go. You can use this and instead of allowing the puppy to do his business on the pad, you can just take him outside and let him go there. A more hygienic option to puppy pads and old newspapers can be puppy litter boxes. There are even patches of real grass you can order, they come in a box you can just put down and then the puppy can get used to pee on a patch of grass.
- Move the puppy pads towards the door so that the puppy learns to go there when he has to pee
- Once the puppy pad disappears from the door, the puppy will probably start crying and barking
- Be quick enough to bring your puppy outside to go potty
How to potty train a puppy in the winter
Potty training in the winter can be a bit harder because of the weather. It is not only cold, but it might also be snowing and the roads and sidewalks might be iced over. There are some tips and tricks how you can make your puppy’s potty training easier. If you can’t go outside because of the weather conditions you could start with potty training indoors. Use puppy pads or old newspapers to teach your puppy to go potty in a certain spot. Once the weather clears up, you can slowly move the pad or newspaper towards the door.
The puppy learns to walk toward the door when he has to go and you can take away the pad and just take the puppy outside. If you don’t live in extreme weather conditions, just keep going outside. Most puppies do fine in the cold and keeping up the routine will help immensely with house training your puppy. You don’t need to stay outside for too long, anyway. If the puppy hasn’t done his business after a few minutes, you can just go back inside and try again in 10 minutes. This way you and your puppy will not get too cold. If it has been snowing a lot you should clear your puppy’s potty spot from snow. Small paws can get cold quickly and especially if his paws sink into the snow, it will be uncomfortable.
You can prevent that by cleaning the potty spot from snow. This is more comfortable for the puppy and you have a bigger chance of success. In order to get the puppy to be quick with going potty once you are outside, you can try to teach him a command. Try to connect ‘go potty’ or ‘go ahead’ with peeing and pooping. This way your puppy will be quickly done and you can go back inside to warm up. Finally, if you can’t stand the cold, try to wrap yourself up warm as well as your puppy. There is functional clothing for puppies. This can help to protect the puppy from harsh weather and he will be more comfortable when you go outside. The cold can distract the puppy from doing his business and clothing can help him to feel more comfortable.
- It might be necessary to start potty training indoors
- Just keep going outside, most puppies do fine in the cold
- Clear the puppy’s potty spot from snow and ice
- Try teaching a command so that the puppy pees and poops faster
- Try to use functional puppy clothes against the cold
Potty training a puppy schedule
It would be nice to be able to keep a puppy on a certain schedule. Puppies are living beings and are not likely to stick to a schedule that you set for them. However, you can observe your puppy’s daily routine and model your own schedule around that. This is especially beneficial in the beginning. The puppy still has to learn the concept of peeing outside or in a certain spot and his bladder control is not fully developed, yet. Structure is important, puppies will quickly learn what to expect and it can also learn with house training. They will quickly learn that when they are taken outside and to a certain spot in the yard, they are supposed to do their business. Puppies will often develop a routine on their own and you can use it to reinforce the house training. Observe the puppy to discover this routine and follow it. As a rule of thumb you can count that puppies can hold their pee for an hour for every month they are alive. So puppies that are 5 months old can hold it for 5 hours max. Be careful, though, this is only a rule of thumb and no guarantee. In the beginning, it might be necessary to take him out every hour or even half hour.
There are also many regular moments when puppies almost always have to pee. These regular moments are:
- After waking up in the morning
- After every meal
- After drinking water
- After playing
- After chewing
- After being in the crate for some time
- After sleeping during the day
- Before you leave the puppy alone for a moment
- Before you go to sleep at night
You don’t need to take a walk every time that you take your puppy outside. It might even be better to just take your puppy to the same spot in the yard every time. The only goal of going outside is to let your puppy do his business, not to exercise. It will probably take a few days for the puppy to get used to his new environment. In these first few days it can take a little bit longer for the puppy to do his business when you go outside. But once the puppy has gotten used to his new home and has peed in the same spot for a couple of days, he should be quick to make the association between the spot in your yard and peeing and pooping.
Puppies thrive on a regular schedule, so try to stick to their routine as best as you can. The puppy will be quick to predict what is about to happen and he will anticipate your next move. Motivated by their will to please, the puppy will do great.
Another important factor in your puppy’s schedule should be balance. Puppies need to eat, play, sleep, get some exercise and also regular potty breaks. Make sure to keep your puppy’s routine balanced.
In addition to learning your puppy’s routine, you should also learn to read his signals. Puppies that are about to do their business often sniff the ground, pace, seem distracted, get up and walk out of the room or start to get restless. Puppies are not machines and don’t always stick to their routine. So be prepared and learn how your puppy indicates that he has to go potty.
- Puppy’s won’t stick to a schedule, but you can observe their routine
- Puppies strive on structure
- Try to plan your day around the puppy’s routine
- There are regular moments when a puppy needs to be taken out
- Puppies need a balanced routine of sleeping, eating, exercise and potty breaks
- Learn the signals the puppy uses to indicate that he has to go
Classes for potty training a puppy
Potty training is a basic topic in raising a puppy. So it is usually also covered in most puppy courses. The problem here is that puppy courses usually happen once a week and not at your home. So you might learn something about the theory of potty training, but there is no one that really guides you through it. So in addition to the puppy training at the dog school, it might be smart to also follow an online puppy training. 123Tinki.com offers the online training Puppy House Training: How to Potty Train a Puppy. You will learn how to potty train your puppy in 11 easy steps and the training will also cover frequently asked questions and problems new dog owners often run in to. This online potty training for puppies will help you to get your puppy housebroken quickly. It is a nice addition to regular puppy training because, in addition to the weekly lessons, you will have guidelines on how to integrate the puppy’s house training in your day to day life. One puppy training lesson a week is probably not enough and the main work has to happen at home. Tinki Academy’s easy step-by-step guide can help to guide you through that and also answer any questions you might have.
- Puppy classes can help to get started and ask questions
- Online training is a good addition to practice at home
- Tinki Academy offers some handy step-by-step guides
How to potty train a puppy when you work full time
If you are wondering if it is possible to coordinate your puppy’s potty training with your work schedule, you should ask yourself if you really have enough time for a puppy right now. Dogs are pack animals and feel most comfortable in a group. They are not made to stay home alone for hours at a time. So ask yourself if you can make sure that someone regularly looks after the puppy throughout the day. Especially in the beginning, the house training will cost lots of time, so you should try to take as much time off of work as possible. Another option to help get your puppy housebroken while you work is to hire a professional. Puppy sitters or dog walkers can look for your puppy throughout the day and make sure that he gets enough opportunities to do his business outside. This is only advisable for an older puppy, though, young puppies should not be left alone for too long.
Puppies need to learn how to be home alone and that can take quite a lot of time. So, in the beginning, it is important to stay home as much as possible. You can also ask family and friends to spend time with your puppy and take him outside for his potty trips. Lots of people would be happy to spend time with a puppy and it would be good for your puppy to have some company. If you know someone else with a puppy you can try to look after each other’s puppy. This has the added advantage that the puppy gets socialized with another dog.
Crate training can also help you to leave your puppy alone for a little bit. If introduced the right way, the confined space will help the puppy to calm down when you are gone. But fact is, in order to house train your puppy, you need lots of time, especially in the beginning. Puppies have a small bladder and need to be taken outside to pee frequently. In the beginning, it can be every hour or even half hour. It might take up to a year until the puppy can hold his pee for 6 to 8 hours. So the most important factor in house training a puppy is time, make sure you have enough of that! Can you work from home? Then you can take the puppy outside for his potty breaks. Don’t get a puppy if you can’t make enough time for him.
- Ask yourself if you have enough time for a puppy
- Take off as much time as possible
- Ask friends and family
- Try to work from home
- Hire a professional
- Crate training can help in leaving the puppy home alone
- Teach the puppy to stay home alone
Potty training a puppy with a crate
The crate can be a great tool to help potty training a puppy. It uses the puppy’s natural instinct of trying to avoid soiling his bed. A lot of people don’t want to crate train their puppy because they feel guilty for ‘locking up’ the puppy. But quite the opposite is true. If you introduce the crate slowly and in the right way, it will be a great place to retreat to and get some rest. You need to teach the puppy that the crate is his sleeping spot. You can do that by crate training your puppy. Puppies have a natural instinct to avoid soiling their sleeping spot. So in order to avoid having to pee in the crate, they will start to whine and bark.
Now you have to be quick enough and take the puppy outside before the puppy can’t hold it anymore and is forced to pee in the crate. The crate should not be too big or too small. The puppy needs to be able to sit, lie down, turn around and stretch out. But the crate should also not be too big. Otherwise the puppy might just pick a corner of the crate to do his business. You should buy a crate that is big enough for an adult dog and then use dividers or cardboard to divide it into a smaller partition. This way you will not have to buy a new crate every time the puppy outgrows his old one. If you use crate training for getting your puppy housebroken, you need to be quick and always keep an eye on your puppy.
The puppy is probably going to whine and bark when he has to go because he doesn’t want to soil his bed. Then it is up to you to be quick enough to get him outside. If you leave the puppy alone in his crate and come back to an accident, that means you left the puppy alone for too long. Try to avoid this! If the puppy gets used to peeing inside the crate he won’t let you know when he has to go anymore. However, even a crate trained puppy can’t stay in the crate for too long. The crate is always a temporary solution. Make sure that the puppy gets taken outside during the day.
- Make sure to properly crate train the puppy
- Don’t leave him alone for too long
- The crate should not be too big
- Immediately take the puppy outside when you suspect he needs to go
- An accident means that you left the puppy alone for too long
- The crate is only a temporary solution
- Give your puppy enough opportunities to go outside
- A toy or a treat can help to make the crate more comfortable
Potty training a puppy without a crate
Potty training without a crate follows the same principle as potty training a puppy with a crate. You try to teach the puppy where he is supposed to do his business. Even if you don’t want to use a crate, you should still confine the puppy to a limited space. This has the advantage that you can always keep an eye on the puppy and will always see what he does. The confined space also makes the puppy feel more comfortable. Remember that in the beginning everything is new to him. He will feel more at home if the area available to him is limited so that he can get used to it quickly. There are different options to restrict the puppy’s access to the house. You can put up puppy pens or puppy gates to keep him in a certain area. If you don’t like to put up any extra furniture, you can also use a long leash. The area the puppy is confined to should be easy to clean. Kitchen tiles are more suitable than the living room carpet. Accidents happen, so you should be prepared to clean them up quickly. You need to look for signs that the puppy has to go and take him out quickly. Also stick to the puppy’s schedule and take him out regularly. Once the puppy seems to understand the concept of having to pee outside better, you can give him more freedom. It can take up to 1 ½ years to be able to leave your dog roaming free in the house, so house training definitely needs lots of time.
- House training is easier if you restrict the puppy’s access to the house
- Accidents can always happen, so be prepared
- Always keep an eye on the puppy
- Always look for signs that the puppy has to pee
Potty training a puppy: how long does it take
It depends on lots of factors how long potty training a puppy takes. There are factors you can take into account before getting a puppy. Some breeds are easier to house train than others, for example. Always do your research about the breed of your own puppy. In general, smaller dogs and especially toy dogs are harder to train because of their small bladder. But of course, every puppy is different and the length of the house training also depends on the particular puppy.
You should also choose the breeder with house training in mind. Find a breeder that already starts with house training and you will save lots of work. No puppy comes completely house trained, so you will have to continue the house training at your home. But it will be a lot easier if you find the right breeder. Some puppies will be quicker to understand than others, but every puppy can be house trained.
If your puppy doesn’t seem to make progress, you should exclude any medical problems and go to your vet for a check-up. If there is no medical problem, don’t hesitate to ask for help. There are lots of professionals that specialize in dog behavior. Someone with an outside view might be able to help you house train your dog. The most important thing is that you stay patient and persistent. There are puppies that are housebroken in weeks, but that is probably not your puppy. Some puppies need up to a year or even a year and a half. Just keep going, with patience and perseverance you will ultimately succeed. You can consider your puppy to be housebroken when he has gone several weeks without an accident.
- House training is easier if you pick a good breeder
- Check for medical problems if you have problems to house train you puppy
- Take your time, some puppies need longer than others
- Be patient but persistent
Potty training a puppy fast
When looking for the best way to potty train a puppy, lots of people are only trying to find the fastest way of potty training their puppy. The length of the puppy’s house training is determined by several factors, some of which you can influence. The breed of your puppy and the breeder you choose can have a positive influence on the length of your puppy’s house training. Some breeds are easier to house train than others. Big breeds, for example, have the advantage of having a big bladder, at least once they are grown up. So they will be able to hold their pee longer. You should also try to find a breeder that already starts the house training. Puppies instinctively don’t want to soil their sleeping spot.
If the breeder fosters this natural cleanliness, you will have a much easier time to get the puppy housebroken. The most important factor for the length of your puppy’s house training is you. How much time and effort are you willing to put into your puppy’s house training? The quickest way to house train your puppy is to spend lots of time keeping an eye on your puppy and learning your puppy’s routine. Take him outside a lot and make him feel like the king of the world every time he does his business outside. The number on reason why house training a puppy takes too long is the owners negligence. They don’t keep an eye on the puppy and don’t bother learning the puppy’s routine or signs. You need to be diligent and watch you puppy like a hawk. Take your puppy outside as soon as you suspect that he has to go and try to prevent accidents inside the house.
- The right breed and breeder can have a positive influence on potty training
- House training a puppy takes time, that is a fact
- The success of house training depends on the time and effort you put into it
When to start potty training a puppy
The moment to start potty training a puppy is when he comes to live with you. With most breeders this is somewhere around 8 weeks. At this age a puppy still needs to learn where he is allowed to pee and where he is not supposed to pee. The right moment to start your puppy’s house training is on day 1. If you wait until the puppy is older you will start with a disadvantage and the puppy learns wrong behavior. He probably won’t understand why he suddenly has to pee outside when he was allowed to pee inside for the first few days. You need to be consistent with your rules from day 1, so it is important to start your puppy’s crate training immediately when he comes to live with you. If you need to be gone during your puppy’s house training you should organize someone to look after him and continue the house training. The most important thing with house training is consistency, so in case you need to be gone, make sure to plan ahead, your puppy’s routine should not be disrupted.
- Start the house training on day 1
- Be consistent with your puppy
- If you need to be gone, ask someone to take your puppy on potty breaks
When to start potty training a puppy outside
You should start to potty train your puppy outside as soon as possible. However, puppies need certain vaccinations before they are fully protected against the typical dog diseases. This can be tricky, because the best way to potty train your puppy outside is to start on day 1, but the puppy is only fully protected against diseases a week after his last shot, and that is often around 14 weeks. Puppies catch diseases from other dogs. By liking the urine or feces of a dog that carries the disease. The perfect solution to this dilemma is taking your puppy to go potty in your own yard. Make sure it is fenced in and that no other dogs have access to your yard. If you have other dogs, that is fine, as long as they are vaccinated. So you can start to potty train your puppy outside in your own yard from day one. Only start to potty train him on walks in your neighborhood after the puppy is fully protected against the dog diseases. If you don’t have a yard, you still need to take the puppy outside. Try to find a spot close by that is not frequented by too many dog. And then it is up to you to watch your puppy like a hawk. Don’t let him lick or sniff an area where another dog might have peed. This is how infectious diseases get passed on and you need to prevent it until the puppy is fully protected by vaccinations. If you don’t want to take the risk, you can also start potty training your puppy inside. It will be more difficult, but also more save. You have to make this decision for yourself. It is important to start as early as possible, so that the puppy doesn’t learn the wrong thing first.
- Start as early as possible
- Start in your own yard and only go out when the puppy is fully vaccinated
- To be safe you can also start house training inside until the puppy is fully vaccinated
Potty training a puppy at night
Potty training a puppy doesn’t stop when you go to sleep. The puppy still needs to be taken out regularly. You can let the puppy sleep next to your bed in his crate or a big cardboard box he can’t climb out of. This will help you to notice when the puppy wakes up and needs to be taken out. If you don’t want the puppy to sleep in your bedroom or are a heavy sleeper, you can also set one or several alarms throughout the night. Puppies have small bladders, so especially in the beginning it might be necessary to take them out several times a night. Some people restrict their puppy’s water intake in the evening and through the night. This makes the puppy pee less and he will have to be taken out less often.
Other people think this is cruel, because how would you like it if your water intake was restricted? Ultimately, you have to make this decision for yourself. Always make sure to take the puppy out one last time before you go to bed, then he will probably sleep for a few hours before he has to go again. Going outside for a potty trip should also be the first thing you do in the morning, the puppy probably had to hold it for a few hours at this point. So make sure to keep your routine and the puppy will quickly get used to it. The best way to get your puppy to sleep through the night is to take him out a little bit later each night. In the beginning you need to take him out quite a lot, but as he gets older he will be able to hold it longer.
Eventually you won’t have to get up at night to take him out. This takes time, so be prepared to get up at night, sometimes even several times a night. To make it easier on yourself, you should take time off of work in the beginning. Raising a young puppy can be a full-time job, so you should put lots of time and effort into it.
- Be prepared to get up at night to let the puppy do his business
- Take the puppy outside for a potty break before you go to bed and first thing in the morning
- Let the puppy sleep next to your bed and take him outside when he moves around
- Set an alarm to take your puppy outside during the night
Potty training a puppy with a video
There are lots of videos out there on potty training a puppy. Videos are a great addition to written instructions and lots of people find them easier to follow. Tinki Academy offers a great combination of written information, video classes, guidelines and handy step-by-step guides. Take a look at Puppy House Training: How to Potty Train a Puppy . This online training offers you a handy step-by-step guide to get your puppy housebroken in 11 steps. You can access the information as written text but also in the form of videos. You will not only learn how to potty train your puppy, the training also contains lots of background information about the topic. In addition, we gathered a total of 25 frequently asked questions and answered them for you. So after following the online training about house training a puppy, you should be more than capable of teaching your puppy where he is supposed to pee and poop.
Do you think you can't potty train your puppy?
With some puppies, potty training can be quite hard. But every puppy can be potty trained. Some puppy’s simply take longer to be housebroken than others. One puppy is housebroken in a few weeks while other dogs might take up to a year to learn to pee outside. So if you do your best, follow the puppy’s routine strictly and there is no progress after month of hard work, you should get the dog checked for medical issues. Visit your vet and tell him about your problems with house training. He will be able to tell if there is a medical reason for your puppy’s peeing inside the house or not. If there is no medical reason, it might be smart to get help. There are dog trainers and behavioral therapists that specialize in puppy behavior. An outside view might be good to assess the situation and find a solution to your problem.
Setbacks during training are normal and part of house training. Sometimes the puppy will have an accident inside. Just clean it up and keep training. Try to analyze how the accident happened. Did you not watch the puppy close enough or was there a big change in the environment? Some puppies also need to pee more when they had an exciting day. Try to find the reason for your puppy’s accident and try to prevent it next time.
- Exclude medical reasons if potty training doesn’t work
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help from professionals
- Accidents happen, keep going
Food and Water
The puppies diet is an important factor of the house training. You should give him several small portions of food during the day. A puppy’s digestive system is not fully developed yet and can’t handle large amounts of food. Young puppies need to pee and poop a lot more than adult dogs, so take him out after every meal. It is also important to use good quality food. Puppies have a sensitive digestive system and you should carefully choose puppy good. Often the vet or the breeder can help with the choice of food. The puppy’s stool can tell you if the food is good for your puppy. Your puppy’s stool should be firm and moist and without any mucus or blood. If your dog has diarrhea, bad food can be the reason for this. Puppies that are going through house training should not have unrestricted access to food. You should keep an eye on your puppy’s meals so that you are able to spot any irregularities. However, make sure that the puppy always has access to fresh water. Drinking enough is important for the puppy’s digestion and his general health.
- It is better to give several small meals
- Buy good quality food
- Stool can tell if the food is good for the puppy
- No unrestricted access to food during house training
- Puppies always need access to fresh water
Who to ask for help to potty train a puppy
If you can’t seem to get your puppy housebroken and the vet has excluded any medical reasons, it might be time to get some help. There are lots of professionals that are specialized in puppy behavior. Often times an outside view can help to understand the puppy’s behavior and how you can adjust the house training to meet the puppy’s needs. Try to contact dog trainers or dog behavior specialists to get a first consult. Ask for their approach of dog training and choose a professional you feel comfortable with. It is often the behavior of the owner that leads to accidents in the house.
The most important thing is to stick to the puppy’s routine and watch like a hawk for any signs that he has to go. It might be a good idea to follow the online training Puppy House Training: How to Potty Train a Puppy from Tinki Academy. In addition to an easy step-by-step guide for your puppy’s house training, this online training also offers lots of background information and answers 25 frequently asked questions. So it provides lots of information that can help you to get your puppy housebroken. The online training can be used in combination with classical puppy training. Some dog schools offer puppy training that includes house training. Here you will have the chance to ask questions face-to-face, but these lessons are often only once a week.
The online training is available 24 hours a day and you can follow it at your own pace. Another tip to get help from other people is to ask friends and family that also have a dog. They have probably experience with house training and might be able to give you a pointer or two. Ultimately, your puppy’s house training is your own responsibility, but there are definitely people out there who can help you.
Video lesson on puppy potty training
Potty training a puppy tips
In summary, there are some good tips that can help you with potty training your puppy:
- A good and controlled diet helps
- Keep a consistent schedule: potty trips, feeding times, rest time, playing
- Sufficient mental and physical exercise
- Reward your puppy for going potty outside
- Thoroughly clean up any accidents
- Use tools that can help with potty training: crate, leash and collar or harness, quality food, barriers and restrictions, treats and toys as rewards, good cleaning supplies to remove odor
- Try to teach a specific commando to save time
- Do not interrupt your puppy or distract him from peeing, stay with him outside until he has done his business
- The most important factor in house training is the owner’s diligence, watch him like a hawk, take him outside as soon as you suspect he has to go and keep to the puppy’s schedule
- If you frequently need to be gone for long stretches of time it is maybe not the best moment to get a puppy
- Remember to keep dog poop bags on hand to clean up after your puppy
- Keep him in a confined space indoors to prevent accidents
- Make the puppy feel like the king of the world when he does his business in the intended spot
- Be picky when choosing a breeder; a good breeder can make a huge difference in your puppy’s house training
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