Ten Tips for Training Your Puppy to go Potty Outside

ONE:

The more unseen accidents your puppy has in the house, the more it will be reinforced in his mind that he can go potty inside and the harder it will become to housebreak him. Obviously, this is not a thing with large dogs, since you can’t really miss an accident if your puppy is a large breed. However, if you have a tiny dog that pees a dime-sized spot on your rug, it’s super easy to accidently overlook.   

That’s why, whether your puppy is big or small, it’s so important to confine him whenever you can’t closely watch him.

*SEE OUR BLOG ON CRATE TRAINING

TWO:

When your puppy is not confined, whether he is large or small, you must still keep him only to one room—or even gated into one area of a room--as it will be too difficult for you to follow him all over the house, and too easy for him to go potty without being seen. The kitchen is usually a good idea, that way, if your pup does have an accident, it will be easy to clean up.

While your puppy is inside playing, you must watch him like a hawk. It does not matter if you just took him outside and he went potty, a puppy will sometimes go potty again five minutes later. You need to always be closely watching, so that the second your puppy starts to sniff, circle, squat etc… you can immediately take him outside--have his leash ready!

THREE:

Your puppy should be leashed and brought to the same spot in your yard every time he is taken out to go potty. A short leash will not leave him much room to explore and, within five minutes or so, he will have sniffed everything in his radius, which will leave him nothing to get distracted by, and thereby make it more likely for him to go potty.

FOUR:

Every time you take your puppy out to his potty spot, use set verbal commands such as “Go Potty” or the more specific “Go pee-pee” or “Go poop.” When you see your pup begin to squat or do the “poop hunch” quietly praise them by saying, “Good boy. Go potty. Go potty.”  

FIVE:

As soon as your puppy is finished doing his business, he should be enthusiastically praised and rewarded with a special small treat. Make sure the treat is one of your puppy’s favorites and that this specific treat is only given as a reward for going potty.

SIX:

Take your puppy outside frequently-- at least every two hours. Keep in mind that puppies will also need to go out immediately upon waking up, during and after play time, and within five to thirty minutes of eating/drinking—watch your puppy closely and you will quickly learn how soon after eating/drinking they should be taken out.

SEVEN:

Remember, it is your job to watch your puppy closely enough to ensure he does not have an accident inside. If your puppy does go potty inside, don’t scold him or get mad, just quickly clean it up and deodorize the area. Some eight- to twelve-week-old puppies may need to be taken out as often as every thirty to sixty minutes in the beginning.

EIGHT:

Consistency is the key. Learn your puppy’s potty habits and take him out accordingly. Have patience! Some puppies may understand what you want very quickly, while others may take months to grasp what it is you are trying to get them to do. While housebreaking a puppy can be frustrating, always keep in mind that your puppy is never being careless or bad—that he honestly does not understand what you want him to do.  Once he understands, your troubles will be over.

NINE:

Whether it takes a few weeks or six months, house-breaking is an essential part of raising your puppy into a happy, well-adjusted dog. Keep in mind that in the grand scheme of a dog’s life, housebreaking is just one small episode. You cannot get tired or give up on your puppy, as you are the one who took on this responsibility. Just take a deep breath and remember how happy you’ll be once this part is over with!

TEN:

It bears repeating that closely watching your puppy while he is playing inside is the number one rule of successful housebreaking. Never trust a young child to be in charge of watching the puppy as children are too easily distracted. Don’t assume you can glance down at your phone for a few minutes, or watch the game on TV while keeping half an eye on the puppy, because it only takes a few seconds for him to squat and pee. If you cannot give your puppy your full attention while he is inside, he should be crated until you have time. However, a puppy should never be crated for most of the day. Remember, this is a little baby that needs a lot of love, so he should be out of the crate a large amount of each day.

Before you know it, your puppy will be completely housebroken and you will be on to the next challenge!