How to Potty Train a Puppy

Potty training a new puppy can be quite the task – especially if you are a first-time pet owner. Your dog is the cutest new member of your family, and you want to be sure that they are happy, healthy, and well-behaved. One way to make sure that not only your puppy is happy but that your house stays in order is to start potty training as soon as possible.

We’ve compiled a complete guide on how to train your puppy and tips and tricks along the way that you might find helpful.

What The Experts Say – When to Start Potty Training

According to the AKC, it’s best to start potty training your new puppy between 12-14 weeks of age. Keep in mind that many owners get their new puppy at 8 weeks of age – this recommendation from the AKC stresses the importance of letting your puppy get used to your home and their new surroundings before teaching them to use the bathroom outside.

Potty Training Puppy

How to Start Potty Training

Some of the most common methods for potty training your new puppy include:

There are pros and cons to each potty training method, and ultimately you should choose whatever you and your pup are most comfortable with based on your living situation.

When you first start potty training a new puppy, it’s important to stay consistent throughout the process and control your puppy’s environment as much as possible. You can do this by:

Feeding your dog at the same time every day.
Keeping a consistent schedule for going outside – we suggest every hour in the beginning, after meals, and after playtime.
Praise your puppy when they use the bathroom outside.

Potty training isn’t a race, so don’t worry if it’s taking longer than you’d like. Every dog is different, and they learn at different speeds.

What To Do When You Catch Your Dog Having an Accident in the House

If you catch your dog mid-accident, the best thing you can do is to stay calm. Remember, puppies are babies, and they will have accidents. Follow these steps when you find your dog having an accident:

Interrupt your dog with a stern tone saying something like “Oops!”, “No,” or “Ah Ah Ah.” This will get your dog’s attention and often make them stop urinating.

Pick your puppy up and take them outside. Walk around your yard and give your pup time to use the bathroom if they stop halfway through.
Praise your puppy if they use the bathroom outside – go ahead, make a big deal about it, and get really excited.
Go back inside and clean the soiled area of your floor with a pet cleaner to eliminate smells – this helps with deterring your dog from using that spot as a toilet again in the future.

We’ve talked a lot about how you should respond, but what shouldn’t you do?

Never rub your puppy’s nose in their accident.
Never use their crate as punishment for having an accident.
Never yell or scream at your puppy.
Just let your puppy have an accident and do nothing about it.

Potty training will be over before you know it! Dogs are very quick to learn how to please their owners and will do anything to make you happy. Making sure that you are consistent, praise your pup, and avoid excessive scolding will get you from a new puppy to fully potty trained in no time!