Reduce puppy potty training stress with 7 game-changing tips

Who doesn’t love bringing a floppy-eared puppy home? There’s just one catch to go along with all that fuzzy, shoe-chewing cuteness: Puppy potty training.

But don’t worry: These seven puppy potty training hacks will help you and your pet breeze through this house-training puppy phase and onto a lifetime of love and fun together.

1. Give your puppy lots of opportunities

The key to successful potty-training new puppies is to catch your pup when he does what you want and give lots of immediate, effusive praise.

So, when you first start potty training, put your puppy on a leash and take him outdoors every hour to designated potty spots.

Be cautious about using pee pads. It can confuse your puppy if you sometimes allow it to pee or poop in the house.

This creates many opportunities to succeed and chances for him to connect the dots as he sees that doing his business outside makes you happy.

2. Be realistic

The American Kennel Club advises that, as a general rule, pups can “hold it” for the same number of hours as their age in months, up to around nine months old.

For a three-month-old puppy, that might mean coming home twice a day — or having someone else come home for you — so he can “go” to the bathroom every three hours during an eight-hour workday.

But it’ll be worth the effort to watch your puppy grow into a happy, healthy, and well-trained dog in the long run.

3. Learn his cues

Even before your puppy learns to sit by the door and “ask” to be let out, you can spot signs that he needs to go.

If you’re alert to those cues — for example, urgently sniffing the ground as he looks for a place to pee — you can set your puppy up for house training success by getting him outside before nature’s call takes effect.

4. Create a puppy potty training routine

Once your dog starts developing bladder control and realizes that pottying in the proper place generates praise, it’s time to steer him to a consistent routine of potty breaks.

Get your dog on a puppy potty training schedule you can follow daily, including the weekends.

5. Control mealtimes

Just like humans, eating and drinking can stimulate a puppy’s digestive system to eliminate waste — so time your potty breaks for right after mealtimes.

Setting up a regular feeding schedule will help. Timing potty breaks to other daily events, like napping or playing, give your pup even more opportunities for success.

6. Be positive

A few potty mistakes are inevitable, and of course, they’re frustrating — but don’t take it out on your young dog, who doesn’t yet know enough to connect your upset with the mistake.

Instead, focus on praising your dog effusively when she goes to the right place at the right time. If she has a favorite treat, make that — and lots of love — her reward for every success.

Positive reinforcement techniques play a crucial role in puppy potty training.

Examples of positive reinforcement include rewarding the puppy with treats, verbal praise, and even playtime when it successfully eliminates in the desired spot.

Consistency is vital in establishing a potty training routine. And remember your patience. Puppies take a while to master new skills.

Taking the puppy to the designated potty area at regular intervals, such as after meals, naps, and immediately after waking up, helps reinforce the desired behavior.

Creating a consistent schedule and sticking to it teaches the puppy when and where it’s appropriate to relieve itself. This routine helps the puppy understand expectations, leading to successful potty training.

7. Consider crate training

Some people avoid crate training because they feel it’s inhumane to shut their best friend in a cage — after all, humans wouldn’t willingly sleep in a crate, would they?

But a properly crate-trained dog sees the crate the same way we see a bedroom: As a cozy, secure, familiar, and — most importantly — clean space to spend quiet time.

If you’re struggling with the puppy potty training process, creating that safe space might help ease your dog’s anxiety and, equally important, trigger their instincts to “hold it” and avoid messing in their sleeping space.

Ensure you give them frequent breaks because holding it too long can cause health problems.

Final thoughts on puppy potty training success

If your puppy has an accident in your house, clean it up immediately with enzymatic cleaners.

A soiled area with the smell of urine or feces can become a magnet for your puppy, causing it to continue using that spot in your house as a potty place.

If your pup is already potty trained and seems backsliding, avoid punishing your puppy and consult your veterinarian to determine whether health problems might be at fault.

Regular vet checks and the appropriate use of preventative medications, like NexGard, to control ticks and fleas will help ensure many years of accident-free life and love with your new best friend. For more information, visit Allivet for a recommended preventative medication that helps control ticks and fleas.

Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success