How To Potty Train A Puppy?

Overview 

Bringing a puppy home is an exciting and joyous feeling. At the same time no pet-parent can escape the challenges that come with it. Initially, It is actually a journey with learning curves. From what to feed, how to bond, to how to potty train a puppy, and the entire journey with the newest member of the family - one has to learn so many things. However, the most important of all is - Potty Training. 

You don’t desire to live in a messy home with stinky smells. Instead, you wish to live in a clean home with a well-behaved pet. For this, your new little pup must know where he should pee and poop. The process of how to potty train a puppy can be overwhelming even if you are an experienced pet owner. But remember, there is no shortcut. Every puppy has to go through the same process. 

Learning potty training techniques for puppies is one of the most important steps. The key to successful training is patience, determination, consistency, repetition, and positive reinforcement. There is no other way around. 

Potty Training is Important: Why?  

Potty training aka house training or house-breaking is essential for both the puppy and the owner. With proper potty training techniques for puppies, the puppy gets clarity about how, when, and where to relieve along with avoiding accidents. On the flip side, without proper house training, a dog will develop bad habits, and decorate your home with stinky pieces. These habits will be frustrating and difficult to break once your puppy is a dog. 

Here are key points why potty training is important: 

• Hygiene: The first and foremost principle to get a pet is to take proper care of hygiene. One must keep the pet hygienic along with ensuring self-hygiene. A potty trainedr puppy will not soil the house where you and your pup can live a happy life together in a clean, odor-free living environment. 

• Reduce Stress: Owners of a well-behaved pet experience less frustration and can enjoy more happy time with the puppy. 

• Strengthening Human-Pup Bond: When you treat your puppy like your baby, train him thoroughly, and treat and praise him occasionally, the bond between you and your pup will be strengthened. 

• Behavioral Issues: House training prevents behavioral issues in dogs. Puppies who are not taught where to eliminate may develop anxiety and confusion. Slowly, these feelings will become their nature and lead to behavioral issues. 

How to Potty Train a Puppy?  

You cannot expect a puppy to come with a preloaded knowledge of where to pee and poop. Especially, when they have been brought to a new place to share a life with new people. They need to learn how to live in this very human world. This requires the owner to learn potty training techniques for puppies.  

Puppies don’t have a full bladder capacity at least until they are 12 months old. They can hold their urge to relieve for one hour for every month of their age. Let’s say if a pup is 2 months old, he can control his bladder for 2 hours.The younger the puppy, the less control he has. Even if an 8-week-old puppy drinks water, it is most likely to be out in 10 minutes. 

Let’s master how to potty train a puppy: 

1. Establish a Routine  

Puppies thrive when they have a routine. You need a good dog to show for it, you need to teach him to be one. You play a big role as an owner here. Set a regular schedule for your puppy to eat, poop, and play. This will help set up a routine for you to take him out and for him to do his business. Establish a routine for potty training: 

• Take your furry buddy out the first thing in the morning. 

• Right after every meal and nap. 

• After playtime. 

• Before bed, take him to a final potty break. 

• Take him out every 1-2 hours initially. You can gradually extend the intervals. 

2. Start Off Right 

Once you have your puppy buddy at your home, introduce him to the potty spot immediately. Do not let your dog poop anywhere, but only where you allow him to. Learning how to potty train a puppy effectively will help you. You can use a word or phrase that he can associate with the action. For instance, you can say, “Potty/ Toilet/ Bathroom/ Do/ Go” for him to understand that you want him to relieve. When you get the first few exposures correctly, the rest of the training will become easy. 

3. Have a Designated Spot 

Now, this is the most important point. Dogs are very smart and intelligent. They heavily rely on smell to recognize their potty area. You have to have a designated potty spot for your puppy both outside and inside. Every time when you take your pup to do their business, take him to the same place. Your puppy will associate the area with relieving and naturally poop over there. 

4. Controlled Diet & Feeding Schedule   

What goes inside a puppy on a schedule, comes out on a schedule. Ideally, puppies eat 3 meals a day at the same time every day. They naturally relieve shortly after every meal. If a puppy eats 3 times a day, he is most likely to relieve 4 times in a day. Remove the water dish 3 hours before bedtime unless you want him to wake you up at midnight. 

At the same time, it’s essential to give a controlled diet to your puppy. Puppies have an immature digestive system. They cannot really handle heavy meals and a lot of food. Moreover, examine your pup’s stool, and figure out if any changes in diet are required. 

5. Make notes, Supervise, & Confine 

Make notes of your puppy’s schedule. Generally, a dog wants to relieve himself

• first thing in the morning, 

• after every meal, 

• after every nap 

• after playtime 

• before bed 

These are times when you must take your puppy out to do their business. 

Apart from this, you can actively supervise when you’re at home with your puppy. Observe his behaviour closely. Puppies can hint you with signs like circling, sniffing, barking, snatching, or whining. When you see one of these signals, you know it's time. 

You can also use a bell. Yes, to understand How to Potty Train a Puppy Using a Bell, get a bell that your puppy can ring to signal you. Ring the bell just before taking him out for potty breaks. Do this for one day. From the next day onwards, you will see that your pup is ringing the bell to call you out when he needs to use the loo. 

Next is confinement. When you can’t supervise, confine your puppy. Limit his reach to a limited area. Dogs have a natural instinct to not pee or poop at the same place they eat and sleep. They understand the differentiation of surfaces. When you are not around, restrict your puppy to an area where he does not want to eliminate. 

6. Crate Training 

Crate training is another important aspect when we talk about how to potty train a puppy. It is one of the important points of potty training techniques for puppies. Puppies ate soiling their sleeping area. 

• Pick a crate big enough for your puppy to stand, sit, turn, and lie down. 

• Take him out immediately after releasing him from the crate. 

• Gradually increase the crate timing as your puppy develops bladder control. 

7. Mistakes Happens, Clean-up Immediately 

Punishment can never lead to successful potty training. Accidents can happen initially - it is a normal part of the house training process. Do not punish him or shout at him. Or else, he will be scared of you. It will only make him think that he cannot relieve around you. 

If an accident occurs- do not think much about it and clean up immediately. The area needs to be cleaned properly. 

Remember to always use enzymatic cleaners and not ammonia-based cleaners. Ammonia cleaners smell like urine and dogs can associate the area with urine. They might believe this is the place to do the business. 

8. Positive Reinforcement & Consistency 

Always positive reinforcement and praise your puppy. Your puppy should know that he gets rewarded for eliminating outside. Every single time, when your puppy relieves outside, reward him with a treat, verbal praise, or his favourite toy. 

Patience and consistency are the key to successful potty training. Be consistent with your efforts and eventually, you are going to have a well-behaved puppy friend. 

How to Toilet Train a Puppy in an Apartment?

Follow the same potty training techniques when you live in an apartment. Make sure to take your pup out first in the morning, before bed, after every meal, and after every nap. When it is not possible for you to take him out frequently, get a dog walker. Use techniques like crate training, and designate an indoor area for potty training. 

How to Potty Train a Puppy at Night?  

You need a night full of sound sleep. You do not want to wake up in the middle of the night and take your puppy out. Generally, dogs sleep for 7 hours. Make sure to give him a potty break before bedtime and first in the morning to potty train a puppy at night. 

Potential Challenges in Potty Training a Puppy 

Even if you are an experienced pet owner but with a new puppy - challenges may arise in the best training. Here are some common challenges in how to potty train a puppy along with their solutions: 

Frequent Accidents: 

• Increase the number of potty breaks. 

• Take your puppy out more frequently. 

• Examine his stool and see if any changes in diet are required. 

• Supervise actively and closely. 

• Rule out any medical issues like UTI (urinary tract infections). 

Puppy Refusing to Go Outside: 

• Frequent outside visits may help here. 

• Use a leash and stand in one place until he agrees. 

• Reward generously when he is eliminates as trained. 

Crying in Crate: 

• Give him toys for playing and a blanket for comfort. 

• Make sure to give him a potty break before crating. 

• Ignore whining or crying unless it signals a need for a potty break. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the fastest way to potty train a puppy?

The fastest way to potty train a puppy is to be consistent. Establish, develop, and follow a strict routine. Take your puppy out frequently, teach him potty signals, reward him immediately, and use a crate to teach them to hold their bladder. 

2. How to potty train a puppy in 7 days?  

To potty train a puppy in 7 days, observe him actively and make note of his schedule on the first day. On the second day, feed him at the same time and expect him to do his business again at the same time. Repetition and consistency is the key here. Stick to a routine for 7 days and have a well-mannered pup in seven days. This is how you potty train a puppy in 7 days. 

3. How long can it take to potty train a puppy?

It may take anywhere between 6 weeks to 18 weeks to potty train a puppy successfully. 

4. What age is easiest to potty train a puppy?

The ideal age to start potty training a puppy is 8 - 12 weeks. However, the process becomes easier with puppies at 10-15 weeks of their age. 

5. Should I punish my dog for peeing inside?

No. Never punish your dog for peeing inside. Punishments never work. In Fact, it can disturb the bond between you and your furry friend. Moreover, you may find pee and poops in unexpected areas as your puppy will be scared of doing it in front of you.