The American Kennel Club found that one of the top reasons a dog is rehomed or ends up in a shelter is because they lack potty training. Dog ownership is a great responsibility, and we like to ensure our puppies have the best chance of overcoming all the obstacles they may face with their new human pack. Though we don’t potty train our puppies before they enter your home and hearts, we give them the best accommodations to encourage healthy habits from the start!
Our kennel provides heated flooring to keep our momma dog and her puppies comfortable while also giving access to the outdoors. By offering our dogs and their puppies all-day access to a covered outside kennel, puppies start learning where to take care of business from their mom. We also frequently clean accidents with an enzyme-based disinfectant that eliminates odors. By thoroughly cleaning up after messes, puppies stay clean and don’t get confused thinking it’s okay to go to the bathroom in their living space. Keeping their natural inclination to keep their living space clean, intact.
Where Do I Start When Potty Training My Puppy?
Start with a Crate
If you are new to dogs, you may cringe at the thought of confining your puppy to a crate, but there is no better tool in training. Dogs are den animals and will seek out a little canine cave for security, regardless of whether you provide one. So, using this to your advantage when training is a no-brainer. There may be a bit of whining as they acclimate to a small space where they are alone, but this is due more to the anxiety of being separated from their littermates.
No puppy should have the run of the house. Providing a crate in a room you don’t mind accidents happening gives you and your pup a great start. Even more, having a door to the backyard in that room would be ideal. The number one potty training mistake is giving a puppy too much freedom too soon. Being in a room where accidents are “okay” and where you can watch them closely, combined with somewhere they are extremely unlikely to potty, is the combination that will give you the success you’re looking for.
When your little furball feels the urge to go, they will indicate by whining, scratching, and sniffing around pacing. Having them on a leash in a confined space while you can supervise or in their crate when you can’t, will help you to recognize their bathroom body language. Canines don’t like being watched when they have to go. They know they shouldn’t go while in your lap. They won’t go when in their crate. This confinement isn’t forever, but it’s a great place to start until they’ve earned some freedom!
Keep to a Schedule
Besides canines being natural den dwellers, dogs thrive on leadership and routine. You set the tone for your pup on what to expect from their new pack and what you expect of them. The only problem is you speak different languages! Your newest companion is trying their best to pick up on cues and understand their place all by deciphering the energy and tone of your body language and the consistency of the schedule you keep.
A strict feeding, watering, and potty schedule during the first week will help them understand their training better. Also, keeping a vocabulary of commands for everyone to use will help the learning process. The interval between mealtimes and potty breaks will largely depend on the age and breed of your dog. Most puppies eat two times a day, and water is offered three to five times a day- depending on weather and activity levels. What goes in must come out, so we suggest not providing water around the clock and instead rationing until you’ve experienced success in potty training. This way, you know what they’ve had and when.
At 8-10 weeks, they will typically need to go to the bathroom within 15 minutes after eating or drinking and then at 60-minute intervals during the day. Add an extra 30 minutes for 12 weeks and 30 more minutes for a puppy older than 14 weeks. This is a good baseline, though there are variations.
Building a Skill with Your Schedule
In the morning, the first thing your puppy will need to do is potty. This is what makes the crate such a great tool. They will whine, scratch, and pace to let you know it’s time! If you’re not yet ready to face the day, they can go back in the crate, and you can go back to sleep! Alternatively, once you are ready to face the day, give them their first meal, then start your timer.
Anytime your potty timer goes off, leash your pup and take them outside. This serves two purposes. You get to choose where your puppy forms the habit of going to the bathroom, and the rest of the yard serves as a reward in play after they have successfully relieved themselves. So choose a potty spot, walk them around this area for about 10 minutes, and try not to pay too much attention to them. Give them some freedom to sniff around but stay within a 10-square-foot area. You can encourage them with a friendly command such as, “Go potty” a couple of times. Otherwise, nonchalance is the vibe you’re going for.
If they do not go within 10 minutes, take them back inside, keep them on the leash, and watch them like a hawk! This is prime time for an accident to occur. If you are worried you can’t give them your full attention, use the crate or hold them in your lap. After 10 minutes, take them back outside to try again. If they unfortunately have an accident inside, try to catch them and put them outside. Say a command like, “This is where you go potty” or “You go potty outside.” You can say these sternly, but yelling is not needed or effective. Simply clean the mess and restart the timer.
How to Reward Your Puppy
Once they have gone to the bathroom outside, it’s time to celebrate! Tell them what a good dog they are, give them a treat, and let them off the leash for some outdoor playtime.
Lastly, before putting your puppy down to sleep for the night, ensure they’ve had their last meal or access to water an hour or two beforehand. They may wake up and whine, leash them, take them to their potty spot, wait ten minutes, and put them back in the crate. If they do go potty, praise them, but don’t give in to any major snuggle or playtime at night.
Potty Training 101 Graduate
Once your smart little fluffball passes Potty Training 101 with excellent grades, reward them with freedom! Start extending the boundaries of access to your home. Let them have access to water for longer periods. Go outside just for fun- you may be surprised to see them head over to their potty corner first, and you’ll know then that you have been successful!
Wondering who is ready for your potty-training class? Look at our available puppies, read about their little personalities, or chat with our preferred puppy trainer, Kimberly, to find the best companion for you to bring home!
