Congratulations! You’re getting a new puppy. What an exciting time for you and your family. As you prepare to bring your new fur baby home, you may wonder how you are going to potty train your new puppy. You can do this, but you need to have a plan on how to potty train your new puppy. With a few simple steps, it can be easy to potty train your new puppy.
Make no mistake, potty training a new puppy is work. But following these easy steps can make it go much quicker. I have been raising dogs for almost 20 years, and I have learned some dogs potty train quickly. While other dogs may take up to 4 months to fully potty train.
Also, bigger dogs tend to be easier to potty train than smaller dogs. But all dogs should be able to be trained. However, you must put in the work and you should follow these steps to make it as easy as possible.
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What to Expect When Potty Training a New Puppy
Remember, every puppy is different, and therefore, will train differently. Just because your last dog seemed to train easily, doesn’t mean your next one will too. However, you need to remember puppies are babies and expectations should be as such.
According to AKC.org, “A good guide is that dogs can control their bladders for the number of hours corresponding to their age in months up to about nine months to a year. (Remember, though, that 10 to 12 hours is a long time for anyone to hold it!) A 6-month-old pup can reasonably be expected to hold it for about 6 hours.”
Start potty training your new puppy as soon as you get home
Chances are, your new puppy won’t be potty trained when you get them. Even if they have been started on some potty training, your new puppy still needs to know where to go potty at their new home. Start the training process as soon as you get your new puppy home. Before you even take your puppy in the house, first take your new puppy to the place in the yard where you want them to go potty. Then, every time you take your puppy outside to potty only go to this spot until your puppy knows to go there by themselves.
Make outside time for going potty only
Playing fetch, chase and other outside games with your puppy can be lots of fun. However, this fun should wait until your puppy has been potty trained. This way your puppy will learn the purpose of going outside is to go potty. Once your new puppy has done their business, bring them back inside. After they have been potty trained, you can play outside all the time.
Potty Training a New Puppy means Taking your puppy outside frequently
When potty training your new puppy, you will need to be taking your puppy outside frequently. At first, you may need to go outside every 20 minutes. Every 2 hours is the maximum amount of time you should go in between potty breaks during the day. At night, you can stretch this a little longer.
If you must work during the first week of getting your new puppy, try to come home on breaks to let your puppy out. If you are unable to do this, see if you can get a friend, neighbor, or family member to come let your puppy outside to potty during the day.
You also want to take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after each meal and before you go to bed. This may be common sense for some people, but you’d be surprised how many people still don’t do this.
Watch for signs your puppy Is about to go potty
When you get your new puppy, at first you will always need to keep your eyes on them. Your new puppy is going to get into everything and anything. And until your new puppy is potty trained, they will go to the bathroom everywhere. But since you will be watching them, you can look for the signs they are about to go and hopefully intervene.
If your puppy squats, they are probably about to pee. Yes, even the boys. Boy puppies don’t lift their leg to pee until they are older.
If your puppy is sniffing around and then goes around in a circle, they are usually about to poop.
Don’t punish your new puppy if they go to the bathroom indoors.
Let’s face it, even if you are keeping a close eye on your new puppy, sh*t happens. You should never punish your puppy if they have an accident. They will start to associate going to the bathroom as a negative experience and might hide when going to the bathroom. And if they are hiding when going to the bathroom, it’s probably in a place you don’t want them to be going. So, don’t yell at them and don’t push their nose in it.
If you catch them in the act, clap your hands loudly once. Hopefully, this will startle them, and they will stop. Clean up the pee or poop with paper towels. Show this to your puppy and have them sniff it. Then, take the puppy and the soiled paper towels outside to the potty spot in the yard. Again, show the puppy the soiled paper towels but in the correct potty spot. Praise your puppy so they understand this is the place to go.
Cleaning up properly after a potty accident
When your puppy has an accident, and they will, make sure you clean it up properly. Your new puppy will have a great sniffer, even at a young age. Your new puppy will be able to smell where they have gone to the bathroom before and may think this is the place to go again. They will unless you have cleaned it up properly. After you have cleaned up the mess with paper towels, you want to make sure you clean the area with a pet-safe enzyme cleaner to get rid of the sent.
Offer praise when your puppy goes potty in the right place
A new puppy is going to want to please you and will look to you for signs they are doing just that. If your new puppy associates going potty as a good experience, they will want to do it again. Give your new puppy a reward when they potty outside. A reward can be telling the puppy they did a good job, giving pets, and might include a puppy training treat. This will teach your new puppy that you are happy with their actions.
Use keywords when puppy potty training
Dogs and even puppies can learn words and tones. Learning phases can be harder. If you use the same word and tone each time, they will learn that word and tone are related to going potty. You may say “potty” or “outside” in the same tone every time you are taking the puppy out to go to the bathroom.
Don’t set your puppy up for failure
Puppies will usually need to go to the bathroom after eating and drinking. Just like for us, what goes in, must come out. So, if you are going to crate train, and I recommend that you do, don’t put food and water in the puppy’s crate if they are going to be in there for a while.
Also, if you are starting with a larger crate, get one with dividers. Puppies don’t like to use the bathroom in the same place they sleep. But if your new puppy can go to the bathroom on one side of the crate and sleep on the other side, they will. If your crate doesn’t have dividers, use something in the crate to take up floor space.
Teach your puppy to go to the bathroom on different surfaces and different places
Once your puppy knows where to go in your yard, start teaching your puppy to go to the bathroom on different surfaces and in different places. Your puppy will need to know that it is ok to go to the bathroom somewhere other than where they go
You have done everything, and your puppy still goes potty in the house
If you are about to pull your hair out because you have tried and tried and your puppy is still going potty in the house, you may need to seek professional advice. There are training classes you can sign your puppy up for. However, you should first take your puppy to your vet. Your new puppy could be suffering for a medical problem like a urinary tract infection (UTI). This would make it very hard for your new puppy to potty train. Also, if your puppy was potty trained then regresses, it could be a UTI.
Dr. Burch, with the AKC, states that sometimes house soiling is a sign of a physical issue. “Well before the several month mark, a dog who has seemed impossible to housetrain should have a good veterinary workup,”
Consistency
Consistency is the most important thing when potty training your new puppy. Set a schedule and stick to it. You must be persistent and don’t give up. Be patient, it will take some time. But if you follow these easy steps, potty training your new puppy will soon become a distant memory.
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These are some great tips for potty training new puppies. I remember when I had to go through this with my dog 16 years ago, I was about ready to throw in the towel. It is a test of patience that’s for sure.