Joseph Roetheli, PhD
Highlights:
Potty training your dog can take a few weeks to a solid year depending on your dog’s breed and age.
Patience and positive reinforcement are valuable tools during the potty training process.
Using a reward, like Yummy Combs, for successful days can help establish a link between going outside and getting a treat.
There are few things in the world as adorable or cuddly as a fuzzy puppy. Their tiny, wagging tails, their plump little bellies, and their inability to run without a few stumbles make us fall in love instantly. For all their cuteness, their inability to remember to go outside to potty can also be frustrating.
Many dog owners become upset when they feel their puppies or older dogs aren’t getting the hang of house training as quickly as they expected them to. Adjusting expectations, along with some of the tips below, can be the solution for helping your dog remember to go outside to relieve itself. Potty training can be a long process, but in the end, both you and your dog will be happier if the experience is a positive one.
Ideally, potty training should begin early. If you have recently gotten a new puppy, you don’t need to wait to begin potty training. Most dogs are capable of potty training at just a few months of age. For older dogs who have not yet been housebroken, you can begin at any time.
Before you begin, you’ll want to stock up on a few necessities and also decide if you plan to use a crate in your dog training. If you do plan to use a crate, review a few tips to ensure you are crate training correctly and humanely.
You don’t need a lot of training tools for puppy potty training, but you’ll need a few items to help the entire process go smoothly and to ensure you can clean up any accidents.
Make sure you have:
Once you’re ready, it’s time to potty train your puppy.
If this is your first time potty training an animal, be patient. No amount of training tips or advice can predict how long it will take your dog to become fully potty trained, and young puppies may need more time.
Most owners become frustrated when they discover their dog soiling carpet, beds, or other surfaces, but you can mitigate these problems by never leaving your dog in an area where they can harm these surfaces if you cannot supervise them.
Here, we share eight training tips and tricks to help your dog get comfortable with a potty routine and help you know how to deal with accidents.
Dogs need to understand their routine so that they can thrive. When you establish a dedicated time to go outside, they will naturally begin to associate that time frame with elimination. Dogs have bladder control tolerance of about one hour per month of life as puppies.
For a three-month-old puppy, that means they can go about three hours without a pee break. Attempting to force your dog to hold their bladder for longer periods of time will likely result in accidents and frustration.
Your dog needs potty breaks frequently, especially to establish the connection between eliminating outdoors and praise. The more time they spend outside, the more opportunity they have to pee, poop, and receive praise.
When your dog eliminates outside, give them plenty of praise and offer a reward. Praise, belly rubs, and small treats help dogs associate their behavior with a positive reward, making it more likely they will return to that behavior to receive the reward in the future.
When you first begin potty training, take your dog to the same spot every time you take them outdoors. This helps establish familiarity and routine. As they get older, you can allow your dog to go outside alone, provided they are in a safe place that is gated and protected.
Feeding and elimination often go hand in hand for dogs. Many dogs can be trained to potty immediately after their meals. Most dogs need to be bed about two meals a day, about 12 hours apart. Establishing this feeding schedule will also make your dog’s elimination needs more predictable.
If you are not able to supervise your not-quite-potty-trained dog for a few hours, it’s best to ensure they are confined in a safe space and given access to pee pads in case they need to potty. Using a baby gate to confine them to a small space like a bathroom or spare bedroom can be an effective way to keep them safe and eliminate the worry that they’ll have an accident.
A crate can also be a solution, but you will need to have a crate that is large enough for them to stand up, stretch out, and walk around in. Don’t place a puppy pad in your dog’s crate.
A crate is a safe space for a dog and one in which they will not want to potty unless they absolutely cannot control it. Instead, only use a crate for short periods of time and immediately let your dog out after they’ve been inside.
Make sure your pet has access to plenty of fresh water each day. About two hours before bed, remove your dog’s water dish to help reduce the risk of overnight accidents.
If you have a brand new dog, you’ll likely need to take them out in the middle of the night for a few weeks until they are old enough to hold their bladders overnight or until they become accustomed to pottying in the morning.
It can be frustrating when your doggy has an accident, but if you expect that it will happen and are prepared for it, you can respond without scolding your dog. Puppies do not have accidents on purpose to make you mad.
Normally, they have accidents because we have forgotten to take them out or they simply have not yet connected that they need to go outside to potty. Instead of making a big deal out of an accident, simply clean it up and do not express an emotional reaction to your dog. Save your emotional responses for praise when your dog successfully goes outside to potty.
Eventually, your dog will learn to go outside to potty. When they have a successful day, you can use a high-quality treat to reward them for their great work. We suggest the multitasking treat that supports your dog’s teeth, gums, and nutrition: Yummy Combs®.
Yummy Combs are unique dental chews that support your dog’s overall wellness, starting with their teeth. The gums and teeth are a primary entry point for bacteria in your dog’s body.
Gum disease alone is extremely common, affecting 80% of dogs over age 3. When left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth loss and even organ failure, so it is important that your dog’s teeth and gums remain healthy.
Yummy Combs help support healthy teeth and gums in several key ways:
When your dog has a successful potty training day, give them a reward they’ll love. Yummy Combs are a nutritious treat that helps keep your dog’s teeth clean and their bellies full.
Sources:
Tips on how to potty train your dog or puppy | The Humane Society of the United States
Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Dog | VCA Animal Hospitals
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Always feed the right treat size for your dog’s weight category. Always supervise your dog when feeding treats. This product is an adult only dog treat. Always provide ample fresh water for your dog.
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