Bringing a new puppy home is one of the most exciting days in anyone’s life. There is so much joy, happiness, and eager anticipation about all the fun days ahead with your new four-legged friend. But soon after, “house training my puppy” becomes a priority for every new owner! It only takes that first accident in the house to realize that it’s time to begin your puppy’s potty training.
Most puppies go to a new home when they are between seven and 12 weeks of age. This is the ideal time for them to leave their mother and littermates, as they can start bonding with their new human family. However, at this age, they don’t know much about house training. During the first few weeks of their lives, their mother took care of washing them and cleaning up after them. Later, they learned to leave their sleeping area when they needed to go to the bathroom, but they are not yet house trained. On top of this, puppies at this age have very small bladders and need to potty frequently, which makes it clear why they have little control over where they go at first.
It will be up to you to teach your puppy what he needs to know. You’ll need to do so with lots of patience and kindness. Puppies learn best with praise and rewards, not punishment or anger. Remember, your puppy is just a baby at this stage. He doesn’t always understand what you’re trying to teach him. If he makes a mistake, it might be because he doesn’t understand yet, or because he simply can’t physically do what you want him to do at this age. He will eventually be house trained, so just hang in there and keep working on the process of “house training my puppy.”
Put Your Puppy on a Schedule
Start by putting your puppy on a consistent schedule. If you get your puppy used to eating, going outside, and pottying at certain times, it will go a long way toward helping him avoid accidents. Take your puppy outside to relieve himself as soon as he wakes up in the morning and after every meal. Take him outside after every major play session too. Exercise often makes puppies need to potty, so if you and your puppy have a big wrestling match on the floor, plan on taking him outside shortly afterward. You’ll also need to take your puppy outside to potty before bedtime.
Even if you have a fenced yard, it’s best to take your puppy outside to potty during the first few weeks. Accompany him when he goes to relieve himself. This way, you can ensure he’s actually doing his business and not just sniffing the grass or chasing bugs. You can also be there to praise him and even give him a treat when he potties. Many people get upset when their puppy has an accident but forget to praise and reward their puppy when he does the right thing and relieves himself outside. Go outside with your puppy, and let him know he’s being a good puppy by pottying outside. If you don’t have a yard and walk your puppy, make sure to praise him and give him a reward when he relieves himself during walks.
No matter how well your puppy’s house training progresses or how diligent you are about sticking to a schedule, it’s likely that your puppy will have a few accidents. Virtually every puppy has accidents at some point. If your puppy has an accident, try not to be too hard on him. Unless you actually catch your puppy in the act, avoid scolding him. Your puppy has a very short memory and attention span at this age—once he does something, he’s forgotten it within two minutes. Yelling at him or rubbing his nose in the mess would only confuse and upset him. It would harm your relationship with him.
If you find a mess that your puppy has made, clean it up thoroughly. Make sure no odor remains. You can use an enzymatic cleaner or a product like Nature’s Miracle to remove any odor. Vinegar and water also make an effective cleaner. The odor from the accident could cause your puppy to return to the spot and repeat the act, so make sure the area is completely cleaned.
If you catch your puppy in the act of having an accident, make a noise—like clapping your hands or shouting—to get his attention and stop him from going further. Then, scoop him up and take him outside. Don’t waste time scolding him. Wait until he’s outside, and then praise him for finishing up out there. Always focus on praising the positive rather than punishing the negative.
Watch for signs that your puppy is looking for a place to potty inside, especially if he’s had a previous accident.
Watch for these signs that your puppy needs to potty:
- Your puppy may return to the spot of a previous accident.
- He may sniff the floor.
- He may look for a private, secluded spot, such as behind furniture.
- He may glance at the door.
- He may give you looks, trying to let you know he needs to go outside.
If you notice any of these behaviors, take your puppy outside immediately. It might be a false alarm, but it’s also likely that your puppy really needs to relieve himself and doesn’t know how to signal you yet. As he gets older, he will improve at communicating when he needs to go out.
You can help your puppy through the night by feeding him his final meal no later than 7 p.m. He should be ready to potty for the night by 10 or 11 p.m. Also, remove his water by around 9 p.m. Otherwise, he may need to go outside during the night or have an accident in the house. You might also want to consider crate training your puppy to assist with his house training.
“House training my puppy” won’t feel so overwhelming if you follow these simple suggestions. Most puppies are relatively easy to house train. It usually just takes a few weeks. You may feel frustrated at times, but if you stick with it—taking your puppy outside and giving him praise and rewards for pottying correctly—your puppy will be house trained in no time.