Be Clear About Your Puppy Potty Training Goal

If your goal is for your puppy to potty outside, it is important to teach this from the very start. While they may be convenient, training pads can be a crutch and you may have to go back to the basics of training.

Staying Inside

If you are using potty pads and want to continue to use them for your dog’s entire life, make sure to always put the potty pad in the same place in your home.

If you DON’T want to use potty pads for your pet’s lifetime, discontinue using them immediately as it can cause confusion on whether they should urinate or defecate inside or outside.

Pick up any bathmats, rugs, towels, etc. and thoroughly clean anything the puppy may have urinated on (including bare floors) as your puppy may try to urinate wherever they smell urine.

Training to Go Potty Outdoors 

• Supervise them! You can tether them to you while you walk around your home doing daily chores. If they’re out of their confinement space, you should always have eyes on them to prevent them from having an accident.
• Confine your puppy in a crate or x-pin if you are not able to supervise them.
• Pick up any bathmats, rugs, towels, etc. and thoroughly clean anything the puppy may have urinated on (including bare floors) as your puppy may try to urinate wherever they smell urine.
• Make sure you are taking your puppy out to go potty frequently as puppies will need to go potty every 1 to 2 hours. Puppies often need to potty after eating, sleeping and playing as well.
• Encourage your puppy to potty outside. Take your puppy out on a leash to the designated spot and try not to distract them until they urinate or defecate.
• Reward your puppy with a high value treat for going potty in the correct place.

Potty training a puppy takes time and, most importantly, consistency. Sticking to a schedule, routine and designated spot will help shorten the process and be less stressful for your both.