Potty training a puppy: schedule and accidents

How long potty training a puppy really takes

It usually takes several weeks, according to a housetraining guide from the Halifax Humane Society, and longer with some smaller breeds. The same guide says a puppy can usually be called reliably house trained once it's gone two to three months without an accident.

Part of the wait is just biology. The guide notes that a puppy under six months can't be expected to control its bladder for more than a few hours at a time. If you work long days away from home, line up a midday visit from a friend, a neighbour down the hall or a dog walker.

Virtually every puppy has accidents in the house. Consistency, not perfection, is what speeds house training up.

A sample puppy potty schedule

Puppies usually need to go after waking up, after playing and after eating, so build your day around those moments. Feeding at the same times each day makes bathroom times more predictable too; depending on age, puppies usually eat three or four times a day. Bend this example to fit your own day:

Very young puppies may need a trip in the middle of the night as well. Keep it calm and boring. Out, potty, praise, back to bed.

The routine, step by step

Pick one spot not too far from the door and always take your puppy there on a leash. If you're in a condo, that might mean a quick elevator ride with a puppy tucked under your arm, so have your shoes and keys by the door.

While they go, say a cue word like "go potty". Later you can use it as a reminder. The moment they finish, praise them and hand over a treat, right there outside, not once you're back in the lobby. Rewarding immediately is how your puppy learns that this is the right place.

Then have a bit of fun: a short walk or a game. That teaches them that going quickly leads to good things, rather than straight back indoors. One more trick: when you clean up an indoor accident, take the soiled paper towel to the outdoor spot. The smell tells your puppy where this is supposed to happen.

Supervise, and confine when you can't watch

Most accidents happen when nobody's looking, so keep your puppy in view indoors, with a leash tied to you or a couple of baby gates. Watch for sniffing around or circling. That's your cue to head outside, now.

When you can't watch, use a small area your puppy won't want to soil: big enough to stand, lie down and turn around comfortably, and no bigger. A crate works well for a lot of puppies, and our guide on crate training a puppy covers how to make it somewhere they actually like. After any time in there, go straight to the potty spot.

Accidents: what to do, and what not to do

If you catch your puppy mid-accident, interrupt gently with a sound that gets their attention without scaring them, carry them to the potty spot and reward them if they finish there. Found a puddle after the fact? It's too late to correct. Just clean it up.

Don't punish. Rubbing a puppy's nose in it or scolding only teaches them to be afraid of you, or afraid to go in front of you, which makes the whole job harder. Clean thoroughly instead, because puppies are drawn back to spots that smell like urine or feces. And if you get several accidents in a row, read it as a sign that you need more trips outside or closer supervision.

This lines up with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB). Its humane dog training position statement recommends reward-based methods for all dog training and advises against aversive methods, which it says harm welfare and your bond with your dog without working any better.

When house soiling is a reason to call the vet

If you've been consistent and your puppy still goes inside a lot, ask your vet, because there may be a medical reason. House soiling can come from problems like a urinary tract infection or parasites, and your vet can rule those out. Other causes include excitement or submissive urination, marking, fear of noises, and anxiety about being left alone.

Call sooner if you see blood in urine or stool, straining, very frequent peeing, diarrhea that won't quit, or a puppy who just seems unwell. Jot down what you notice. The pet records in the free PetGrid app give you one place for those notes, the vaccine dates and the vet's advice, and reminders keep the puppy vaccine series on track.

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En bref

Potty training a puppy is mostly repetition: lots of trips outside, instant rewards, close watching and patience with the puddles. Keep the routine steady for a few months and most puppies get there. Some just take the scenic route.

A new puppy also means vaccines, deworming and vet visits to keep track of. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and works with any clinic; see how it works.