Before you bring home your new bundle of fluffy joy, you need to be prepared. At the top of the “being prepared for” list is learning how to potty train a puppy. There is nothing that makes you scramble faster the first few days that you have with your new puppy. So following is the technique I have used for potty training puppies and it has worked with every dog and has worked every time.

What You Need To Know

• Commitment: Potty training a puppy will take a big commitment on your part. The rewards are well worth the effort. You will get better results faster if you are patient and persistent in your training.

• Physical Limits: Puppies can only hold it for a short period of time. The general rule is 1 hour for every month of age + 1. So a 2 month old puppy can hold it for 2hrs + 1hr, or 3 hrs.

• Accidents Will Happen: No matter how closely you watch and stick to your routine when potty training a puppy, accidents will happen. Getting mad at them will not teach them so just clean it up be ready for the next time.

• Crate or Pen: Puppies need to be monitored closely and confined. They cannot have the run of the house. I crate train all my dogs, they love their crates and they are a great help for house training puppies. You can also you a small pen.

• Natural Instincts: Dogs have natural instincts that you can take advantage of. They do not want to soil their sleeping area (crate or pen). They want to please you. You will use these instincts in your puppy house training.

• Routine: Dogs will adapt very quickly to a set routine. Set up a schedule for feeding times, bedtime, wake up time, and potty time.

The Technique

You’ve got your schedule for feeding, bedtime and waking up. You need to choose a spot outside where your puppy will go potty. Decide on a phrase you will use as a cue for going potty, I just use “go potty”. The schedule for potty training is once an hour when they’re awake, after feedings, when they wake up and once or twice during the night. I said it takes commitment. If you cannot take them out every hour during the day because you work, try to get someone to let them out. If you don’t have anyone to do that, you can use an indoor dog potty.

Keep your puppy in their crate or pen until it is time to take them out. Carry them out with their leash and set them down in the designated potty area. Walk them around for 5 minutes or so while you repeat your cue phrase. When they have done their task praise them enthusiastically while repeating the cue. Play with them for a little bit making this a very fun time for them. If they don’t go, take them back inside to their crate or pen and try again in 15-20 minutes.

Do this routine every hour, after feedings and when they wake up from naps. During the night you will have to set your alarm to wake up once or twice for a quick trip outside to go potty and then back in the crate.

For even more information on housebreaking a puppy, the book below, with instant download, comes with our highest recommendation. It covers every situation and problem you will encounter. You can get a copy here.