The Ultimate Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy: A Step-by-Step Approach [Plus One Key Secret]

As dog trainers, we often hear from clients about the challenges of potty training, especially for puppies. While we understand the need, this is one area where we unfortunately can’t offer direct, hands-on support. Successful potty training relies on close, continuous supervision of a dog's movements throughout the day and night, starting as early as dawn. It’s a level of micromanagement that’s challenging to simulate within the one-hour sessions we provide.

What we can offer, however, is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you get the job done in as little as a few weeks. This blog shares the same advice we give our clients—you just need patience and consistency to achieve success at home.

Please note, this page includes affiliate links that earn us a small commission when you purchase items. These contributions help us continue our mission of canine education and training.

1. Start Potty Training Early:

Baby Santino

• Start the training process as early as possible. Puppies have a natural instinct to learn and adapt, making them especially receptive to training during the critical period between three and sixteen weeks. Begin teaching as soon as your new puppy arrives home. At METAK9, we like to say, “Everything we do—or don’t do—creates a new habit, and a habit built can become a habit to break.”

2. Establish a Routine:

• Set a consistent feeding schedule for your puppy. This will help regulate their bathroom habits and make it easier for you to predict when they need to go. A good rule of thumb is that your dog can hold their bladder for an hour per month of age. Typically, I recommend taking them out every hour and a half from nine to fourteen weeks just to be safe for successful habit building. Your puppy will need to go out after playing, sleeping, eating, or drinking.

3. Designate a Potty Area:

• Choose a specific spot outside where you want your puppy to go potty. Take them to this spot consistently, especially after meals, naps, and playtime. Using puppy pads can be a convenient way to eliminate mess and contain accidents in the house. These tools can be especially helpful when living in condominiums or apartment complexes. However, it is important to note that teaching a dog to use them will eventually require breaking one habit to teach a new one and it can complicate the process. You are actually teaching them to go in the house just not on the carpet or floor. Utilizing pads adds an additional step as you then have to ween your dog off of them. This can be achieved by putting a pad on the grass outside or rubbing a pad on a patch of grass to transfer scent and help provide a target for elimination. It is certainly better to use pads than not if you have trouble getting them out the door first thing in the morning. If your puppy starts eliminating all over the house it can quickly turn into a frustrating cycle.

4. Use Positive Reinforcement:

• Praise and reward your puppy when they go to the bathroom in the designated area or anywhere outside. Positive reinforcement encourages good behavior and helps your puppy associate the act with a positive outcome. We tell our clients to use a high value reward that is only given in this context and during obedience training. Our preference is single ingredient freeze dried treats made of beef liver, salmon, or chicken This way they learn that going in the house yields no reward, but going outside hits the jackpot. You can also rush over to them and say "No," then clap your hands if you catch them in the act. This can serve a purpose to create a negative behavioral contrast if they go in the house. We don't advise to go any further into positive or negative punishment when trying to potty train your pup, It is important to note that consistently startling them with "no," and not being on point with your timing in taking them out can lead to confusion and a stressed-out puppy. Ensure you are being a good teacher and waking up early to get the job done. Dog's will only understand what we want them to learn if our approach and repetitions are consistent. Being proactive and maintaining vigilant supervision will pay dividends long term. We prefer single ingredient freeze dried treats made of beef liver, salmon, or chicken.

5. Be Patient and Take Deep Breaths:

• Understand that accidents will happen. Instead of scolding your puppy, focus on reinforcing good behavior. Patience is an integral part of owning a dog. They are intelligent animals, but like us, they make mistakes. Unlike us, they do not have the ability to rationalize, not as we do. It is our job to create motivation for the behaviors we like and find humane ways to express what we deem inappropriate.

6. Supervise and Limit Freedom:

• Keep a close eye on your puppy, especially when indoors. Use puppy pens and a crate to limit their mobility at home. This will be reducing the chances of accidents and more importantly the numerous safety hazards of our human world. Your dog should SLOWLY graduate to being able to roam your house. It's important that they earn this freedom through the mastery of good habits. If they are given too much freedom and choices prematurely, they will end up with a host of bad habits and you will end up with a lot of chewed up shoes and furniture!

7. Create a Command

• Introduce a specific command or phrase, like “go potty” or “do your business,” to signal potty time. This helps your puppy associate the command with the action. Start saying the cue as soon as they begin showing signs they’re about to go—such as sniffing, circling, squatting, or lifting a leg.

  
  

• Here’s an important tip, be sure to use your marker word, like “good” or “yes,” right after they finish and then give the reward. If you reward too early, your puppy may develop a habit of stopping before they’re done to get the treat, which could lead to accidents indoors. If you reward too late, they may not connect the reward with the behavior, making the learning process longer.

  
  

9. Clean Accidents Thoroughly:

• Accidents are inevitable, but it's crucial to clean them thoroughly to remove any scent markers that might attract your puppy back to the same spot. Dog urine contains a variety of chemical compounds that can act as signals or messages to other dogs. These chemical signals, often referred to as pheromones, convey information about the dog's identity, gender, reproductive status, and territorial boundaries. Use an enzymatic cleaner to break down urine on a molecular level to ensure it doesn't become your dog's favorite spot. If you have yet to buy a cleaner, I suggest using white vinegar, baking soda, and warm water. A small amount of dish soap can be used to help remove older stains.

10. Transition to Different Surfaces:

• Once your puppy is consistently going potty outside, gradually introduce different surfaces like grass, gravel, or pavement to generalize their training.

11. Seek Professional Help if Needed:

• If you're facing challenges or if your puppy is not responding to your efforts, consider seeking advice from a professional dog trainer or a veterinarian.

12. The Secret: Use a Crate!

• I can’t tell you how many people I’ve encountered who hesitate to use a crate, only to face significant issues later on. Crate training isn’t just essential for potty training; it also teaches dogs to be comfortable alone, helping prevent separation anxiety.

• Dogs naturally love a cozy, enclosed space—they’re instinctively drawn to burrows or dens. Just like a baby spends time in a crib, a puppy needs time in their “den.” When the crate is the right size—just big enough for them to stand up and turn around—they’re less likely to soil their space. You can take advantage of this by bringing them outside first thing in the morning, directly from the crate, so they have no chance to go anywhere but outside. If they don’t go, they’re back in the crate to try again in fifteen minutes.

• While dogs instinctively use dens in the wild to raise puppies, escape the heat, or seek comfort when unwell, a plastic crate won’t immediately feel like “home” to your puppy. It’s important to introduce the crate as a positive, safe place through plenty of gentle, positive reinforcement.

• At METAK9, we believe crates are invaluable tools for teaching dogs to be comfortable alone, supporting successful potty training, preparing them for future boarding situations, and providing a safe “nest” where they can relax when unsupervised.

Conclusion:

Potty training your puppy takes time, consistency, organization, and a positive mindset. By following this ultimate guide, you’re setting a strong foundation for a well-behaved and happy companion. Remember, every puppy is unique, so stay flexible and adjust your approach to meet their individual needs. With patience and dedication, you’ll soon celebrate the day your puppy masters potty training.

#dog #dogs #dogtraining #ocdogtrainer #sandiegodogtrainer #metak9academy #reactivedog #reactivedogtraining #generalobediencetraining #puppies #puppy #newportbeach #lagunaniguel #ranchosantafe #sandiego #huntingtonbeach #costamesa #newportcoast #ranchomissonviejo #ranchosantamargarita #sanjuancapistrano #sanclemente