Nothing beats the joy of bringing home a puppy! As a new dog-parent, you know you want to do your very best to help the puppy adapt to his new surroundings.

A huge part of that is helping the puppy understand not to poop or pee inside the house.

This, of course, isn’t as simple as it sounds.

You must be patient, use positive-reinforcement, and the right tricks to make it happen.

With that in mind, we’ve curated everything you need to know about potty training a puppy!

5 Easy Steps for Potty Training a New Puppy!

Dog toilet training depends largely on how you handle the situation.

Some pet-parents become easily frustrated and end up getting angry with their puppies.

On the other hand, some people are too laid-back and fail to establish a set routine and place for their dogs to eliminate waste.

These 5 easy steps should help you train your puppy effectively and quickly:

1. Start by Restricting Movement

Small puppies can get highly overwhelmed when exposed to lots of new areas to explore.

Create Custom Gifts with Your Dog's Photo!

Browse our collection of beautiful  products that can be personalized in seconds using your dog's photo!

Made and shipped from the USA/EU

Shop Now

To begin the potty training, make sure that the puppy only has access to a few specific areas in your home.

This can help you keep an eye out for whether he needs to go to the bathroom, and also quickly establish these areas as spaces he cannot use.

Some experts believe that keeping your puppy in a cot or cordoned-off area can also help you achieve this.

However, the danger of doing so is that your puppy may feel as though he’s being punished or neglected, and this can lead to emotional and behavioral problems. 

Would’t recommend doing so in all cases.

2. Identify Typical Bathroom Cycles

As it is the case with babies, puppies also follow a set cycle for needing to go to the bathroom.

As soon as your puppy wakes up from a nap, you should take him outside to your lawn and let him do its business there.

You should do the same thing right after the puppy has finished his meals.

Slowly, but surely, your puppy will learn to associate outside with bathroom needs, and will wait to be taken there. 

3. Use Positive Reinforcement

Puppies learn through feedback, just like people do.

So, when your puppy poops or pees outside, praise him in a loving voice so that he knows he has done something good.

If you want, you can also reward your fur baby with a little treat.

Similarly, if your puppy has a little accident inside the house, try your best to interrupt it by clapping loudly or calling his name.

Do remember that the aim here is to startle the puppy to make him stop – you don’t want to scare your baby. Do you?

4. Keep Your Puppy’s Breed and Size in Mind

Smaller breeds like Chihuahuas and Pugs have smaller bladders.

This means that they need to go outside more frequently. So, keep an eye out for indicative behavior such as sniffing around for a spot to pee.

If you see your puppy doing this, pick him up and take him outside!

5. Set on Specific Place for Bathroom Needs

Whether you have a lawn or a courtyard, make sure that you always place the puppy in the same exact spot to use the bathroom.

The scent of older waste and memory itself will make the puppy associate that place with the bathroom.

Important things to keep in mind while You Potty Train a Puppy!

Dog toilet training is an on-going process for the first few months, so do not get frustrated while potty training your new puppy!

Keep the following pointers in mind to ensure a positive experience for yourself and your darling pup:

• Experts believe that dog toilet training should take place when the pup is anywhere between 12-16 weeks. This is because before this, the puppy is too young to understand what you are trying to teach him. 

• When potty training a puppy, don’t expect quick results. Some dogs take 4-6 months to learn, while others can even take a year. At your end, all you can do is maintain a regular feeding cycle and take him outside after meals, and each time he wakes up from a nap.

• There are bound to be a few setbacks every now and then. Your puppy is young and still learning the rules of your home, so do not get upset if there are the occasional accidents during the course of the dog toilet training. Do not punish your puppy for these accidents – he will start to fear you.

• If you find waste in the home, but did not catch the puppy in the act of answering nature’s calls, do not bring him to the site and shout at him. The puppy is too young to understand what you are talking about. Do not rub his nose in the waste – this is an archaic method of dog toilet training and it makes them very upset. 

• When you take your puppy outside, don’t be impatient. It’s a curious little pup and he will definitely spend some time exploring and sniffing. Let ’em do so and wait for him to poop or pee.

• Use enzymatic cleaners in your home to clean any spots where accidents have taken place. This is because other ammonia-based cleansers will only attract the puppy with their smell, and inspire them to use the same spot again!

Signs that your puppy needs to go to the bathroom!

There are a few signs to watch out for while potty training a puppy so that you know to take him outside. These are:

• Circling the same spot
• Sniffing around as though looking for something
• Whining or barking
• Scratching at the door to go outside (this only happens after the puppy is fully toilet trained)

These dog toilet training tips should help you teach your puppy not to use the home as a bathroom!

Final Word:

As I mentioned above, dog potty training is an ongoing process and takes time. You should be patient and stay motivated. Dogs are very smart. Slowly, your puppy will understand what you are trying to teach him and follow along.

Dog potty training may take a few months, but you’ll harvest the fruits of your effort for years to come.

For more helpful tips on puppy care, check out our blog!