Let’s face it. Anyone considering bringing a puppy into their household is hesitant for usually only one reason. Housetraining. Who gets excited about losing sleep and having your day revolve around a puppy’s tiny little bladder?
With a schedule in place and a commitment to consistency, we’ll help you get through those first several weeks successfully with a fully housetrained, happy pup. For more than 50 years, our animal behaviorists have worked with thousands of dogs and their unique personalities. Here are the tips they follow to housetrain puppies!
Pick a Spot
Start with the end goal in mind, and choose a part of your yard that’s easy to clean, and is away from footpaths and kids’ play areas. If you’re considering an Invisible Fence® Brand Solution, be sure to keep the area within your planned perimeter so that your puppy can still get to it after installation.
Pick a Time
Puppies need a consistent routine, so it’s important you set one for them right away. Start by bringing them out as soon as they are up in the morning, and again about 20-30 minutes after breakfast. Do the same after other meals as well, or after a period of excitement, like rowdy play, zoomies, or even a nap. Plan on taking them out every two to three hours - our recommendation for a puppy under ten weeks old.
Between 10 and 14 weeks, potty breaks can be stretched to about every three or four hours. At 16 weeks, your puppy should be getting the hang of it and can make it without a potty break for five hours or more. Anytime you are not outside, your puppy should be closely supervised while they are still learning. Consider crate training your puppy if that’s more realistic to your lifestyle.
Make it Fun!
When it’s potty time, lead your puppy on leash to the designated potty area. Keep some high reward treats on hand while you’re in the correct space to create a positive association. Give your pup some time to explore! Sniffing around stimulates their senses, but don’t let them wander too far from the correct area. Keep your eye on them so that as soon as they start to go potty, you can offer enthusiastic praise. When business is done, reward them with lots of praise, pets, and playtime.
Be Flexible
It takes about three weeks of consistent use of the same bathroom area to create a habit. If you allow your puppy off leash in your yard prior to that habit being formed, they might choose to go potty elsewhere, which is natural. Redirect them to the correct spot for the next time (and the next!).
Allow for Oops
Even the most easily housetrained puppies are going to have accidents. That’s the learning process! Be sure everyone in the household is setting them up for success with supervision and consistent potty breaks outside.
If they still have an accident, don’t scold them as they won’t understand, and may even hold back or hide their messes in the future. Instead, if you happen to catch them in the act, clap your hands loudly to startle them, then scoop them up and bring them to their designated area outside. Once they finish, give them lots of praise for doing a good job. To clean up the mess inside, use an enzymatic cleaner, like Wee Care, and odor neutralizer to remove the scent and discourage future accidents in the same spot.
Your new best friend naturally wants to please you, and wants to learn the right way to do things! By dedicating those first several weeks to supervision and habit forming, you’ll have a happy, housetrained pup who is set up for success.