How to toilet train a puppy in 7 days
How to Potty Train Puppies: A Comprehensive Guide for Success
Learning how to potty train puppiesat the right time and place is one of the most important first steps you can take for a long, happy life together. House soiling is among the top reasons why dogs lose their homes or end up in shelters. Few people are willing to put up with a dog who destroys rugs and flooring, or who leaves a stinky mess that needs to be cleaned after a hard day at work.
Thats why its so important to make sure that you do some research in advance on how to house train a dog, decide what will work best for your situation, and make a plan.
There are tried-and-true methods for training your puppy, says Mary Burch, Ph.D., director of the AKCs Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy programs. While she says there are pros and cons to each, they all can be successful if you follow a few basic tips.
Crates Rank High as a Potty Training Tool
Many people who are new to dogs cringe at the idea of confining their puppies in a crate, but the reluctance to use this tool generally evaporates after a few days of living with a new pet. Dog crates make life easier. Its a good idea to get your dog accustomed to one for many reasons, such as vet visits or traveling.
Dogs are den animals and will seek out a little canine cave for security whether you provide one or not. That makes it relatively easy to train your dog to love their crate.
The principle behind using a crate for housetraining is that dogs are very clean creatures. They dont like a urine-soaked rug in their living spaces any more than you do. Its important that the crate is the right size just large enough for the dog to lie down, stand up, and turn around. If its too large, the dog will feel that its OK to use one corner for elimination and then happily settle down away from the mess. Many crates come with partitions so you can adjust the size as your puppy grows.
When they feel an urge, a puppy will usually let you know by whining and scratching. Thats their signal that they have to go and want out of their little den. Now! If you let your dog lose control in their crate, theyll get the idea that its OK to mess up their living space. Then theyll think nothing of leaving little packages around where you live, too.
Using Puppy Pads and Paper Training
Dr. Burch says the use of puppy pads and paper training can be tricky. Youre reinforcing two different options for the puppy, she explains. In an ideal situation, puppies would learn to hold it indoors and only eliminate at specific spots outdoors. But some cases may require a bit of creative thought, such as a person who has a job that makes it impossible to get home several times a day, or for a tiny dog living where the winters are brutal. Puppy pads give a dog the option of relieving themselves in an approved spot at home. There are also indoor dog bathrooms that even work for male dogs. After the dog matures, the owner can then work on having the dog do their business outdoors all the time.
Create a Housetraining Schedule for Your Puppy
Keeping a consistent housetraining schedule is critical to success. Puppies have tiny bladders, and water runs right through them. The same is true for solid matter. You have to make sure youre giving your puppy ample opportunity to do the right thing.
A good guide is that dogs can control their bladders for the number of hours corresponding to their age in months up to about nine months to a year. Remember, though, that 10 to 12 hours is a long time for anyone to hold it! A 6-month-old puppy can reasonably be expected to hold it for about 6 hours. Never forget that all puppies are individuals and the timing will differ for each.
Monitor daily events and your puppys habits when setting up a schedule. With very young puppies, you should expect to take the puppy out:
- First thing in the morning and last thing at night
- After playing indoors
- After spending time in a crate or uponwaking up from a nap
- After chewing a toy or bone, eating, ordrinking
This could have you running for the piddle pad, backyard, or street a dozen times or more in a 24-hour period. If you work in-person, make some kind of arrangement to keep that schedule. It can be helpful to have a dog walker or a person familiar to your dog stop by your home to take them out to go potty.
The quicker you convey the idea that there is an approved place to potty and that some places are off-limits, the quicker youll be able to put this messy chapter behind you.
Observing and Supervising Your Dog
You have to watch your puppy carefully for individual signals and rhythms. Some puppies may be able to hold it longer than others, while some will have to go out every time they play or get excited. Others will stop in the middle of a play session, pee, and play on. As with human babies, canine potty habits are highly idiosyncratic.
Controlling Your Dogs Diet
Puppies have immature digestive systems, so they cant really handle a lot of food. Thats why its recommended that you break up the puppy feeding schedule into three small meals. Another thing to keep in mind is the food itself, which should be the highest quality puppy food. Whatever you choose, make sure it agrees with your puppy.
Examining a dogs stool is the best way for an owner to figure out whether its time for a change in diet. If your puppy is consistently producing stools that are bulky, loose, and stinky, it may be time to talk to your vet. They might recommend switching to a new dog food. Overfeeding may also provoke a case of diarrhea, which will only make the task of housetraining that much more difficult.
Reinforcing Your Puppy for Going Outside
Scolding a puppy for soiling your rug, especially after the fact, isnt going to do much. Likewise, some old methods of punishment, like rubbing a dogs nose in their poop, are so bizarre that its hard to imagine how they came to be and if they ever worked for anyone. Praising a puppy for doing the right thing works best for everything you will do in your life together. Make them think that theyre a little canine Einstein every time they perform this simple, natural act.
Be effusive in your praise cheer, clap, throw cookies. Let them know that no other accomplishment, ever, has been as important as this pee. Reward your puppy with one of their favorite treats. Make sure theyre nice and small, easy for your puppy to digest.
If your dog has an accident, dont make a fuss, just clean up the mess, advises Dr. Burch. Use a cleaner that eliminates odors to remove the scent, so the dog wont use it in the future. Blot up liquid on the carpet before cleaning the rug.
If you catch the dog starting to squat to urinate or defecate, pick them up and immediately rush outside. If they do the job outdoors, give them plenty of praise and attention. Remember that when it comes to housetraining, prevention is key.
Troubleshooting Common Housetraining Problems
Following these rules will usually result in a well house-trained puppy. But sometimes, it doesnt go as planned.
Dr. Burch notes that sometimes house soiling is a sign of a physical issue. Well before the several month mark, a dog who has seemed impossible to housetrain should have a good veterinary workup, she says. If your vet finds that your dog is healthy, the next step is to find a trainer or behaviorist who has had experience with this issue.
Here are some common complaints that trainers say they have encountered:
My Dog Is Piddling All Over the House!
This is common among people who own toy dogs. Some trainers recommend teaching puppies to use indoor potty spots, similar to how a cat uses a litter box. In addition to piddle pads, there are actual dog potty boxes for indoor use. Trainers say that with consistency, you can house train a little dog. It just may take a little additional time, attention, and effort.
My Dog Keeps Peeing in the Same Spot Where They Had an Accident.
Thats probably because you didnt clean up the mess efficiently. There may still be some odor there, signaling that this is a prime potty spot. In your new puppy supply kit, make sure you have plenty of pet stain enzymatic cleaners and carefully follow instructions on using them.
I Gave Them the Run of the Apartment. When I Came Home, There Was a Mess.
This is a common mistake among dog owners. They see some early signs that the dog is getting the idea, and declare victory too soon. Even when the puppy is consistently doing what you want, keep to the schedule to make sure the good habits are ingrained.
Theyre Soiling Their Crate!
Dr. Burch says dogs who come from situations where they were confined for long periods and had no other choice but to eliminate in their kennels will often soil their crates. The best approach would be to go back to square one with crate and house training. Here are the steps to follow:
- Assess how well your dog can control their bladder and bowels when not in the crate
- Carefully control their diet and schedule
- Give frequent trips outside, including after every meal, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night
- If you work, consider hiring a dog walker
- Clean everything so there are no odors left
How Long Does Puppy Potty Training Take?
How long youll need to work on potty training can vary considerably, says Dr. Burch. There are many factors to consider, such as age, learning history, and your methods and consistency. An 8-week-old puppy is very different developmentally than a 5-month-old puppy. Some puppies have perfect manners after just a few days. Others can take months, especially if the dog has had a less than ideal situation before coming to you. With patience and persistence, though, most dogs can learn.
How to Toilet Train a Puppy in 7 Days
Toilet training a puppy in 7 days it sounds wonderful: No sorcery, just a few tips, tricks and the slightest bit of patience.
On second thought, make that a large piece of patience.
In this article, well show you a simple 7-day schedule to help you jump start your puppys toilet training. The days of pursing your lips at the sight of a puddle in your living room will soon be over.
Before we start, heres a list of props that will get you to a wee-free household:
- A well-defined and suitable puppy toilet area
- Puppy Training Treats make sure theyre the good ones. Cut them into small pieces, and keep a pot near the toilet area so always have them at hand.
- Your puppy toilet trainer planner
- An enzyme cleaner (Simple Solution, Urine Off, and Wee Away are quite good)
- A confined space your puppy can use as a den. A crate or playpen will do. We dont recommend The Cupboard Under the Stairs they often come out as wizards.
- Patience. The day will come when your puppy will understand where to go to the loo. It wont take forever!
How do I house train my puppy?
To toilet train your puppy, youll have to follow the same logic their mother has already taught them.
No not you, their other mother (the one with four legs). Especially when born inside a home-reared environment, puppies mothers have already done the first steps of toilet training for you by teaching that the toilet is not the same place they sleep, so theyll need to move their bums from place to place.
When they arrive at your home, youll simply have to start off with the same lesson. Before your puppy gets home, make sure you decide on your puppys sleeping area and toilet area and we need to continue with that process as soon as we get them home.
Check out our full guide to toilet training a puppy for more detailed information on getting started.
Be aware: Mistakes sometimes happen!
As you may have already realized, house training a puppy will be quite an adventure. And like any respectable adventure story, the suspense from the multiple things that can go wrong makes it rather exciting, frankly.
What were trying to say is that at the end of the day, your puppys accidents are part of your story together. Theyre also opportunities for improvement!
PRO TIP: Keep a record of mistakes on your planner, to be more aware of what needs work.
Getting started with house training your puppy in 7 days
For puppy house training, it takes two to tango. The fastest way to succeed is to keep both of you ona strict routinebased on sleeping, eating, playing, and exercise, and toilet breaks.
Relax, we know it sounds like the army, but its not.
Heres a few things to keep in mind for your routine.
Feeding times
Toilet training is based on this simple idea: what goes in must go out.
Puppies have small digestive systems, so getting their feeding times ona regular schedule is key for more regular trips to the loo. For you, this might make it a lot easier to plan your day ahead for toilet breaks and playtime.
Give them twenty minutes to eat. If they eat, splendid. If they dont, then no large snacks until their next meal.
Supervision is key
Its not that you dont trust them yet. Well, maybe it is. But its totally fair.
Watching your puppy the entire day to succeed in house training might be a bit much to ask, but in case you need to place your attention elsewhere, make sure your puppy is:
- In a crate with the door closed
- In a confinement area or play pen
- In a bed next to where you are working or sitting
- Attached to you with a lead
Basically, anywhere you can see them from the corner of your eye. That way you can jump into action faster than Bond.
PRO TIP: For everyones good (including your shoes and soft carpet floor) dont let your puppy wander around the house if youre not watching them. The day will come where youll be able to live together in full trust. For now, staying in a crate or playpen is the best idea.
Teach a cue word
A cue word, sometimes called a command, is a set phrase that reminds your puppy that you want them to go to the toilet.
It can be pretty much anything Need the privy?, Lets go for a wee, or Pee pee time are quite popular. But feel free to let your creativity run loose, perhaps you can think of a better one.
No matter what your cue is, ensure everyone in your household uses the same phrase so that its reliable for your puppy.
How to use cue words for house training:
- Take your puppy to the toilet area
- Say your cue. It may help to show some enthusiasm and encouragement.
- Wait until your puppy goes to the toilet, and shower them with compliments and treats.
- If your puppy doesnt go straight away, wait a minute and repeat their cue. Dont end up embodying a parrot and repeating it over and over, but you may need to try it a couple of times before they actually go.
PRO TIP: Try saying the cue AS your puppy is about to go, or going into the toilet area. This will clear things up even more.
Youll see, its only a matter of time until your toilet cue works like a magic word.
How to toilet train a puppy in 7 days
Day 1
Before we waffle on about everything you need to know about your training schedule, take note of these three points youll need to follow to to make it through:
- Follow the end of every activity, nap time and meal (breakfast, brunch, dinner, and supper) with a toilet break.
- After active moments of the day (playtime or training time), its time for a nap. Puppies become easily tired, and wont have a problem slumping down for a rest. At this point, they still need lots of them!
- Keep track of your puppys toilet activity not because its got any scrapbook potential in particular, but because it will be useful in getting a better idea of any patterns, and could help plan your day better around them.
Lets give it a go then.
5:00 -6:00 am: Wake up
Yep, itll be an early one.
- Immediately after opening your beautiful, but tired eyes, carry your puppy to their toilet area, grabbing that pot of treats on the way.
- Say your cue word and wait for them to go.
- Follow their success with a treat and the top-quality praise youre already brilliant at.
- Come back inside and write down whether your puppys choice for a morning toilet trip was a pee or a poo in your house-training planner.
PRO TIP: Jotting down your puppys toilet habits is a good way to work out when theyll need the toilet next. With time, planning your daily routine will become an easier task.
6:00-7:00 am: Breakfast time
Feed your puppy their breakfast out of an activity feeder. These are great for puppies to:
- Slow eating down to avoid bloating and to give yourself some time to enjoy your morning Earl Grey.
- Develop problem-solving skills (no need to become the best Einstein, but always good to work on these skills)
Kongsorpuzzle feedersare good choices trying out both could be a good way to see which they like best.
Toilet break
Take them to their toilet area and go through the toilet training process:
Cue word wait success reward!
Play time
After breakfast and toilet break, spend some quality time together by playing or working on a few training exercises. Five to ten minutes should do just fine, no need to have the Full Monty.
Chasingtoys on the floor, practicing handling or grooming exercises or working on crate training exercises are good examples of activities you can do during these times throughout the day.
Toilet Break, again.
We werent joking. Remember:
Cue word wait success reward!
Nap Time
After youve brilliantly fed, entertained and taken your puppy to the toilet, a nap sounds about right. Not for you silly goose, for your puppy, of course.
Place their crate or bed next to you, and let them doze off.
Toilet Break, once more.
You know how it goes:
Cue word wait success reward!
PRO TIP: If your puppy doesnt look like they fancy the toilet after 10 minutes of waiting, have a round of play to get their insides moving. Starting to sound a little like a poop factory by now. As soon as they go, you know what to do: Cue word wait success reward!
11:00 am: Brunch
Time for their second meal of the day
And yes. Repeat the cycle youd just done a few hours before:
Toilet break, play time, toilet break, nap time, toilet break.
3:00 pm: Dinner time
Dinner or lunch is sometimes the best time to give them their largest meals of the day because theyre more likely to go for a poo before bedtime and not during.
Nope, youre not done. Go ahead, and repeat the house-training cycle.
7:00 pm (latest): Supper
To reduce the chance of middle-of-the night toilet visits from happening, schedule supper at 7:00 pm at the latest. In between supper and bedtime, theyll have enough time to go through the last round of their house-training routine before zonking down for the night.
This time, as we get closer to bedtime, it will be much better to skip playing games, and instead, relax and start winding down to get into the right mood for a deep sleep. Follow that up with a final toilet visit, and Bobs your uncle.
All thats left is bedtime.
Jolly good.
Day 2
5:00 -6:00 am: Wake up
Did they sleep through the night? Marvellous.
If not, theres nothing to worry about. Is there a puddle of wee somewhere that isnt the toilet? Try your hardest not to get the hump. There will be plenty of opportunities to improve!
What wecanadvise you for future successes, is to carry them to the toilet as soon as you hear some shuffling around at any point during the night. Its highly likely that theyll struggle to hold it in until they reach the toilet, so avoid any delays by giving them a ride on the toilet-training express.
After all thats done, well, let us say good morning. Welcome to Day 2.
Now, just carry on the same routine as Day 1. Good luck!
Heres one more thing. Dont worry, its not more than you can chew.
Just make sure to take them to their toilet area every half an hour when theyre awake, as well as the key times we mentioned earlier:
- After eating or drinking
- When they wake up
- After playing or training
Day 3
Hello again.
Follow the routine in the same order as Day 2, and you may perhaps start noticing how you and your puppy are seeing more eye to eye about your daily routine.
On your part, youll be getting more used to the nightly and early morning wake ups. Your puppy will be more accustomed to the midnight potty express ride when feeling like going to the loo.
PRO TIP: In your midnight visits to the loo, make sure that interactions are kept to the minimum. No fun allowed (til morning, of course).
Have you been checking your planner? Can you start to see patterns? Not inside the poo as if youre telling the future, but in terms of when (and where) theyre going? Is it immediately after eating or does it need more time to brew?
Asking yourself these questions is important to become more strategic in your toilet training game plan.
Day 4
On Day 4, youll want to keep doing the same as Day 3. By now, you may notice your puppy getting more engaged at playtime or training, as he becomes more comfortable with their surroundings.
Hurray! Youre succeeding in making your puppy feel truly at home. Adorable.
As this happens, keep practicing crate or confinement training exercises. We agree someone should work on their design to look less like prisons but until the day that comes, working hard to associate them with positive emotions is just what well have to do.
Day 5, 6 and 7
Well done!
Your puppy should be well on its way to having the ultimate good manners and polite toilet etiquette.
Youve probably surpassed the Queens Corgis at this point.
So here we are.
At the end of this terribly long (but marvellous) house training guide.
The question youve probably asked yourself can you toilet train a puppy in 7 days? is technically for you to answer based on how well the training goes.
Ooh didnt see that one coming, did you?
Just kidding. The number of days, until it gets done right, doesnt really matter in the end. All we can say is that by sticking to our advice, tips, and guidance, youll be well on your way to a house-trained puppy.
We know you can feel defeated, challenged and tired, but youll be surprised how quickly your puppy learns. Someday, it will all make sense.
Until then, you know what they say every dog has its day.
So now you know how to toilet train a puppy in 7 days! Looking for more great training tips and advice? Check out our week-by-week puppy training schedule, next.
