What age is easiest to potty train a puppy

Puppy Potty Training Timeline And Tips

Housebreaking, house-training, orpotty training no matter what you call it, all new dog owners want to teach their new puppy not to mess inside their new home. The best way to achieve this goal is by establishinga timeline to follow, and sticking to it.

While youre adhering to your timeline, it helps to firmly establish the rules for where your puppy should and should not eliminate, anddog crates and puppy pads can be very useful training tools to assist you in establishing your potty training plan.

When You Wake Up

Each day begins the same for you and your puppy. When the alarm clock goes off, wake up and get your puppy out of the crate and outside to do their business. Dont stop to make coffee, check emails, or brush your teeth.

Keeping the crate in or near your bedroom lets you hear a whimper or a whine if your pup needs to go out during the night or before your alarm sounds.When theyre still small, you may be able to pick your pup out of the crate to carry them outside. This will prevent them from stopping and peeing on the floor on the way to the door.

Always head out the same door to the same area where you want your puppy to potty, and keep them on a leash outside while training (even in a fenced yard), so you can see whats happening and react immediately.

After Meals

Another morning ritual will be breakfast. After you take your puppy out to potty, they will be ready for their first meal of the day. Try to keep this scheduled at the same time each day. This will aid in regulating elimination, so you can set your watch to potty time.

After the meal, only wait between 5 and 30 minutes to take your puppy outside. The younger the puppy, the sooner they should be brought out after a meal to potty. As the puppy grows older, they will gain bladder control and learn to hold it longer each day.Mostpuppieseat three to four meals a day when they are growing, and most puppies will have to poop after meals, so paying attention to this short follow-up period is important.

Also, remain watchful when the puppy drinks water. Treat this just like a meal, and take them out to potty soon afterward. Choosing a puppy food that digests well and avoiding feeding within two hours of bedtime will help.

After Playtime And Naps

There are many other times that a young puppy will need to go potty, besides the first thing in the morning and after each meal. These instances include periods after naps and playtime.

Naps are mini-versions of the morning routine. Make sure that whenever your puppy is sleeping, you take them outside the moment they wake up.

During playtime, the stimulation of the digestive tract may also give your pup the urge to have a potty break. Some seemingly random clues that a puppy needs to go out can include sniffing the floor or carpet, wandering away from the family, becoming overexcited withzoomies, whimpering, or running to the door.If you see any of these signs, take your puppy out to potty immediately.

Praise for Potty Training Success

As you establish the routine of taking your puppy out after sleeping, eating, and playing, you also must focus on what to do once you are outside.

Find a spot that will become the potty spot, and always take your dog to the same spot. Stand quietly and wait until they are ready, and as they commence, give a voice command or signal to go potty or do your business. Then wait for the results, and praise lavishly if your puppy goes. Say good boy/girl! then give the pup a yummy treat.

Do this every time you are outside (or indoors if using puppy pads or dog litter boxes), and soon enough, the puppy will understand that doing their business in the proper spot will bring lots of love and treats. Also, after they eliminate outside, play with your pup for a few minutes before rushing back inside.

If your pup doesnt go when youre outside, you may have to take them inside and come back out again in a few minutes. Even they do go, they may need to head back out very soon, so stay vigilant.

Remember, if there are accidents indoors, do not punish your puppy. If you catch them in the act, you can make a noise or say uh-oh to get their attention, and they will likely stop. Immediately, gently pick up your puppy, take them outside, and praise them heartily when they finish up. Always be sure to sanitize soiled indoor areas with appropriate pet stain cleaning products, so the pup isnt drawn to the same spot again.

Many owners have great results by also placing a bell on the door handle, and training their puppy to ring the bell when they need to go out. Start by ringing the bell as you exit with your dog, and praise the puppy as soon as they learn to ring the bell on their own.

Leaving Home and Last Call

When you have to leave home for several hours and your puppy needs to stay in a crate during the day, remember to plan ahead. If youre unsure about how long your puppy can hold it, use the month-plus-one rule. Take the age of your puppy in months and add one, and that is the maximum number of hours that your puppy should be able to comfortably hold it between potty breaks. A 3-month-old puppy plus one equals 4 hours that they should be able to stay in the crate without a mess.

Remember that the last thing you should do before you go to bed for the night is to take your puppy out for one last potty break before bedtime. However, your pup will usually be able to hold their bladder for a longer period when they are asleep and not active.

When it comes to how long potty training takes, it depends on the puppy and the schedule you keep, says Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. If training begins early, a 6-month-old puppy is usually able to be depended on most of the time to eliminate outside. However, if you feel that youre not making progress, you should have the puppy checked out by a veterinarian. They may have a urinary tract infection or some other health issue causing the delay in house-training.

By scheduling meals, walks, playtime, and other activities in a daily routine, you and your pup will be on your way to success in potty training, but it wont happen overnight, so remember to be patient.

How to potty train a puppy

The best potty training method for you comes down to your schedule, household situation, home type, physical abilities, and your dogs particular temperament. People who live in apartments or cannot go on long walks might opt for pee pad training. The umbilical cord approach may be ideal for people who spend most of their time at home. Youre on the right track as long as you are patient and only use positive reinforcement. You and your pup will get to where you need to be together.

1. Build in pee breaks

Puppies pee and poop a lot. Its a fact of their young lives. Your new puppy will need to go first thing in the morning, between 5 and 30 minutes after mealtimes, and before bed. However, thats not the only time they will need to relieve themself. In general, a puppy can hold their pee for about one hour for every month of age.

For example, a three month old puppy will often need to go potty every three hours, including at night. Once your dog is about 4-5 months old, they may be able to go all night without a pee break, but will still need to go potty every 4 hours during the day. Becoming familiar with their potty habits and getting on a regular potty training schedule can help your dog catch on quickly.

2. Choose the right spot

Regardless of training type, a designated pee/poop spot will help simplify potty training for your puppy. If your dog can access the entire yard for their breaks, they wont equate one spot with peeing and pooping, which can slow down the process.

3. Pick a unique key phrase

You can choose whatever potty break phrase you like. Be aware that its smart to pick a phrase you dont use in your regular speech. If you tell your dog to go, for example, they will be confused when they hear you say go in another situation. For this reason, some people invent their own phrases, such as, Time to potty! Remember to keep it consistent and unique so that you both know what you mean.

4. Always reward, never punish

Keep treats on you at all times. When your dog does their business in the right spot, give them a treat and plenty of praise. If your dog has an accident, never yell at them. Never. We dont recommend punishmentit will only teach your dog to fear you. If you do this, youre a bad, bad, bad human.

5. Have a regular feeding schedule

A puppys tummy and digestive tract are much more sensitive than an adult dogs. Youll want to feed your dog on a vet-approved schedule for optimal health. In addition, because they will have to do their business soon after eating, youll want to know when their meals are. This way, you can plan to take your dog out shortly after they eat.

How to potty train your puppy or dog

House training (also known as potty training or housebreaking) your dog or puppy requires patience, commitment and lots of consistency. Accidents are part of the process, but if you follow these basic house training guidelines, you can get the newest member of your family on the right track.

How to potty train your puppy

Establish a routine

Puppies do best on a regular schedule. The schedule teaches them that there are times to eat, times to play and times to do their business. Typically, a puppy can control their bladder one hour for every month of age. So if your puppy is 2months old, they can hold it for about two hours. Don't go longer than this between bathroom breaks or theyre likelyto have an accident.

Take your puppy outside frequentlyat least every two hoursand immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.

Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot. While your puppy is relieving themselves, use a specific word or phrase that you can eventually use before they go to remind them what to do. Take them out for a longer walk or some playtime only after they have eliminated.

Rewardyour puppy every time they eliminate outdoors. Praise or give treatsbut remember to do so immediately after theyve finished, not after they come back inside. This step is vital, because rewarding your dog for going outdoors is the only way to teach what's expected of them. Before rewarding, be sure theyre finished. Puppies are easily distracted and if you praise too soon, they may forget to finish until theyre back in the house.

Put your puppy on a regular feeding schedule. What goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out of a puppy on a schedule. Depending on their age, puppies may need to be fed two or three times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it more likely that they'll eliminate at consistent times as well, making house training easier for both of you.

Pick up your puppy's water dish about two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that they'll need to relieve themselves during the night. Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without needing a bathroom break. If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don't make a big deal of it; otherwise, they will think it is time to play and won't want to go back to sleep. Turn on as few lights as possible, don't talk to or play with your puppy, take them out to the spot where they relieve themselves and then return them to bed.