I hear you, what were just cute bundles of fur a few weeks ago have turned into a stinky mess, and a few free potty training tips for your puppies would come in handy just about now. I was a pup myself not so very long ago, so let me give you a canine perspective on what is happening with your puppies, and then I'll get to my tips.

Puppy House Training: How Long Will It Take?

The most common question I am asked regarding puppy house training concerns how long the process will take. I wish I could tell you it will be done in the blink of an eye, but I would be lying.

However, I am proud to say that dogs and puppies have a huge upper paw on babies in that respect. If you do your job well, you can have the whole potty training business handled in a couple of months, give or take a week or two.

Notice that I said 'if you do your job well' ...

By that, I mean that you need to be super vigilant for the first few weeks so your puppies do not acquire bad habits which would delay the process considerably. First, you must realize that, just like babies, puppies have a very small stomach and bladder, which means that they will need to eliminate as many as 10 times a day.

If you are taking your puppies outside to eliminate, you may want to introduce them to a collar and leash so they can get used to walking on a leash gradually. However, if your puppies are less than 16 weeks old and you catch them eliminating as you are taking them outside, pick them up instead of walking them outside: the extra walking may cause a loosening of their bladder and bowels at this point.

The Puppy Potty Training Chart Simplified

Your best tool at this stage consists of a puppy potty training chart. Since a young puppy needs to be fed three to four times a day, he needs to be watched tightly right after his meals because elimination should take place within the following 15 minutes. Add to that a toilet break on waking up, and another just before bedtime, and you are more or less covered.

I say more or less because this schedule depends on the exact age of your puppies. During day time, you puppy will need to be let out at hourly intervals equivalent to his age in months. In other words, every two hours for a two-month old, every three hours for a three-month old, and so on.

At night, you get a bit of a break: the hourly interval doubles. So a two-months old goes out every four hours, and a three-month old, every six hours. In other words, you get to enjoy a full night's sleep only when puppy reaches his fourth month. Sorry, no getting around that ...

Why Use a Crate for Potty Training a Puppy While You're Working

If you are wondering how you can possibly succeed in crate and potty training a puppy while you're working, let me put your mind at ease. Because puppies do not like to soil the area where they sleep, a crate is the ideal tool to use to housebreak your pup, as long as you respect the training schedule. If you have purchased a crate your puppy can grow into, make sure you block off the excess area (you can use a box) so he does not start using it to relieve himself. Once a scent has been established, the habit will be very hard to break.

If you have no one to supervise the puppy while you are away, then the best thing for you to do is to restrict him to an area of your home that is easy to clean and less open to destruction, such as a laundry room or a bathroom. At first, cover the whole floor area with paper, gradually reducing the paper coverage over time, thereby restricting his toilet area.

I do hope my free potty training tips for puppies have been of some help. Always remember to be patient, consistent, and the more often you use positive reinforcement, the faster your puppy will catch on as to what is expected of him. Punishment hardly ever works and usually proves to be a deterrent.

Amber, Dog Training Star


Amber has been sniffing out top secrets from expert dog trainers & behaviorists in order to help you understand & communicate with your best friend. Being a dog whisperer is truly the key to stress-free dog & puppy training.

(c) Copyright Amber, DTS. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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