First thing we want you to know is that All of this info will work for any dog or puppy of any age whether they are new to you or have been with you for any length of time.

our goal with this blog is to give you the most information filled guide to potty training possible. if you would like in person coaching from our amazing trainers call now to set up a free in-home consult!

there are a variety of tools that can help you significantly with potty training a dog or puppy. here is a list of those tools: a Crate (see crate training blog) Leashes short and long (6′ and 15′ are our favorites, an Exercise pen, and Baby gates. you may not need all of these tools to accomplish your goal but we will explain the benefit of each.

Okay so this is what starting a fresh new day of potty training with your puppy should look like. routine is super important so try to start and end the day very similarly while in the training phase. upon waking, take your puppy or dog to designated potty area on a leash, we recommend a slip lead for easily putting it on and off the puppy, this prevents them from getting distracted. SOME PEOPLE ASK IF THEIR DOG OR PUPPY CAN BE TAUGHT TO GO IN A SPECIFIC PLACE. THE ANSWER IS YES AND THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU WANT A SPECIFIC SPOT START IN THAT SPOT RIGHT AWAY.  YOU COULD ALSO HAVE AN EXERCISE PEN OUTSIDE IN THE AREA YOU WANT THEM TO POTTY TO AVOID HAVING TO LEASH YOUR pet as much during the training phase. this works well for those that are busy and have a hard time waiting for their pet to do their business. THESE ARE ALSO GREAT INSIDE TO HELP preventing them from sneaking away to potty inside and helps them feel more included in the activities in the home than a crate. be sure to keep a close eye on them in the pen, we do not want them to potty in their pen without catching them in the act. you cannot reprimand a dog for pottying in the incorrect area unless you catch them in the act. if your pet has an accident in your that is your fault, not theirs.

Once your pet goes in the correct area you should celebrate this achievement with a lot of praise and treats.you may now bring the puppy inside with you. Inside the house your pet must be supervised at all times! This is where you can use your baby gates, exercise pens and leashes to prevent them from sneaking off and eliminating in the house. Exercise pens work great because you can provide them some fun toys and the like for them to enjoy. Some trainers and pet owners like to put their puppy on a leash and attach the leash to themselves on a belt loop in order to prevent them from sneaking off. this method can work very well if your pet does well on a leash. (see our video on leash training)

Do not leave your pet unsupervised for even a minute. Too much freedom too fast will ruin your training. Accidents will happen but you want to catch them when they do! 

here what you need to do when that happens! we recommend the moment your pet attempts to potty in the incorrect area, whether that is in your home or any other area you do not want them to eliminate YOU ABRUPTLY YELL NO, NO, NO! or something similar that may feel natural to you AND USHER THEM TO THE POTTY AREA as quickly as you can.

IF THEY ARE SMALL ENOUGH TO EASILY PICK UP THEN YOU CAN DO SO IN THE BEGINNING BUT KNOW THAT THEY MAY NOT STOP PEEING WHEN YOU DO THIS SO IT’S A SAFE PRACTICE TO KEEP THEM LOW AS TO NOT FLING PEE HIGH IN THE AIR THROUGHout THE ROOM YOUR IN. THE IDEA IS TO STARTLE THEm SO THEY KNOW THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT DECISION. GAUGE THEIR BODY LANGUAGE WHEN YOU DO THIS. IF THEY SEEM UNPHASED THEN YOU REACTION WAS TOO PASSIVE. YOUR LOOKING FOR THEM TO BE STARTLED. NOT FEARING. SHOUT, STOMP AND USHER THEM TO APPROPRIATE AREA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND of course REWARD THEM FOR POTTY IN THE CORRECT AREA. 

How often should you let your pet out to potty?

when your pet is going to be crated we recommend they be let out 1 time in hours for the amount of months old they are. So at 3 months old they need a potty break once every 3 hours. At 4 months once every 4 hours etc. 

If your pet is spending time with the family in your home we recommend that you let them once every half hour to start and extend that time based on your success with them. We like to go by the motto eat, sleep, play for potty training. Meaning you should let your pet go potty after they eat, sleep, and play. 

If you have to work during the day and you have a pet that must be left at home In a kennel during these hours we highly recommend that you find someone who can let your pet out to potty based on the hours we mentioned above. Friends, family members, dog walkers, pet sitters.