The potty training process can be literally and figuratively messy for new puppy owners, but how you train your puppy during this formative time impacts not only their success, but also your future relationship. The right approach will help build your bond, whereas mistakes will lead to anxiety and stress. Neighborhood Veterinary Centers teams believe that positive reinforcement techniques are the best method for teaching your puppy desirable habits, and for building a long-lasting bond. Here are our top tips for potty training success.

#1: Confine your puppy to a small area at first

Puppies should stay in their crate overnight and be confined to a small, non-carpeted area during the day. Dogs do not like to potty near their sleeping space, so keeping them in a relatively small pen or room will prevent them from using a distant area as a bathroom. As the training progresses, you can gradually expand their home base until they are allowed in most of the house.

#2: Learn how long your puppy can “hold it”

You need to know how long your puppy can hold their bladder to create a realistic potty schedule that does not leave your pup alone for too long—which sets them up to fail. On average, puppies can hold on for one hour for each month of age, plus one more. For example, a 4-month-old puppy can hold their urine for approximately five hours. Start with this calculation and slowly make adjustments, remembering to also count overnight hours.

#3: Keep a consistent potty routine

Your puppy’s potty routine lays the groundwork for success. Taking them out frequently and at the right times leaves less room for error and provides more reinforcement opportunities. For the first few months after you bring your new pup home, keep a rigid schedule, recruiting help from neighbors or friends as needed. 

Potty breaks should be scheduled every few hours, according to the age calculation, with extra trips after your puppy wakes up, eats, drinks, exercises, or plays. Limit each potty trip to five minutes, so your pup learns that outside trips are for business first, and play second. If they don’t go in that time frame, take them back inside, and try again a few minutes later. 

#4: Use positive rewards every time

Praise your puppy and provide a high-value treat each and every time they eliminate outside in the desired area. A reward given immediately will have more impact than if you wait until you go back indoors, because your pup will more easily associate the reward with the behavior. Pairing positive rewards with a desired behavior will always increase the frequency of that behavior, and high-value treats at the right time will more strongly imprint on your pup’s brain and help them learn faster.

#5: Never punish your puppy for an accident

Punishment tactics, such as yelling at a puppy while showing them an accident, are not only ineffective but can actually be harmful. If you punish your puppy after the fact, they will not make the connection to your yelling and will instead learn to fear you. If you yell while an accident is in progress, you’ll startle your puppy, and teach them to go when you are not nearby. Neither of these lessons will help you progress toward your goal, and they can damage your bond.

If your puppy starts to eliminate inside, simply redirect their attention, immediately take them outside to finish, and then reward them for going outside. When you find an accident after the fact, simply clean up, and take note that your puppy may need more frequent breaks. An enzymatic cleaner will help eliminate odors.

#6: Schedule a veterinary visit if your puppy struggles with potty training

Puppies who aren’t making progress with their training should see a veterinarian to rule out an underlying medical issue. Bladder infections and urogenital tract inflammation are common in young pups and may lead to urinary urgency, while parasites or intestinal infections can cause diarrhea and fecal urgency. Rarely, puppies may struggle with constant dribbling, because they have a congenital urinary tract malformation that requires surgical repair. 

A predictable schedule and consistent reinforcement will quickly help you potty train your puppy and allow them more freedom and fun. For help with potty training, or to schedule a veterinary visit for your new furry pal, contact a Neighborhood Veterinary Centers team near you.