To potty train a puppy, take him out after waking, naps, meals and drinks, every 1 to 2 hours while awake, and reward the second he finishes outside.
Crate or watch him between trips.
Clean misses with an enzyme cleaner.
In this guide6 sections
Six-forty in the morning, a puppy turning tight circles by the back door, and you with one slipper on. The circling is the last warning, not the first. Potty training is 10% teaching the puppy and 90% teaching you to look at a clock. Here is the day-one routine, in order.
Take him out on a schedule, not on a hunch. First thing after waking, after every nap, after every meal and after a big drink of water.
Go with him, on leash, to the same spot. Stand still and stay boring. The smell of the spot does half the work.
Reward the second he finishes, outside. Praise and a small treat right where he went, not when you are back at the door. Blue Bits are soft, so break each bite in half for a small puppy and the reps add up.
Between trips, watch him or crate him. Loose in the house and unwatched is how accidents happen. A wire crate with a divider keeps his space the right size.
Clean any miss fully. Calm and quiet, then an enzyme cleaner such as Biokleen Bac-Out, so the spot stops smelling like a toilet to him.
The schedule: how often a puppy needs to go out
There is no magic number, but two trusted sources (the American Kennel Club and VCA Animal Hospitals) agree on the frame. Puppies can generally hold it about as many hours as their age in months, plus these trips:
Every 1 to 2 hours while he is awake.
After a meal or a big drink, and right after a nap.
Every half hour when he is running and playing.
At least every 4 hours, even if he has been resting.
Write the first two days on the fridge. A clock on the wall beats guessing at the circles.
The crate: sized to sleep in, not to use as a toilet
The crate should be big enough for him to stand, turn around and lie down, and no bigger. Then he cannot go in one corner and rest in another. That is what the divider is for: set it for the puppy you have now and move it as he grows. Crate basics are in crate training, done right.
When he has an accident
Do not punish it. Never rub his nose in it or strike him: punishing a natural act can teach a puppy not to toilet near a person. Rewarding the right spot and preventing mistakes works better. Clean it up and tighten the schedule.
Cleaning matters: good cleanup is what keeps him from picking the same spot again. For the full method, see our enzyme cleaners guide.
It varies. Some puppies develop reliable habits within days and others need several months, per the AKC, depending on age, past experience and how consistent you are. Treat any promise of a trained puppy in a weekend with a raised eyebrow.
Call the vet if
A puppy who was doing well and starts soiling again should get a call to your vet. VCA Animal Hospitals says to always consult your veterinarian if a previously well-trained dog begins house soiling.
Every 1 to 2 hours while awake, after meals and drinks, after naps, every half hour during play, and at least every 4 hours even when resting. Puppies can generally hold it about as many hours as their age in months.
How long does potty training take?
Some puppies develop reliable habits within days and others need several months. Age, past experience and consistency all change the answer.
Should I punish my puppy for an accident?
No. Do not punish, never rub his nose in it and never strike him. Clean it up calmly and supervise more.
How big should the crate be for potty training?
Big enough to stand, turn around and lie down, and no bigger. Use a divider so it fits the puppy you have today.
