what you need to potty train a puppy

House training a puppy takes patience

Puppies don’t come preloaded with human ideas of where they should pee or poop. In fact, before they’re 4 months old, they probably don’t even think about it at all — they just “go.” But once your little doggyBFF is about 16 weeks old, you can start teaching them the best places to unload. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.

Training your puppy for puppy potty time

For the puppy

A collar and leash, so you can keep your puppy within range. This is especially helpful when you’re taking them to the spot you want them to use. You want their attention right there, not somewhere else.
A crate as their safe place, or “den” — which means they will really, really try hard not to pee or poop there.
An enclosed area, like a small pen. A pen will limit their movements, so they can’t let loose in areas where they shouldn’t. If the pen is indoors, it can help to line the floor with a plastic sheet for easy cleaning.
Pet gates to keep your puppy from wandering into (and pooping or peeing in) blocked-off areas.
Pee pads, also called puppy pads, are absorbent pads that are specially made with a pheromone that encourages your dog to pee or poop there. Once the habit is set, they may return there to go potty. Make sure you only put puppy pads where it’s OK for them to go!
Small treats to reward your dog immediately after they do their duty in exactly the right place. Be sure to praise them too — they’ll soon learn that good potty behavior makes you happy.

For you

Poop bags and/or a poop scooper, so you can pick up puppy poops. (The rest of us thank you for this.)
Pet-safe cleaning products to use in your home. Animal waste has a distinctive smell that may tell your puppy “yep, this is a toilet!” Happily, there are many products on the market that both really clean and actually remove potty odor from floors, carpets, and other surfaces.
Love and patience. Teaching your puppy to be house trained is a journey. Don’t get mad at your dog for doing it wrong — in fact, punishment may actually make “accidents” more common. Just keep up the positive reinforcement. Always reward your puppy when they “do” it right, and they will soon be happily peeing and pooping exactly where they should.

How to get started potty training

First, make sure your puppy is old enough to get the message. A good time to start is around 16 weeks, but even older dogs can be house trained with time and effort. A good first step is crate training your dog.

See more about crate training

Remember, if your dog has been in their crate, they’ve probably been “holding it” so they won’t spoil their den. So when you let them out of the crate, don’t wait. Lead them right to where you want them to poop or pee. This can be a puppy pad, or a spot you’ve selected outdoors. If they hit the target, praise and reward them — what a good dog!

See more about potty training

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smiling woman holds brown dog talks to smiling vet

How Banfield can help

Having trouble potty training? It’s sometimes due to a health issue. We recommend bringing your puppy in so we can rule out or help treat any medical issues that might be making potty training less productive. And if your pup’s pee or poop looks weird, try to grab a sample and bring it in. Don’t worry about grossing us out. Trust us, we’ve seen it all.

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