10 Tips to Fast Track House Training…
Me @ 10 weeks old (New Jersey, January 2020)
So it might be hard to believe, but my mom never used training pads - not a single one. She’s not some potty training whisperer - it just kind of happened that way (more on that at the bottom). Now we did have access to a front yard and a back yard during my first few weeks at home, which certainly made potty breaks easier and quicker. But if you live in an apartment building like I do now, don’t fret, my tips should still be applicable. Aaaand if you take away just one tip from this article it is: GO OUT FOR POTTY BREAKS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. I came home at 8 weeks old and as we (because there’s no “I” in team) learned, the first few weeks were crucial and served as our golden opportunity to fast-track the house training process. During this time there is absolutely no such thing as “too many” potty breaks. In fact, if the amount of times you’re going outside doesn’t feel like overboard, you’re probably not going out enough.
House training is truly a team effort with your paw-parent(s) doing most of the work early on by setting you up for success. Then you’ll start to take center stage as time goes on and gain better bladder control, or if you’re an older pup, as you begin to associate outdoors and bathroom as one. The paw-parent’s goal during the first 2 to 4 weeks at home is simply to get you to relieve outdoors as many times as they can, and to avoid as many accidents as possible indoors. From a house training POV, I highly recommend that you guys make this your top goal during this period of time.
So, to you paw-parents, how can you facilitate this?
LIMIT THE AREAS IN YOUR HOME that your pup can access as this will aid the house training process in a number of ways. Mainly it will help your pup acclimate quicker and associate their designated space as their “ home”. In turn, as they learn and make that association it will serve as a deterrent to relieving themselves in that space. Introduction to other areas/rooms in the house, and the amount of time spent there, should be made gradually. As time goes on, so long as you are consistent in your training, your pup will learn to associate the rest of your domain as their “home” as well.
INVEST IN A GOOD CRATE and use and integrate it into your training (but never-ever use it as punishment). More on my crate here.
SET A FEEDING AND BEDTIME SCHEDULE and stick to it. We limited any eating and water within 2 hours of bedtime every day. What your pup consumes on a schedule, will more often than not come out on a schedule - and until your pup outgrows their “puppy bladder” this will aid the house training process significantly.
WATCH YOUR PUP LIKE HAWK when they are not inside their crate. In addition to ensuring your curious and wandering pup’s safety, you’ll be able to see and monitor water intake as it happens and identify cues that he/she needs to or is about to relieve themselves. And the better you get at that, the better you’ll get at anticipating and managing their potty breaks.
BE PREPARED TO CLEAN UP after accidents quickly and thoroughly. That means buying appropriate cleaning supplies and spot cleaners for the type of flooring you have.
REWARD AND PRAISE YOUR PUP each and every time they use the potty outside - I’m talking overkill. Give them a small treat, pet them, do a dance - make a BIG deal out of it.
NEVER PUNISH, yell or push your pup’s nose into their accident. This only teaches them to fear you and to relieve themselves when you aren’t looking. Accept that accidents are part of the training process, and that you, the paw parent, play the biggest role if and when they happen - trust us, it’ll make training go a lot quicker and a lot less stressful on you both!
POTTY BREAKS ARE NOT WALKS if your pup: a) doesn’t have all of their required vaccinations and b) if you don’t have access to a personal yard or other exclusively used outdoor space. Always consult your veterinarian, but especially for potty breaks made outside of your personal outdoor space, limit prolonged roaming as you increase the risk of exposure to canine diseases and infections. Until I received the vaccinations that allowed for unrestricted time outdoors, my mom was always carried me outside and put down on the grass until I handled my business, and then picked back up.
SET YOUR PUP UP FOR SUCCESS and go outside:
When you first wake up
Again, before any feedings
Within 15 - 30 minutes after each feeding. If they don’t relieve themselves, go out again very shortly thereafter
Within a few minutes of consuming water or treats; you’ll soon start to gauge just how long your puppy can “wait” and will get better at timing
Immediately after any witnessed or found accidents (quickly clean up first). For this type of potty break it doesn’t matter if they relieve themselves or not - the point here is to reinforce the association of outdoors and going to the bathroom. However, if they do relieve themselves further, it’s a bonus and make a HUGE deal out of it. Also, if you catch them in the act while indoors, find a way to gently interrupt them - saying “no” in serious but non-threatening tone is one way to do it. Look at accidents as a positive teachable moment.
Upon waking up from all naps - especially for naps taken inside of their crate (it’s a bonus opportunity to reinforce good potty behavior)
After any playtime
Right before in-crate bedtime
You or your pup wake up in the middle of the night (keep the potty break short and very serious - no playtime)
Just because. If you even THINK they might need to or would relieve themselves, go outside! Even if you went on a potty break just a few moments before
Note: Admittedly the list above sounds like a lot and it is, but the more you can stick to it and figure out your own tricks along the way, the better off you and your pup will be in the long run!
REMEMBER THAT HOUSE TRAINING SUCCESS is dependent on the consistency and diligence of YOU, the paw parent! Also, puppy bladder is a real thing so in our mind “house trained” happens when you can anticipate when your pup needs to go AND when you and your pup go longer and longer stretches with very little to no accidents - again, it is truly a team effort! In turn, as your pup starts to gain better control of their bladder, they will start to pick up more of the “heavy lifting” and will be able to wait for longer periods in between potty breaks to relieve themselves. They may even start to let you know that they need to go, so be sure not to miss or ignore those cues ever!
It wasn’t planned: The short story to my early house training success
My mom had every intention of using training pads. In fact, the day before she and my cousin Aaron picked me up from my breeder, she went to Costco and bought a huge box of training pads and brought a few with her for the drive back with me the following day.
Cuddled up in the car with my cousin, Aaron (Narvon, PA, December 2019)
It was a cold December morning on the east coast and I was 8 weeks old at the time. The car ride home would be over 2 hours long so surely I’d need to use the bathroom my mom thought to herself. Fortunately for her, what she didn’t plan on was that I’d practically sleep the entire ride and would remain happily snuggled on Aaron’s lap. When we pulled up to the house, my mom stepped out of the car and put me right on the grass. I immediately popped a squat and went to the bathroom - from that very moment my house training began. She was so motivated by this early sign, that she decided to forgo training pads altogether. Instead she embarked on a potty break mission and would take me on so many breaks each day, by the time I was 10 weeks old and within 2 weeks of being home, the only accidents we had were due to lost track of time or because she forgot take me outside after playing or after waking up from a nap.
We hope you and your pup find your own rhythm and magic and hope our tips can help along the way! If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us!