Potty Training 101: The Scoop on the Poop

Potty training is one of the first (and sometimes most frustrating) challenges new dog owners face. Whether you're bringing home a puppy or helping an adult dog learn new habits, consistency, patience, and the right plan can make all the difference. In this blog, I'll walk you through what works, what to avoid, and how to set your dog up for success.

• Helpful Tools: 
  • Crate- Sized so the full-grown dog can sit, stand, turn around, and lay down with legs straight out. For potty training, I recommend wire crates that have a moveable divider so you can make it smaller for puppies. We use these because dogs are natural den creatures and will (typically) not pee where they sleep. Place this in the MOST lived in room of the home.
  • Rewards- Something your dog loves, such as treats to help encourage wanted behavior.
  • Cleaning supplies- Enzymatic cleaning products work best on pet messes. The enzymes in it will help break down the stubborn smells and give a better clean than more usual household cleaners and are safer for your pets. Usually, pet stores, amazon, or chewy.com will carry these.
  • Leash and Collar- Use these to limit freedom in the home until they have eliminated.
  • Baby Gates- Use to limit freedom in spaces you may not want them in.
  • For Older or More Stubborn Dogs, Belly bands or dog diapers- Use these on dogs who cannot hold their pee/poop, may have a medical issue, or have psychological damage from abusive or neglectful environments
  • (Optional) Sleigh/Potty Bells- Use these for your dog to notify you when they have to pee. To teach, hold a treat behind the bells and when they bump the bells to get the treat say, "Yes," reward, and let them out. 
  • **Trainer Tip! Don't use pee pads inside the home for new or young dogs. Dogs are always creating associations and will associate peeing with inside. These will severely slow your dog's understanding of potty training!**
• Make a Schedule! When your dog's feeding, free time, and sleep are scheduled, their metabolism will regulate, and they'll go potty at the same times of the day. This allows you to anticipate when they will have to pee and/or poop, making unexpected accidents diminish. 
  
  • A dog's bladder can typically hold pee for one hour per month of age. For example, an 8 week puppy should only be able to hold it for 2 hours max! When you bring a new puppy home, expect to take them out OFTEN throughout the night. Discuss this with your partner or roommates so everyone is clear and FAIR about sleeping arrangements. It can be very taxing on just one person to do all the caretaking of a young puppy, so please be kind and help when you can. An owner who is well cared for takes better care of their dog. 
  • At around 6 months of age, (8 for smaller breeds) your dog's bladder should soon begin to hold pee overnight.
  • If you have an adult dog or a new rescue, you can wait longer amounts of time, but you want to treat them as though it's their first time potty training when they get to a new home. Any-age dog can have accidents in new places. Elimination is a bodily function for anyone in high stress/anxiety situations. How many times have you had to do a big presentation at work or speak in public and you had to go potty? Same for dogs in a new place.
  • Older dogs will need to go out more frequently the older they get. Nerves and muscles lose capabilities as they age. If you have a senior dog, or any dog who starts having messes when they typically don't, SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN! 
  • Please have patience for older dogs and utilize things like dog diapers, belly bands, and pee pads to protect your home and reduce your stress. If you have a dog who is an escape artist from belly bands or diapers, there are diapers with shoulder straps or recovery suits that can help keep these in place.
  • Any time your dog regresses in potty training, treat them like a puppy and go back to kindergarten with them. Go back to a strict schedule with frequent potty breaks 
  • 
• Know When To Take Them Out: A new puppy (6 months and under) will have to go out every time they:
  • Wake Up (Whether it's 5 minutes or 5 hours)
  • Eat or Drink -Yes, you will have to watch for every drink of water at first. 
  • Play Heavily- Puppies will often have bladder spasms during play, so use those zoomies as a clue to get them outside! 
  • Their Nose Drops and Their Tail Goes Up- Dog body language usually looks like sniffing. They may have a smaller tail that lifts up, or a bigger one that stays down and is pulled away in a hump from the legs. They'll usually sniff in a circle or seem very interested in a certain smell and will have interrupted a different activity. When you see this, get them outside quickly. 
• How to Teach:Have your dog on leash while potty training. When your dog goes outside, walk them to the same area you'd like them to go potty. The smell helps them know what to do there. Slowly walk that area until they start sniffing to eliminate. Say, "Go Potty," and reward withing 1 second of finishing. Use HIGH value treats. Don't wait to reward until they come back inside- reward in place.
  • BEWARE! Most puppies can turn their bladder off to chase a fun leaf or something exciting that crosses their path. If you see them stop for a distraction, gently hold them back and walk the area again. If they won't finish but you know there's more, back in the crate for 10 minutes, then try again. If they STILL won't go, back in the crate for 10 minutes and repeat that 10 minutes until they go and reward.
  • **ANY TIME YOUR PUPPY ISN'T IN A CRATE, THEY SHOULD BE TETHERED TO YOU FOR CONSTANT SUPERVISION.** If you cannot watch your dog with 100% attention, crate them or set up a "safe zone" where they have limited access to dangerous items and little space to eliminate.
• What to do if There's an Accident:
  • X Don't scold or punish:
    • Punishing a dog for going to the bathroom inside will teach them that GOING POTTY is bad, not inside is bad. This causes dogs to sneak away and go pee in hidden places, so they don't get caught. It will also stop them from wanting to pee in front of you outside.
    • Scientifically, you have 1/2 a second to reward or correct a behavior. If you punish a dog after the fact, you're punishing what they're doing in that moment. The reason dogs act "guilty" is because they're expert body language readers and they can see you're upset, and they want to avoid confrontation. It was handler error that the dog wasn't being watched, so go get a rolled-up newspaper and hit YOURSELF over the head with it. 
  • DO keep them tethered and when you catch them, interrupt the behavior with exciting body language. I like to call it "Be the Leaf" and make them stop the bladder to chase YOU outside to the pee area. When they finish, reward! Catching the dog in the act is the ONLY opportunity you'll get to teach them inside isn't where to pee. It is your BEST opportunity for training other than management and making a habit of going outside. Take advantage and teach!
  • Do clean messes up quickly and with enzymatic cleaners to eliminate the smell from your home. Remember, that smell tells them where to keep going. Try not to let it set inside.
• When to Reach Out for Help:
  •  If you're feeling stuck, reach out to a professional. Some dogs have anxiety, medical issues, or past trauma that make potty training harder. You're not alone!

    📞 I offer private training sessions tailored to potty training—reach out here: Click Here!

Potty training isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely achievable with the right plan. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want expert guidance, I’m here to help.

Let’s make potty training a success—for both you and your dog.