How To Potty Train a Puppy – How to House Train Your Dog
House training your puppy
requires more than a stack of
old newspapers.
It calls for patience,
commitment, and above all,
consistency.
Hi, I’m Kathy Santo for
Iams with Howdini.
And today we’re going
to talk about how to
house train your puppy.
A trusting and consistent
relationship is fundamental to
successful house training.
The more consistent you
are, the faster
your puppy will learn.
House training a puppy can
take several weeks and
sometimes longer with
smaller breeds.
The first step to house training
your puppy is to
establish a routine.
Puppies did best on a regular
schedule, because it teaches
them that there are times
to eat, times to play,
and times to potty.
As a general rule, a puppy can
control his bladder about an
hour for every month of age.
So if your puppy is only three
months old, he can probably
only hold it for about three
hours, if not less.
Make sure to take him right out
after he wakes up, during
and after play time, and after
eating or drinking, because
these are times he’s most
likely to have to go.
If you work and are unable to
take your puppy outside as
often as needed, you could hire
a dog walker to give your
puppy his necessary breaks.
I recommend picking a specific
bathroom spot outside and
always taking him there first
when he’s on a leash.
While your puppy is going, say
something like “go potty” so
that you can eventually
use that phrase to
remind him what to do.
You should take him out for a
walk or play time after he’s
gone potty, or he might
just learn to hold
it to keep you outside.
Reward your puppy every time
he goes potty outdoors with
praise or a treat, but make
sure to do so immediately
before he goes back
into the house.
Rewarding correct behavior
is the best way
to teach your puppy.
Be careful not to reward your
puppy until he’s completely
finished, or he may forget to
finish up outside and then
have an accident inside.
And remember, what goes into a
puppy on a schedule comes out
of a puppy on a schedule.
So always take your puppy
out after feeding.
Try picking up your puppy’s
water dish about two and a
half hours before bedtime, so he
won’t have as much water to
try and hold overnight.
If you keep a consistent
schedule, your puppy could be
house trained by the time he’s
five to six months old.
But don’t be discouraged if it
takes your puppy longer or has
an occasional accident.
Many factors, including breed
of dog, consistency, and
temperament, can contribute to
a longer training period.
If you feel that there’s little
to no progress, consult
with your veterinarian to be
sure that a medical issue,
such as a bladder infection,
isn’t the culprit.
Supervision in the beginning
is critical.
Exercise pens are extremely
helpful while house training.
Keeping your puppy in a small
space within eyesight will
allow you to notice and react
when they start showing the
signs of needing to eliminate.
Those signs can be barking,
scratching at the door,
squatting, sniffing,
or circling.
If you’re unable to monitor your
puppy, you can confine
him to an area small enough
so that he won’t want to
eliminate there.
A space just large enough for
him to lay down with a couple
extra inches is just fine.
Many people choose to combine
with a crate which can be very
helpful for house training
your young dog.
For more information on crate
training watch “How to crate
train your puppy.”
I’m Kathy Santo for Iams with
Howdini, and I hope that
you’ve found this helpful as you
welcome your new addition
to your family.
For more information on puppy
care and training, visit
iams.com/puppy.
