Your COMPLETE Guide To Puppy Potty Training!, by McCann Dog Training on YouTube. 21 min 36 s.
- Video length
- 21 min 36 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 4 weeks
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after every meal, after naps, after play and before bed. Young puppies need a potty break roughly every hour or two.
Pick one potty spot outside and always use the same door. Stand still and give your puppy a few minutes to sniff and go.
Supervise your puppy indoors at all times. Keep it on a leash or in sight so you can catch signs like sniffing, circling or sudden restlessness.
Reward right after your puppy finishes going outside. Praise and give a treat within a second or two so it links the treat to pottying outdoors.
Set a night routine. Take your puppy out just before bed, keep the crate beside your bed, and respond calmly to whining with a quick quiet potty trip.
Teach your puppy to ask to go out. Go to the door together at potty times and reward any signal, such as sitting or nosing the door.
Use the crate when you cannot watch your puppy. Keep crate time short and always potty first before crating.
Add a potty cue. Say a word like "go potty" just as your puppy starts to go, then reward, so the word becomes a command.
Tips and common mistakes
Clean accidents with an enzyme cleaner so the smell does not draw your puppy back to the same spot.
Never punish an accident after the fact. Your puppy cannot connect the scolding to something it did minutes ago.
Keep meals and water times regular so you can predict when your puppy will need to go.
Expect setbacks during teething or schedule changes and go back to frequent potty breaks.
Questions
How often should I take my puppy out?
Roughly every hour or two while awake, plus after meals, naps and play. Very young puppies need more frequent trips.
Should I use puppy pads or go straight outside?
Going straight outside is simpler for most homes because it avoids teaching your puppy to potty indoors. Pads can suit apartments or bad weather if used consistently.
Why is my puppy having accidents again?
Regression is common after changes like a new home, teething or less supervision. Tighten the schedule and supervision for a week or two.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
