Potty Training a Puppy? Stop Ignoring This Rule, by Simpawtico Dog Training on YouTube. 5 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 2 weeks
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Set up a crate or pen just big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping spot.
Take your puppy out on a leash to the same outdoor spot right before bed. Stand still and wait five to ten minutes, then praise and treat the moment they finish.
Plan one or two night trips. A young puppy can often hold it roughly one hour per month of age, so a three month old may need a break after three or four hours.
Keep night trips boring. No talking, no play, dim lights. Leash on, toilet, treat, straight back to the crate.
Feed the last meal at least two hours before bedtime. That gives your puppy time to digest and toilet before the crate.
Watch for sniffing, circling and restlessness in the evening. Take your puppy out at the first sign, not after the accident.
Clean any indoor accident with an enzymatic cleaner. Never scold or rub your puppy's nose in it. Punishment teaches hiding, not house training.
Log each toilet time for a week. You will spot a pattern and can set your alarm just before it, then slowly stretch the gap.
After two straight weeks of dry nights, give a little more space in the pen. Add freedom slowly.
Tips and common mistakes
Reward within one or two seconds of the last drop, or your puppy will not connect the treat to the spot.
A crate that is too big gives your puppy room to toilet in one corner and sleep in the other.
Keep the middle of the night trip dull. Any play teaches your puppy that 3am is fun time.
Stay consistent for at least two weeks before deciding a method is not working.
Questions
How often should I take my puppy out at night?
Roughly every three to four hours for a young puppy, and once or twice a night for most puppies under four months. Adjust to your own dog.
Should I use puppy pads at night?
Pads can help in a flat or during illness, but they teach your puppy that toileting indoors is fine. Go outside from the start if you can.
How long does night potty training take?
Most puppies manage a full night somewhere between four and six months, once their bladder grows and the routine stays consistent.
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.
