How to House-Train a Puppy: Potty Training Tips for Pet Parents

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Bringing home a puppy is an exciting time! But it can also be a messy time. Between chewed-up furniture, shredded cushions, and accidents on the floor, taking care of a pup isn’t for the faint of heart! That’s why knowing how to house-train a puppy is crucial.

Here, we’ll talk about all the things you need to know before your new best friend makes their arrival.

The Takeaways

Knowing how to house-train a puppy is an important part of being a dog owner.
For the best results, create and stick to a routine, take your puppy out regularly, reward them when they potty, be consistent with your potty command, and monitor them closely while inside.
You’ll also need to prepare for the times you have to be away from home. Consider crate training, hiring a pet sitter, or using doggy daycare.

How to House-Train a Puppy

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You're all settled in with your new puppy. You’ve got their bed, their food, and their toys. Now it’s time to house-train! Let’s take a look at what you can do for a better chance of success.

Create and Stick to a Routine

Routine is key when it comes to house-training your dog. Choose one spot in your yard where you want your pup to do their business, and then take them to that spot every time. You’ll also want to create a schedule for your dog’s pottying and eating (and then stick to it!).

Having scheduled potty breaks trains your dog’s body to instinctively know when it’s time to go. But more than that, keeping their meals at the same two or three times each day allows you to better predict when they’ll need to go out.

Sticking to a routine might also help to prevent your dog from becoming anxious in their new environment.

Take Your Puppy Out Regularly

If you’ve ever potty trained a child, then you know regular potty breaks are vital! The same is true for dogs.

Taking your dog out multiple times throughout the day helps them learn where to relieve themselves, but it also prevents accidents simply because it reduces the likelihood that they’ll need to go while they’re inside.

Experts recommend taking your dog to their designated potty spot every two hours, as well as after they eat, drink, and sleep. You might also want to give them a chance to potty after an intense play session.

When you do take your dog out, keep them on a leash and walk them directly to the spot where you want them to do their business.

Reward Your Pup When They Potty

Anybody who’s ever owned a dog knows how well they respond to rewards. Dogs will naturally repeat any behavior that gets them treats, cuddles, or extra playtime!

Take advantage of that instinct when it’s time to house-train your new pup. As soon as they relieve themselves in their spot, offer lots of praise and a treat. But just make sure they’re actually finished because dogs can get distracted easily.

Be Consistent with Your Potty Command

Any kind of puppy training, house-training included, requires consistency for success. Consistency includes where and when you take your pup to potty, but it also includes the word or phrase you use to signal that it’s go time.

Choose a word or phrase that feels comfortable to you, like “go potty” or simply “potty,” and use it every time you take your dog out. Make sure everyone living in your house, as well as any pet sitters or other people who might interact with your dog, know to use the same phrase.

Monitor Them Closely While Inside

Puppy resting inside while his owner practices how to house-train a puppy

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To prevent accidents (or at least minimize them!), keep a close eye on your pup when they’re inside. The best bet is to tether them to you or to nearby furniture with a 6-foot leash. Of course, if you’re actively playing with them or they’re eating, you’ll need to take the leash off.

As you’re hanging out indoors with your dog, watch for signs that they need to relieve themselves. They might bark repeatedly, scratch at the door, walk in circles, sniff the floor, or assume the squatting position.

Once you notice any of these signs, take them outside right away. (Hint: If they get to the point of squatting, move fast!)

Prepare for Being Away from Home

Although we’d all love to spend day in and day out cuddling and playing with our puppies, that’s not always feasible. At some point, you’ll have to go to work, run errands, or meet a friend for dinner. So what happens when you leave home? Does the house-training stop?

It doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t!). You have a few options. First, consider crate training. This lets you confine your pup to a space where they likely won’t want to relieve themselves. And don’t worry; crate training is considered completely humane.

You could also keep your dog in a certain area of your house blocked off with baby gates, like a bathroom or laundry room, instead of crating them. But they’re usually less likely to potty inside a crate.

The next option is to hire a pet sitter. This person comes to your house each day and hangs out with your pup while you’re gone. The benefit of this over a crate is that your dog will be able to run around and play without you having to worry about coming home to accidents.

Lastly, you might consider taking your new puppy to doggy daycare for daily activities, or boarding them if you’ll be gone overnight. Many boarding facilities offer daycare services, including our facility at Around the World Pet Resort.

Why choose daycare over a pet sitter? Letting your dog stay at a facility gives them the chance to socialize with other dogs in a supervised, clean environment. They get all the perks of pet sitting, plus plenty of playtime with their new friends!

House-Training Success!

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It’s always fun to bring home a new canine family member! Puppies are a lot of work, but we think they’re worth it. Follow the tips above for a successful house-training experience, and your dog will be a potty pro in no time.

And if you need somewhere to take your dog while you’re away (to avoid those pesky accidents!), consider our daycare services at Around the World Pet Resort. Our experienced staff will keep an eye on your dog as they play with other dogs in a carefully supervised environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop my puppy from peeing and pooping in the house?

Keeping your new pup from relieving themselves inside is all about house-training. Following the tips above is the best place to start. You may also want to use a cleaner that neutralizes odors from accidents so your dog won’t be tempted to go in the same place next time.

Additionally, avoid punishing your pup when they have an accident or rubbing their nose in it. That only creates stress and anxiety and can actually prolong the house-training process.

What scent will keep dogs from peeing in the house?

It’s possible to take advantage of certain scents that dogs dislike to deter your pup from using your house as a toilet. Try citrus, white vinegar, peppermint, eucalyptus, or lemongrass. For this to work, make sure the spot has been thoroughly cleaned so there’s no smell left from previous accidents.

Can my 10-week-old puppy be left home alone?

Sure, your 10-week-old pup can be left alone, but only for short periods of time. Experts recommend keeping unsupervised roaming time to 10 to 15 minutes and confined time (in a crate or playpen) to one to two hours.

Remember that puppies this young have tiny bladders and may not be able to hold their urine for longer than a couple of hours. Being alone for many hours at a time can also cause stress and anxiety in puppies that age.

When you do have to leave your puppy, make sure they have a safe space to chill, like a crate or a puppy-proofed, blocked-off area of the house. And consider investing in a camera so you can check in on them every once in a while.