One of the MOST frustrating things for new pet parents is potty-training. Who wants to keep cleaning up pee and poop accidents in their home?

The potty-training process doesn't have to be frustrating though. With a few key pro tips and solid consistency on your part (and other household members), you and your puppy can do this - and build your bond and communication while you're at it!

**plan-panel

First, before you start, know that potty-training is a process

Recognize from the beginning that your puppy is learning, and learning something entirely new and making it a reliable habit takes a little time.

Your puppy, depending on age and size, is also developing the physiological ability to "hold it" and anticipate the need for potty breaks, so bring your patience and positivity about watching your puppy learn. You'll be setting your puppy and yourself up for success and making it all immensely easier.

Embrace it as an opportunity to reward your puppy and build your positive bond together

Puppy potty-training is a process that can and should be a positive, rewarding experience for your puppy - and for you. The potty-training process gives you an opportunity several times a day to give your dog experience with positive reinforcement.

Your puppy will quickly begin to link certain behaviors with rewards when you're consistent and deliver the high-value treats immediately after the desired behavior. In this case, that means immediately after and every time your dog pees or poops outside.

The secret to successful puppy potty-training

The secret to successfully house train your puppy is doing a few key things to set up your puppy for success. You want to set the stage to remove opportunities for your puppy to make a mistake.

The more your dog experiences doing it right and being profusely rewarded and praised, the more clearly and quickly your dog makes the connections, wants to repeat the rewarding potty train routine, and before you know it, makes a habit of it.

So how do you make it easy for your puppy to succeed (and almost impossible to fail) at potty training?

**follow-panel

5 Keys to setting up your puppy for potty-training success

1) Set up a consistent schedule.

You'll want to make everything as predictable and consistent as possible so you can be on top of when your puppy will need to go out and you can be out before the reflex kicks in.

• Keep mealtimes on a regular schedule. Once your puppy is finished eating, pick up the bowl (no random grazing throughout the day), and take your dog out. Some puppies won't be ready to do anything for several minutes but good to be out and ready.
• Take your puppy out on a regular schedule based on age and size. Young puppies simply haven't developed to the point they can hold it for very long. That ability grows as a puppy grows in age and size.

One rule of thumb for timing on your puppy's trips outside is one hour per month in age to calculate the maximum time between outside trips.

You can also take half your puppy's age in months to fall on the conservative side - especially for smaller breed type/mixes with smaller bladders.

The earliest most puppies are usually available for adoption is 8 weeks (they're kept with their mother before that if possible), so for example, an 8 week-old puppy should go out at least every two hours. If you're training a four-month-old puppy who is physiologically able to hold it longer, you can plan on taking your dog outside more in the range of at least every three to four hours.

Additional times you'll want to take your dog out:

• After play or excitement
• After waking up from a nap or first thing in the morning
• After a good drink of water, and of course, after meals
• Before tucking your puppy in for the night
• And yes, until your young puppy sleeps through the night, you'll want to listen for cries or restlessness that signal your puppy needs to go out during the night.

It's a lot of going out for you and any other designated family members, but if you're diligent about it, it is so worth it. You'll shorten the puppy potty training period by accelerating your dog's learning as you eliminate mistake opportunities and your dog gets into the pattern of success.

Remember, it's not forever - but the benefits of a fully house-trained dog are!

**plan-panel

2) Make a crate your puppy's haven (& always keep your pup in view)

I highly encourage using a crate and setting it up near you to be a comfortable, safe haven for your puppy with room to move around. You want it to be a place your puppy wants to go to play with toys, chill, nap, and generally feel safe and secure.

Then you'll have a welcome space to use when your puppy goes to sleep for the night with the door closed or a useful place for relaxing during the day with the door open, surrounded by a playpen or otherwise blocked off. Crate training in this way gives you a highly useful tool in your puppy training since dogs don't like to makes messes in the space where they sleep and relax.

To remember and do...

• You want to keep a puppy who's potty training in view at all times. That's how you preempt a dog sneaking behind a couch or around a corner to lift a leg. It's also how you'll see or hear signs your dog needs to go out.
• Freedom to roam is not a puppy-in-training's friend - or yours. Giving your puppy too much free rein early on is an invitation to accidents in your home. It's also dangerous for curious puppies who can quickly find a cord to chew on and who knows what else.

Try this

Use baby gates, a playpen, and/or your crate to create a manageable space for your dog. Some dog parents tether their dog to them to keep them from wandering off while they work at their computer, etc. and their pup relaxes on a bed at their feet.

Any and all of these options are good tools for keeping your dog close with a manageable amount of freedom. Once your puppy seems reliably house-trained, you can gradually open up more space for your pup to experience and enjoy.

The bonus when your dog sees his/her crate as a comfy haven:

Having a dog who learns early to welcome the crate as a haven comes in handy for all kinds of reasons. For example, later if your then adult dog ever needs to take it easy after a surgery or procedure, already loving the crate makes rest & recuperation so much easier and more doable.

It goes without saying, but to underscore just in case: a crate should never be used for punishment or any negative reasons or with the door closed for long periods of time. Keep your dog's crate as a comforting refuge for your pup and you'll have a go-to safe zone you and your dog can count on when you need it for all kinds of good reasons over the long term.

**channel-panel

3) Use a special high-value treat for potty training only

Learning to go outside for bathroom duties every time is a big deal and your puppy deserves a high-value treat every time the instant after he/she pees or poops.

What's a high-value treat?

Something super desirable in your dog's eyes - little pieces of real chicken or meat, soft, smelly treats that are real food like liver. Once you choose the treat, only use it for potty training. That way this super positive association will be burned into your pup's brain that going outside successfully equals this rare and amazing reward.

Try this

Keep a stash of the magical treat near the door and in your pocket or treat pouch so you have some in hand as you take your dog out.

It doesn't work if you have to come back in and then deliver the treat. Dogs associate rewards with whatever they did immediately before; if even a minute or two is in between pottying outside and the treat, your pup won't have a clue about connecting them.

Note to city puppy parents: if your young puppy isn't fully vaccinated yet for public spaces, your pup will potty indoors to start on pee pads. The high-value treats can be used to transition your pup from puppy pads to going to the door for outside potty breaks when vaccinated and ready.

**follow-panel

4) Use a single door, one cue, and a bell

As you start potty training, pick one door to make your single door to take your puppy outside for every potty break. You want a consistent daily routine with all the elements as predictable and simple as possible to make it easy for your puppy to see the pattern and path to the behavior that brings the fabulous rewards. (After about a month when your dog is well on top of the routine, you can introduce other doors for bathroom breaks.)

In the spirit of consistency, you also want to take your puppy to the same spot each time. Your dog will recognize the smells in the area and feel encouraged to add another layer.

What about when you're outside and your puppy won't do anything?

How do you let your pup know he or she is supposed to pee? If after 15-20 minutes nothing has happened, take your pup inside to the crate, then try again in 15-20 minutes. When you're outside and you sense your dog is about to go, use a cue word that you use only for this and your dog will begin to connect that word with the action. Be careful not to start the word too soon and repeating it when nothing happens and "poison" the cue for future use.

Why and how to teach your dog to ring a bell to go out

First of all, teaching your dog to ring a bell to go out is surprisingly easy. I've found anyone from puppies to older, recently adopted dogs picks this up quickly and enjoys the feeling of control and participation it gives them. It's great for both of you because it gives you a good, new way to communicate - and as your dog has more freedom in the house, you don't have to have eyes on your pup since you can hear the bell.

A few simple steps to teach your puppy to ring a bell to go out:

• Get a door-hanging bell or push-bell and place it low enough to reach easily with your dog's nose or paw. (Here are some great options - a leather hanging bell; a wireless doorbell.)
• Every time you go out with your dog, touch your dog's nose to it, ring it, and go out. After a few times, try holding one of the high-value treats behind the bell so your dog touches it to get to the treat, give the treat, and go out.
• When your puppy is established and free to be mobile to walk to the door on his/her own, your job is to always respond when your dog rings the bell so your pup feels validated and continues to use the bell to communicate.

**plan-panel

5) Keep a log of feeding and trips outside - and accidents

As you start potty training, start a log of what happens when.

Try this

• Set up a log with a pen attached near your chosen outside door or use the notes section in your dog's plan here to make it easy for you and any family member or dog walker to record what happens when. You'll want to include meals, trips outside and what happened, and any potty accidents inside.
• Watch for patterns in timing, what's working and what's not, where there might be holes in your daily consistency, what you can learn from accidents
• After about a week or so as you see patterns in the best timing for taking your pup out, proactively set your phone alarm to remind you when it's time to go out again.

Note to foster puppy parents: First of all, thank you!! All these tips - especially keeping a log and even teaching the bell-ringing alert - can make your life easier and set up your foster pup to transition and settle into a forever home more successfully.

Accidents happen. Here's what to do...

If you catch your puppy in the act

Just say a quick "oops!," pick up and whisk your pup outside to finish the job and reward just as generously as if it all happened according to plan. (No scolding or yelling "no!") And make a note of what preceded the accident so you might learn from it for next time.

If after the fact

If you discover an accident after the fact, do nothing except clean it up and note if there's a way you might prevent it next time.

Try this

When accidents do happen inside, use an enzymatic cleaner to remove any stains of course, and to remove all the scent. Your dog can detect even the tiniest bit of remaining scent and take it as a go-ahead to do it again. (A good enzymatic cleaner that works on a molecular level to remove stains and scents is Unique Pet Care that you can find here on Dogly.)

What you NEVER want to do

Outdated methods like rubbing your dog's nose in an accident, scolding, yelling, or otherwise punishing your dog are things you never want to do in your relationship with your dog. They have long been debunked by certified canine behaviorists and trainers who understand how dogs' brains and emotions work.

These methods add more tension to your process, can make your dog fearful, and damage your the bond you're trying to build with your dog. The result is often derailed house-training behaviors like your dog becoming afraid to potty in front of you anywhere or sneaking off in the house to potty in hidden spots.

The good news is that being positive with your dog and using positive reinforcement techniques has been proven to work - and who wants to do anything else anyway?

Setting your pup up for success isn't just for puppies...

All the tips and tools we've gone through above aren't just for new puppies. They work just as well with an older dog who is going through a bit of house-training regression for any number of reasons. Or a previously almost-trained puppy experiencing some puppy potty-training regression. Or a newly adopted, former street dog adjusting to home life.

Enjoy the process with your dog and happy results!

Next up in the Puppy Channel on Dogly

You and your dog now know what trainers know about how to have a successful house training routine and communication skills that make it all work. Congrats to both of you - and all your other family members who are part of the process!

Check out the next guide in the Puppy Channel or jump over to the Life Stage Channel to find out the best foods for your puppy's growth and overall health from a certified canine nutritionist.

If you have any questions on potty training or any training with your new dog or puppy, just ask us in the Community discussion! Or get customized training help in your dog's plan here.