How To "Potty Train" A Puppy

It's one of the first and most difficult parts of bringing a new puppy home - potty training! The proper term is really housebreaking or house training, but, likely having a puppy can feel a lot like having a toddler, so we understand why people defer to searching for "potty training" when looking for help with their new puppy. Housebreaking is the first and most important skill your puppy will learn (at least at first). We understand that it can be an exhausting and frustrating experience, especially for first-time dog owners, so we're here with professional trainer-approved advice on the best way to teach your puppy to "go potty" outside. 

Teach Your Puppy To "Go Potty" in 6 Steps                                                                                                                                                    Download The Potty Training Guide

Step 1
To teach the verbal command "go potty" most effectively, pick a designated busy spot at your home and take your pup to the designated area every time early in their training. Using the same door to exit your home will also help establish a consistent busy routine. 

Step 2
Once your puppy is in their area, give the verbal cue “go potty” and allow them to sniff while walking around you. 

Step 3
When your puppy starts to relieve themselves say, “Go potty”. Wait until they are done to praise them, but calmly tell them, “Good Potty”. It may take several weeks for your puppy to correlate relieving with the “go potty” verbal cue. 

Step 4
Once your puppy seems to understand the verbal cue start saying “Go Potty” right before they start to relieve. As before, praise your pup once they are done. 

Step 5
Once you have done this for several days and the connection seems to be understood, start saying the verbal cue as your pup indicates they are about to potty but hasn’t started yet. 

Step 6
Start saying the verbal cue when you get to the area where they normally relieve themselves. 

Never scold or yell at your puppy when they have an accident. The most important things to remember when repeating this training cycle are consistency and positive reinforcement! 

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time for your family! We hope our housebreaking guide helps make the training process easier for you. For more training help, visit our Top 5 Cues to Teach Your Puppy page!