The number one problem every puppy owner will experience is “how do I get my puppy to go to the bathroom in the appropriate spot?”. Now some puppy owners never get this mystery solved as a lot of adult dog will mess in the house. Things are about to get easier because today we are covering the HOT topic of getting a pup or adult dog house trained fast. I’m sharing my easy 3 part process so you can have potty training success in a week, and within a month put any accidents behind you.
In the episode you'll hear:
- All about what’s HOT: Habit, Observation, Timetable
- The easy process you can use to get pottying success within a week.
- Simple ways you can set your puppy or dog up for housetraining success.
- Why you will thank me for having your puppy or dog on leash when you start potty training.
- Your dog’s privacy and the importance of your silence while you are waiting.
- About my “pee in three” criteria.
- What a double pee-er is and how your timing matters.
- Why to do a bedding check twice a day.
- The importance of your puppy or dog having clarity.
- What playing poker has to do with housetraining.
- The timetable I use for potty training a puppy.
- When to get your puppy or dog checked by a Veterinarian.
- What to do if an accident happens inside the house.
- How to use the same easy steps if you have a potty tray inside the house.
Resources:
- Blog Post: It’s Time to P-o-t-t-y! Inside Scoop on Housetraining
- Podcast Episode 44: Using Coincidences and Positive Associations in Dog Training
- Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation
- Episode 30: Why Dog Crates Are Not Dog Cages
- Ex-Pen: Rover Modular Pet Enclosures
- Crate Games Online
- Podcast Episode 26: Pro Dog Training Tips to Get Your Puppy to Sleep All Night
- Podcast Episode 43: Can a Dog be Happy and Well Trained?
- YouTube Video: 5 Games for Puppies
Hello, My 5 months old puppy is still having accidents inside the house. Her brother of the same age is not. Even today it was poop on the floor and pee very close of the pee pad but not in the pad. I know they are still puppies but I don’t understand why she has good days she uses the pad when they are inside the house and other days she just do it any where.
They are really good going outside after every meals and we try to get them outside every hour and before going to bed but just like that she will do it . I have follow your videos and honestly I have really good dogs but potty training with her is creating a lot of frustration in me since her brother has no problems with that any more.
I’m struggling with not letting my puppy get separation anxiety and observing when they need to potty. I work from home and keep my puppy in an x-pen during the day. She’s close to me (can hear and smell me) but we can’t see each other. So how do I incorporate the “Observation” in this scenario?
Also, I’m just not discovering Susan’s potty training techniques. I unfortunately spent the first two weeks with my puppy allowing her to potty outside off leash. Now she’ll pee outside, but she almost always poops inside ever since I put her on a leash for potty time. Are there any tips to more quickly reverse this behavior?
Makes sense. I struggle with application with my puppy who just joined me. She either bites the leash (which I ignore, but it is self-reinforcing for her) or just flops and sits or lies down and waits until we are going back inside. I understand that I should put her back in her crate if she doesn’t pee, but then she doesn’t drink or exercise drink orexercise and she spends much of the day in her crate. Also: she learned to climb out of her ex pen, so it doesn’t allow me to confine her.
We followed this to a tee when our puppies were very small and they did great. Now that they are a little older they seem to be regressing. Also, seem to go to the same spots where they had accidents before. Any advice how to retrain this once that’s happened?
Thanks for the potty training episode. We have a 9 week old puppy who is doing fairly well with house training but your advice on this episode will help us do a better job setting him up for success. Especially the 3 minute time limit outside and then the controlled environment until he has success.
How does this work with 3 medium and a small dog, to go on leash? It seems when I’ve taken one at a time, one still has an accident inside. So? How do we do this with more than one dog to go out on leash. 3 are pullers on leash so it would be hard to take all 4 outside to potty at once. And grace still isn’t used to leashes and harnesses. She flips over and shows her belly each time I put a harness on her and she tries to mouth the leash. Thank you.
Excellent video , I have been successfully potty training many dogs (rescues) and pups over the years. I now have a puppy (5 months old) that DECIDES to wait the whole time we’re outside (just outside my home, front yard) or on a long walk and will hold her poo until she’s inside. I keep a close eye on her and she waits for the split second that I’ve lots my focus on her to then run upstairs and poo. (She pees outside just fine.). I put a baby gate up, she’s crated a good amount of the time, but again, the second I turn away, she runs to the Persian carpet in the living room and uses it as a bathroom.
I will now use an xpen per your suggestion but she seems to think that my home IS her bathroom and I’ve never had a dog do this before. Yes, when she was very young, I took her out when she woke up, took her out after she ate, crated her, etc. I have no clue why she refuses to use the great outdoors to have a poo.
Read your comment re your puppy doing their business in the house rather than outside – my 5 month old spaniel does just the same. Did you manage toresolve things??? Many thanks
Ann (west of Ireland).
Hi Susan — when, how do we teach the cues to potty or get busy?
I have a 12 week old Havanese puppy. I teach during the day and so he will be in his pen for around 8 hours. I know this is too long to keep from having an accident. I want him to have a choice instead of peeing on the floor. Do you have any tips on teaching my dog to go outside when I’m home and use the pee pads when alone.
In this video you don’t address nighttime pottying. I currently have 2 AKC high achieving (agility & obedience) Chihuahuas, 10 year old & 6 year old. The 10 yo is meticulous in her potty habits. The 6 yo just doesn’t seem to get it. I’m about to add a Rat Terrier baby puppy to our pack and want to get this right. I will start all over with our 6 yo and intend to follow your instructions TO THE LETTER with our new pup. BUT what to do at night? Do I have to get pup (& 6 yo) outside every hour through the night???! How long can I expect pup (& 6 yo) to be in a small poop and pee-less crate through the night? Tia!
Hi Paula, Susan has a podcast about how to get your puppy to sleep all night, it’s in the Resources. Here’s the link for you: https://dogsthat.com/podcast/26/
Hi Susan and Linda,’
When is the right time to introduce the doggy door and how to teach it properly?
I am loving your podcasts. My puppy is 6 weeks old and still at the breeder. Coming home in 2 weeks time.’
I have attended your recent Facebook Masterclass and absolutely adore your way of teaching and knowledge!
Thank you for taking the time and answer my question.
Erika
Is it ok for a puppy to potty on river stones or is this bad for their paws?
Does it matter when it comes to surface chosen?
SG says to put the puppy in a crate or ex pen when you get back inside . For how long? My puppy goes out to do his business after a nap or eating or playtime. He is totally awake after coming back inside! How do I keep the puppy quiet once hes awake ?
My 10 week puppy goes crazy when he’s on his leash when I take him outside, he is jumping and wrestling with the lead and bites it, this is making the potty training really difficult
Question. I have a 9-week puppy and she has done very well. However, there are times she won’t “pee in 3” so I bring her in and put her in her crate…. and she FREAKS OUT! Yes, we are working on the “crate games” but are only on the 2nd precrate game game. She gets so upset then when I take her out to try again she’s upset and just wants back inside. She pulls, whines, jumps up and back to get away from the leash, and will not even try. We’ve only had one accident so far and it was yesterday, out/crate 4 or 5 times. Nothing then peed inside.
Thoughts?
Reviewed this for the second time with regard to my 10-yo girl. She is housetrained and does not have indoor accidents. However, with Addison’s disease now, her water intake varies and do so does her need to go out. She tends to “hold it” until she gets shaky and miserable. Or, we take her out (because it’s “time”), give her Get Busy cue … and nothing happens. We wait 2 min. quietly … and nothing. At a loss as to how to effectively deal with this ( two recent extensive vet exams revealed no physical problems). Love the podcasts and always learn from them, thank you.🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
any recommendations for a 4 month old BC pups who doesn’t like to poop any where other then her back yard? She can pee in unfamiliar areas but not poop
Marci, maybe try familiar at home? Like the front yard, also important at this age to establish the leash is going to be on no matter if you are in your own back yard. Its often the leash that is the distraction to work through. Lynda(TeamSusan)
Hi! In the podcast, it was mentioned that recommendations for crates, baby gates, and expens would be in the show notes. I found the expen one but I can’t find anything for baby gates? Thanks, Charmee