Structure + Supervision + Consistency = Success!

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​​Schedule meals and water breaks. Instead of leaving food and water out all day, follow the schedule below. At scheduled water breaks, allow your puppy to drink as much as they want. Observe how much your puppy drinks and whether their urination seems consistent with their usual intake. 

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Keep crate exits calm. Puppies sometimes pee when excited or during greetings. Avoid touching, baby talk, and excited greetings when opening the crate. Quietly attach your puppy’s leash and take them directly to the potty area. Keeping the crate near the door your puppy uses can make this easier.  If your puppy is urniting when you touch them while getting their leash on, you can place a puppy pad just outside the crate door.  NOTE:  Do not place puppy pads in the crate with your puppy as they may chew or ingest the material.

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Use a consistent potty cue. When your puppy starts going, calmly say “Go Potty,” “Go Empty,” or your chosen command. Use the same cue every time, then praise and reward your puppy immediately after they finish. With repetition, your puppy will learn to associate the cue with going potty, making it easier to prompt them when they need to go.

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Supervise or crate. During potty training, your puppy should never be left unattended while loose in the house. Actively supervise your puppy whenever they are out of the crate to prevent accidents and recognize when they need to go outside. When you cannot supervise, use the crate for appropriate rest periods, with sufficient breaks for potty, exercise, and interaction. No free roaming until your puppy reliably goes potty outside.

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Use a drag line during supervised house time. A lightweight, 4- to 6-foot leash with the handle cut off can help you calmly interrupt an indoor accident and guide your puppy directly outside to the designated potty area. If your puppy starts going indoors, pick up the line without and take them outside. Praise and reward your puppy if they finish there. Watch for snagging, and always remove the drag line before putting your puppy in the crate.​

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Adjust potty breaks to your puppy’s needs. The schedule above is what was working here. Your puppy should be fine with up to six hours between potty breaks. These times provide the structure for the day. Add outings after eating, drinking, waking, and active play as needed. If your puppy starts sniffing, circling, becoming restless, or heading toward the door, take them outside immediately.

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IMPORTANT:  Keep water availability responsive to your puppy’s needs. Offer additional water when your puppy is thirsty, after exercise, or in warm weather.

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House freedom comes gradually. As your puppy demonstrates reliable potty habits, slowly increase their supervised access to the house. Consistency helps your puppy succeed.