Bringing home a new dog is super exciting, but it’s also full of lessons for both you and your new friend. One of the first ones is housetraining. To start you off strong, we’re unleashing our top five tips to make housebreaking a breeze for both you and your furry friend.
Find the Right Tools
- Training sprays are like bathroom signs for your dog. They tell dogs the difference between “not here” and “right here!”
- Putting your dog on a harness, leash, and collar can help them feel more secure and also keep them close to you.
- Stain and odor eliminator sprays are lifesavers when accidents happen, (and trust us, they will). Keep a spray on-hand, so you can swoop in right away to prevent stains from setting in and odors from lingering.
- Tasty rewards for good behavior = training treats! Bonus points for low calorie ones—they’ll love more frequent treats, and you’ll love that they’re staying healthy.
- Crates are amazing for housetraining—more on that next!
Use a Crate – Dogs naturally love little dens. In the wild, dogs use small nooks and caves to stay safe. That’s why crates are so great! Pups can use their crate as their cozy little home. Make sure you pick one that’s the perfect size for them: big enough to turn around in, but not big enough to choose a pee corner. Once accidents are a thing of the past, you can give your pup more freedom to roam indoors.
Consistency Is Key – Routines make or break results. Sticking to a routine helps your pup’s body get in sync with a schedule. Puppies sleep for most of the day, but they still need frequent bathroom breaks. Use the AKC’s “month-plus-one” rule: The age of your puppy in months + 1 = the number of hours your pup can hold it. Good times for bathroom breaks are when they wake up, after they eat, after activity, and before bedtime.
Stick to the same kind of food, at the same amount, at the same time each day to keep everything consistent. And to cut down on late-night bathroom trips, remove the water bowl about two hours before bedtime.
Go Outside Together – Just opening the door for your pup isn’t enough—grab a leash and go with them! Your dog feels more confident with you nearby, and you get to keep an eye on them. If they’re wandering around or distracted, it might be a sign they need more exercise before they can focus.
When they do go to the bathroom outside, it’s a win. Make sure your pup knows it! Give them a treat, praise, and playtime. The bigger your celebration, the faster they’ll make it a habit. Positive reinforcement works!
Accidents Happen – No pup is perfect. Keep watch when you can, and if you catch your dog in the act, gently interrupt and head straight outside. If they finish their business out there, celebrate! Already too late? Break out that enzymatic cleaner. It erases the scent, so your pup won’t think that spot is their new bathroom.
Housebreaking can be a bit messy, a little unpredictable, and sometimes you just have to laugh. Stick with it! With lots of patience and positive reinforcement, your pup will be a pro at potty breaks in no time. Here’s to your new furry friend (and clean floors)!
