Often the first thing new pup parents search for is puppy potty training tips (no one wants to clean pee from their carpet constantly). 

And you can find LOADS of information and tips about potty training, but there is one essential tip you can’t skip out on…

It is setting a schedule and timers and following them to a T. That is the most effective puppy potty training tip. Period.

While that may sound simple, new pup parents often forget and neglect it.

The result? ⬇️

Accidents, frustration, and a confused pup. So, let’s dive deeper into what your potty schedule should be, how to follow it, and a few other basic puppy potty training tips!

Moreso than anything else, setting a potty schedule with timers and sticking to it will provide the fastest road to potty training success.

Having a schedule is one thing, but setting timers will keep you on track with that schedule! So, if you decide you need to take your puppy out every 60 minutes, set a timer to remind you.

Once the timer goes off, take your puppy out to potty and then repeat that process.

The biggest potty training mistake pup parents make is thinking they can just guess when their puppy will need to pee. Do NOT do this. Young puppies are not capable of telling you when they need to pee!

For puppies 8-10 weeks, I would recommend setting a timer for 45-90 minutes and taking your pup out every time the timer goes off.

I gave a range there for two reasons. 

#1- Every puppy is different

#2- Size plays a role in how often your puppy will need to pee. Smaller dogs will need to go more often than larger dogs

I can already hear you saying ‘every 45 minutes, that seems like way too much work and time’. ?

Well, let me tell you this… It is much easier to take a pup out more frequently and have successful potty breaks outside than it is to try and untrain a learned behavior of going potty inside.

Your main goal when potty training a young puppy is to give your pup as many opportunities as possible to go potty outside and be rewarded (heavily) for that.

I’ll say it again. Your focus with a new puppy should be to provide ample chances for your young pup to do their business outside, not inside!

Because remember (from above), every time your pup goes potty inside they are naturally reinforced by no longer having an urge to pee. 

As your pup ages, you can extend those timers up to around 1.5 to 3 hours. And generally speaking when a puppy is about 5-6 months old they have a mature bladder and can hold it longer.

You’ll quickly find what timing works best as your pup progresses, but avoid the trap of trying to overextend the interval between potty breaks. That’s when accidents happen!

For more in-depth potty training tips, check out the course taught by Traci Madson here! 

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