Floppy, fluffy and adorably cuddly, puppies are hard to resist, but while they bring endless laugher and love into any household, they’ll also need a little help to understand the rules. Teaching them where to do their ‘business’, takes time, patience and a lot of treats, but our best advice is, don’t put it off. Toilet training should start the moment they arrive (well, after a few cuddles, of course).
This easy six-step guide will help you get your new friend toilet trained in no time. All you need is consistency and endless patience!
Step 1: Establish a routine
Like toddlers, puppies learn best with consistent routines and positive reinforcement. The first step in toilet training is creating a predictable routine your puppy can rely on. Take them to the toilet as soon as they wake up, after meals and walks, and before bedtime.
When it’s time to go to the toilet, keep the outing focused. Have treats ready, keep your puppy on a lead, and take them to the same designated spot each time. Using a consistent command such as “toilet” or “wee wee” helps your puppy understand why they’re there. Avoid playing while you wait, so toilet time isn’t confused with playtime.
As soon as your puppy goes to the toilet, reward them immediately with praise, treats, cuddles or a short play session. Repeating this process in the same location helps your puppy recognise their scent and reinforces good habits. Outdoors, aim for the same patch of grass; indoors, puppy pads, newspaper, or real or artificial grass can work well, particularly in apartments or on balconies.
With a clear routine, consistent cues and immediate rewards, your puppy will quickly learn what’s expected and feel more confident about toileting in the right place.
Step 2: Recognise signs
Puppies have teeny-tiny bladders and limited self-control, so recognising the signs your puppy needs to go to the toilet is essential. It’ll save your carpet! Most puppies need to go to the toilet every 1 to 2 hours, so set an alarm in your phone to help you remember. The common signs to look for are circling before squatting, sniffing, whining or becoming restless.
Puppies that are consistently rewarded for going to the toilet at the right time and in the right place are far more likely to clearly signal when they need to go, making toilet training easier for everyone.
Step 3: Use positive reinforcement
Your puppy’s biggest goal is to make you happy, but because they’re still young and easily distracted, learning the rules of their new home takes time. Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to toilet train a puppy. Puppies learn best when good behaviour is rewarded, so praising and rewarding them immediately after they go to the toilet in the right place helps them understand what’s expected. Treats, gentle praise, cuddles or a short play session all create a positive association with good toileting habits.
Punishment, such as rubbing a puppy’s nose in an accident, on the other hand, can confuse or frighten a puppy and slow their progress. Puppies have very short memories (around 2 to 3 seconds), so correcting them after the moment has passed will only cause confusion. By staying patient, consistent and rewarding success every time, your puppy will gain confidence and develop reliable toilet habits much more quickly.
Step 4: Manage accidents calmly
While it can be frustrating if your puppy wees inside, especially if you’ve been training them for a while and they’ve destroyed your favourite cushion, avoid getting angry at them. They are new to this world and are just trying to understand what it is they need to do. Plus, their tiny bladders fill up quickly!
Clean up the mess thoroughly and calmly with ammonia-free or enzymatic cleaners, so your puppy doesn’t smell their own scent there in the future. This is really important as you don’t want them to associate that spot with their scent. Little puppies will automatically want to go to the toilet where they have gone before.
Be aware that puppies can also urinate out of excitement, when they are scared and when visitors arrive. This is usually an involuntary action, so stay calm and avoid making a fuss. Try training your puppy to sit when the door rings, or is opened, and watch for anything that might scare or excite them. To avoid that build up, take them to their toilet area before your visitors arrive.
Step 5: Try crate training
When you can’t supervise your puppy closely, a crate or small, safe space can be helpful. While some owners are unsure about crate training, most dogs grow to see their crate as a secure, den-like space. Puppies naturally try not to soil where they sleep, which makes crates useful for toilet training.
Start with short periods (around 15 minutes) and gradually increase the time. Never leave your puppy in a crate for too long, and always provide regular toilet breaks. A crate helps your puppy understand the difference between their resting area and their toilet spot.
Step 6: Practise consistency and patience
We know it can be frustrating to be cleaning up little puddles of wee around your house (and on your expensive carpets), but think of your puppy as a small, furry toddler. We don’t expect toddlers to be toilet trained straight away – most make their fair share of accidents before they get the hang of it.
However, with consistency and patience (and a LOT of treats) your puppy will know exactly what is expected of them soon enough. So keep an eye on their signs, behaviours and how they learn. Most puppies get the hang of toilet training in a few months, though it can take up to six.
When to seek help from your vet or dog trainer
Puppies don’t come with training manuals, but vets and dog trainers can help you understand your new furry friend a little better. Puppy School is a great way for your little one to learn new skills and meet others. Speak to your vet team to see if they run classes, and if you need a little one-on-one training, a dog trainer can help you set up routines, boundaries and training techniques.
And although toilet training is a normal part of puppyhood, your vet team can help if your puppy is persistently toileting in the wrong place, hasn’t picked up the training in six months, or they experience any pain when they go to the toilet. This could look like straining, making yelping or whining sounds, or there is blood in their urine.
