How to Potty Train Your Puppy in 7 Days


Did you recently add a new furry puppy as part of your family? If so, you may want to read this blog on how to prepare prior to getting a new puppy and what to expect from your new furry friend. Nothing is more frustrating then not knowing what to expect from your puppy. The first 2 weeks you bring the new puppy into your home it is very important to immediately establish the house rules. Consider this as the “Golden Weeks” and I can’t stress this enough, on the first week it is not only important for your puppy but also for you as the owner. As a new puppy parent(s) you have to dedicate your time fully to your puppy; trust me it’s for your own benefits and will cause less anxiety and stress in the future. 
Please keep in mind that your new puppy WILL potty inside your home as they explore around the house. I like to call this  their “nervous potty”. You have to keep in mind that your pup is very nervous with you (as the new owner), their new environment, and maybe your additional pets.






Day 1 - The New Home


Introduce Your Puppy to Their New Outdoor Environment and Potty Area
On the day you bring the new puppy home, WALK the puppy as soon as you arrive. Let the puppy familiarize itself with their new outdoor environment/potty area. Walk the puppy for a good 15 to 20 minutes. Monitor the puppy at all times and reward your puppy if they potty. You want to establish the bathroom rules from the get-go as soon as possible. 

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Let the Puppy Explore the House
After your puppy explores their potty area, then you can let the puppy explore their new home. In the beginning, your puppy can be very shy or scared with their new home. Therefore, give them time and let the puppy explore around the house on their own. Introduce the puppy to their sleeping area, the crate or their fence corner area, and where the puppy eats and drinks (feeding zone). As for the crate or fence area, keep this area open/accessible for the puppy to explore. 
Please monitor your puppy as they explore and make sure they don't eat any strange objects or have an accident.
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Establish Feeding Schedule and Bathroom Rules.
You should already have the puppy's feeding and bathroom schedule before you bring the puppy home. Eventually when the puppy matures, you should feed your pet twice a day in the morning and evening as fit for your schedule. For example, if you work full time, feed the pet before work and when you come home; that is also the same for their bathroom.
If the puppy eats and/or drinks, put the bowls away after they finish (try doing this to establish their feeding schedule immediately). About 30 minutes to an hour later, take the puppy outside and walk the puppy for 15 minutes or until they go potty. Make sure you bring treats as a reward if the puppy does potty. If the puppy has an accident inside the house, take the puppy outside immediately. Based on my experience, I take the puppy outside every 2 to 3 hours.  

Bathroom Interval
Please understand that your new furry friend is still a puppy. Depending on the puppy's age, they usually cannot hold their potty for more than an average of 2-3 hours during the day or even less. Therefore, take your puppy out every hour or two to prevent accidents in the house. Monitor their behavior, looks for potty signs like (sniffing the floor, scratching certain places, crying, or barking). Do not ignore these signs and try memorizing these behaviors.

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Bonding Time
Play with your puppy as much as possible on the first day, this part is very important. You want to establish trust with your new puppy as soon as possible. Also call your puppy by their name while you are bonding with them. In addition, you may also want to introduce your pup to a few tricks such as how to sit or lay down. They may not obey immediately but it should give the pup an idea. As always give your puppy treats when they accomplish things (potty) or do some tricks. Please don't give your puppy too much treats in the beginning and only give it to them as a reward.
Sleeping Time!
Make sure to let your puppy out for potty at least an hour before you go to bed. I like to give my puppy water an hour or two before bed and then I take her out before bedtime. You can bring the crate or fence to the bedroom for the puppy to sleep. Put some toys or blankets inside the cage or the fence area. I personally use the crate when the puppy sleeps, mainly to prevent midnight accidents and to train the pup to hold their potty until the morning. The puppy will cry which is normal, just try your best to ignore the puppy and the crying/barking will cease. The puppy should be able to hold their potty about 6 to 7 hours top during the night.

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Day 2 - Another Fun Day

Morning Routine
When you wake up in the morning, see if your puppy wants to drink or eat (take the puppy to the feeding area). I assure you the puppy is either thirsty or hungry. If the pup eats or drinks, then take the pup out for potty right away. 
It is important that you’re ready to go out with the puppy first thing in the morning. Do not delay it by making coffee or breakfast. Monitor your puppy until you’re ready to go outside. If you’re not ready, do not take the puppy out of the crate, otherwise an accident will happen.
Remember to have set schedules when to take your puppy out in the morning, repetition is important. 
Don't forget to bring treats and reward your puppy as they potty. Praise your puppy with phrases like "good potty!" to teach the puppy the meaning of potty. In this way, they will learn to follow the command of "potty."

Feeding Time
After the morning potty, let the puppy eat and drink if they have not yet done so.
Repeat: Make sure you take away the puppy’s bowls after they eat and drink until their next feeding time. 
Repeat this process for the next 2 weeks. Eventually you don’t have to take the bowls away and all you have to do is to put food and water on the bowl based on the puppy's feeding schedule. 

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Play Time
Play with your puppy as much as possible. The pup is still young thus they have a lot of energy. You can take your pup for a walk around park or play fetch. The more the puppy is active during the day, the less they will bark later at night. Again, bond with your pup as much as possible for the first few weeks. Continue calling your pup by their name and perhaps introduce a few tricks.

Bathroom Routine and Interval
By now your puppy has probably had potty accidents inside the home.  
If the puppy makes a potty accident, DO NOT punish the puppy but instead take the pup outside right away. Start introducing her to the BCB method. (Please see at the bottom of this page)
Make sure to take your puppy out every hour or two to prevent accidents in the house. Monitor their behavior, look for potty signs like (sniffing the floor, scratching certain places, crying, or barking)

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Bedtime
Take your puppy potty an hour or two before you’re going to bed. I personally let the pup drink water before bed if she wants. Use the crate again where the pup can sleep. 

Day 3 – Stay Positive and Have Fun
Morning Routine
  • First thing first - bathroom time (Take the pup outside immediately)
  • Feeding Time
Remember do not take your pup out of the crate until you're ready to go out of the door. Otherwise your pup will have accidents so be ready to go outside.
Walk your pup for a good 15-20 minutes or until they potty. If the pup did not potty, monitor or crate the pup then take then out again in 10 minutes or so.
Feeding Time
  • Morning and Evening chow time. (Note: Remember to feed your pup the amount it is recommended.)
Repeat the pup feeding routine, morning and evening time.
Play Time
Plan activities with your pup for the day:
  • Walk around the neighborhood
  • Take your pup to a dog park
  • Play fetch
  • Play a game of find the treats





                         

 Bathroom Routine and Interval
  • Keep the pup in a small area
  • Monitor at all times
  • Use the BCB method if necessary
Don't forget about your pup's bathroom routine. Monitor your pup closely and keep them in a small area if possible so it's easier to monitor them. 
Stick to the BCB method if you need to.

Bedtime Routine
  • Potty (Take the pup an hour or two before bedtime. Make sure the bedtime stays the same every night.)
  • Crate bed training

Day 4 to 7 - Stay Positive and Don't Be Lazy
Continue with the same routines 
  • Morning Routine (Bathroom, feeding, play)
  • Feeding Time Routine (Morning and Evening)
  • Play Time (Play as much as possible. Make the pup active)
  • Bathroom Routine and Interval (Take the pup outside every hour or two)
  • Bedtime Routine (Potty before bed and crate the pup)



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Throughout the first 7 days, you should notice your pup's behaviors may have changed since the first day. The pup may show some potty signs such as barking, sniffing, or scratching. Repeat the process for another week and you should see the improvement.

Repetition and Patience are key to success.


The BCB method
The (Bathroom Crate Bathroom) BCB method is a trick that I developed for training my puppy. Some people may disagree with this method but I am only doing this for the first two weeks. The goal is to teach your puppy that they will temporarily be put in the crate if they do not use the bathroom when taken outside. If you don't want to put the pup in the crate, you can always monitor them. This method may not work for all puppies and may work on some. In addition, the idea of this method is to establish house rules, potty habit, and to teach your puppy when to actually go to the bathroom. 

The Interval Process:
  • After your puppy eats and drinks, monitor your pup closely or put them inside the crate for about 5 - 10 minutes. Then take the pup out for potty for 15-20 minutes or until they potty. 
  • If the puppy did not potty when you take them out, bring the pup inside and monitor the puppy again or put them in the crate for additional 5 minutes. 
  • Then repeat by walking the pup again for another 15-20 minutes or until they actually potty. 
  • After the puppy uses the bathroom, take them out every 2 hours.

Once the puppy uses the bathroom then you can take them out again later every two hours. Taking your pup every hour or two may sounds excessive but that's only temporary. The puppy eventually will learn the habits of going potty outside. As always, MONITOR!  your pup at all times and of course do the best you can do.



Debunking the Myths


Myth: Limiting water may prevent potty accidents.

Based on my personal experience, by taking their bowl away it does help prevent accidents. You may give the pup water every hour or when they look thirsty (especially after they play or after a walk).


Myth: Gently touch your dog's nose when potty accident happens.

Many will argue that this method to discipline your new pup is wrong and inaccurate advice. However, personally this method works as a last resource for disciplining your pup. In my opinion dogs learn from the owner's body languages and sounds. Don't underestimate your pup, they can learn very quickly. 

Things to do instead of rubbing their nose:
  • Take the pup outside immediately after they potty.
  • Repeat the "No" command when the pup makes accidents and then take them outside.
  • Try the BCB method


Myth: All pups are trained fast and easy.

False. Every pup is different, and some breeds can take longer to train than others. Do not expect your pup to be potty trained in a few days. There's no short cuts on how to train your pup. Training a new pup takes times, dedication, and discipline from the pup and you as the owner. 

FelixPaws Advice:

  • Stick to the same routine schedules the best you can.
  • Crate train
  • Keep the pup in a small area (close off the bedroom and bathroom doors or block certain areas with a gate )
  • Monitor and pay attention to their potty behaviors




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