Potty training a puppy can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it’s easier than you think! Over the years, I’ve fostered and adopted dogs of all ages, from 8-week-old puppies to 18-month-old rescues, and I’ve learned a lot about what works—and what doesn’t.
The TL;TR version:
To potty train a puppy fast, you will need a leash, crate, rewards, consistency, and a ton of patience! Take your puppy outside every hour. Limit their freedom inside, using a leash or crate. Reward them with treats and praise every single time they go potty outside. Read your dog’s body language signals to know when they have to potty. Be consistent and you will have a potty trained puppy in no time.
4 Easy Steps to Potty Train Your Puppy
Whether you’re wondering how to potty train a dog in 3 days, potty train a 6-month-old puppy, or house train a stubborn pup, these four easy steps will help you potty train your puppy as fast as possible.
Potty training doesn’t have to be complicated. These four steps are simple and easy to implement for any puppy or dog.
Step 1: Supervise Closely
If you do nothing else, you must supervise your puppy, it is the key to preventing accidents and catching your puppy before they need to go. Trust me when I tell you that if you take your eye off of your puppy for 10 seconds, they will have an accident.
- Watch for signs: Look for circling, sniffing, whining, or pacing, which often indicate they need to potty.
- Limit freedom: Use baby gates or playpens to keep your puppy in sight at all times.
- Crate training: Crates are an excellent tool for unsupervised time, as dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area.
When I fostered two 12-week-old puppies, accidents were nonstop because I couldn’t always tell which one had made the mess. Once I started using a playpen and crates, potty training became much more manageable.
Step 2: Reward Good Behavior
Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective tools for potty training.
- Use high-value treats: Reward your puppy immediately after they finish going potty outside.
- Add praise: Puppies respond to excitement, so celebrate their success with enthusiastic praise. Be careful not to get too excited until they finish going potty. Too much excitement could cause them to stop before finishing.
- Stay consistent: Make sure every successful potty break gets rewarded, especially in the beginning.
Ginger, our 6-month-old rescue, caught on to potty training in just a few days thanks to positive reinforcement. Every time she went outside, I gave her a treat and lots of praise, and she quickly learned what we wanted her to do.
Step 3: Establish a Routine
Puppies thrive on routine, and a consistent schedule helps them learn when and where to go potty.
- Take them out frequently: Plan potty breaks first thing in the morning, after meals, during playtime, and before bed. For young puppies, aim for every 1–2 hours.
- Stick to the same spot: Take your puppy to the same area outside every time. The familiar scent will encourage them to go.
- Feed on a schedule: Regular feeding times help regulate their potty schedule.
When we adopted Bear at 18 months old, he was already potty trained, but with younger pups like Thunder and Wizard, a routine was essential. By sticking to consistent mealtimes and potty breaks, they both learned quickly.
Make potty training easier with my Puppy Potty Training Pack, a printable guide packed with schedules, tips, and trackers to help you stay organized and set your puppy up for success. Get it here!
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Step 4: Handle Accidents the Right Way
Accidents are part of the process, but it’s how you handle them that makes all the difference.
- Clean thoroughly: Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove all traces of urine and eliminate odors. (Here’s my full guide on How to Get Dog Urine Smell Out of Carpet.)
- Stay calm: Never punish your puppy for accidents… they don’t understand, and it can make them fearful.
- Learn from it: If accidents happen often, reevaluate your schedule or supervision.
I used my Little Green Machine daily when fostering those two 12-week-old puppies. It was a lifesaver for cleaning accidents, but I quickly realized the real solution was more supervision and a stricter schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to potty train a puppy?
Most puppies can be potty trained in a few weeks with consistency and patience. Some may catch on in as little as a few days, while others may take a little longer.
What if my puppy keeps having accidents?
Increase supervision, take them out more frequently, and make sure you’re thoroughly cleaning any accident spots with an enzymatic cleaner. Talk to your vet to rule out medical issues like a urinary tract infection.
Can older dogs be potty trained?
Yes! Older dogs can learn just as quickly as puppies. Use the same steps and give them time to adjust to their new routine. Read more about potty training a rescue dog here.
Final Thoughts
Potty training a puppy takes time, patience, and a consistent routine, but it’s one of the most rewarding parts of raising a dog. Whether you’re starting with an 8-week-old puppy or a 6-month-old rescue, these four steps will set you up for success.
Need more help? Check out Mastering Potty Training by SpiritDog Training. It’s a full course that will help you and your puppy master potty training.
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Our little girl was rescued at 5 1/2 mos old and she’s been with us slightly over one year. Loud noises scare her. We’ve gone through long periods of ‘being potty trained’ but now that our upstairs neighbors are here for the winter the noises of someone living upstairs scares her. She seems scared to go outside. She tells us she has to go potty then runs under the bed (her safe spot) . She won’t always go both while we are out even though when we come back in she goes. How can I get her to be ‘braver’ while outside? She is a chihuahua and terrier mix. Probably a Jack Russell mix.
HI Maggie, I’d work on building her confidence, there are a few articles here that could help. Start here: https://www.rescuedogs101.com/how-to-help-fearful-dog/
And I’d work on desensitizing her to the loud noises. Try sitting outside and play with her or do something that she enjoys while the noises are occurring.
It’s going to take some effort on both your parts, but she can overcome her fears.
How to get an adult female dog to go potty fairly quickly I walk her 45 minutes and she still doesn't go
It’s possible she is overstimulated by the walk. Find an area, tree or object you know other dogs have gone potty on. Try standing in one area for a while to see if that helps.
Bringing our rescue 5 year old home in a few days. Great refresher!
Thank you so much for these tips! It has been quite the ordeal potty training our puppy. Slowly but surely we will get there!! I hadn't thought of keeping my dog on a leash while we potty train – great tip! I'm going to try that for sure. After my pup is trained I'm going to have a professional come in and do a pet urine removal treatment so we can get rid of the smell completely. Anyway, great tips!
I have a 6 month old rescue mix (Doberman & Lab). We thought he was potty trained until after he was neutered. He was neutered 3 weeks ago and since then he has had multiple peeing incidents in doors. We take him outside he does his business comes back in and 20 min later looks right at me and pees. Its looks like it's deliberate. I am at my wits end, any advice is greatly appreciated. PS. I do have an appointment with the vet to check his bladder but I'm not convinced that's it.
I’m glad you have an appointment with the vet, because the first step is to rule out a medical issue. My second thought is that he is 6 months old, it’s common for setbacks on potty training at this age. He is also likely going through a fear period phase, not that it is necessarily connected, but could be. I recommend started over and treating him like he is a young puppy again. Take him outside a lot and do not allow him free roam when inside until he figures it out again. Be patient… it’s a phase, it will pass.
We won't give up on him he is a member of our family now. Your words are encouraging, thank you.
I have a 6 month old rescue Rottie, beagel, hound male mix that has yet to go potty outside. No matter how far we walk or how often we go out. I’m so frustrated…please help!! From what I understand, he was kept in a cage 24/7, sleep, eat and potty.
Going thru same thing with rescue. Did you find a solution
The dreaded potty training! But the big question is how to potty train a puppy fast? If you follow these steps it really won’t be bad and will go by faster than you ever imagined. Puppy potty training doesn’t need to be daunting, in fact most puppies I work with are potty trained with the first few days of coming home.
Hello
Feeling a little defeated today my pup will be four months old on 15 February. I’ve got her on a good schedule feeding and taking her outside keeping her on a lead but today turn my back for one minute and she pooped. I had her pooping outside an hour before and this morning Peed in front of my eyes . She is great at night when I put her to sleep at 9 she sleeps till 630 No accidents in her crate . Thank you for any encouraging words will be deeply appreciate .
Sincerely ,Anne Marie. Ps her name is Queenie Z she is Kerry blue terrier ☘️????❤️
It’s very common to have set backs. She is still very young, don’t feel defeated. Keep being consistent and all will be good.
Hi Debi! I really like your blog. You have shared amazing tips with us . All the tips you have shared are amazing and informative for all dog lover. Thanks and keep posting!
I have found out that taking my German Shepherd out every 30-45 minutes helped out tremendously. Then I would immediately take him out after he ate and drank that way he did not have a chance to think about relieving himself in the house. I work nights (6pm-6am) so my fiancée would take him out around 8-9pm before bed and I would take him out around 12 on my break and she would take him out at 4-5am. It took about 2-3 days and he was sitting at the door waiting to go out. I have never been a fan of praising good deeds with treats so I have just done praise with petting and a reassuring voice and all together he only had an accident in the house 3-4 times and 2 times it was because my fiancée and myself were not paying close enough attention.
Thanks for sharing your success Caleb! This is a perfect example in how to potty train a puppy. Consistency and patience!