Housebreaking Your New Puppy - Silver Nickel Puppies (2024)

FAQs

How long can puppies hold their pee at night? ›

Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without needing a bathroom break. If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don't make a big deal of it; otherwise, they will think it is time to play and won't want to go back to sleep.

We would recommend carrying your pup out to pee, as waking them up to walk can fully wake them up, making for a trickier bedtime when you return back inside.

Give your puppy 15 minutes to do his business. If nothing happens, put him in his crate for another 15 minutes before trying again.

STEP 1: Create a Potty Schedule

Creating a potty schedule will streamline the potty training process and make it a simple plan you just need to follow! Designated potty breaks, feeding and playtimes with both wake and nap windows will provide your pup the structure and routine they need to potty train them quickly.

A good, humane way to punish a dog is to make a loud noise (loud enough to scare him), or squirt him with water. However, the punishment has to be done within three seconds of him pooping or peeing. If you punish him after this time, then he will not know what he is being punished for.

Puppies can hold it a little longer while they are sleeping. You will still need to make (at least) one trip halfway through the night for puppies under 4 months old, and maybe a little after that for some pups. Remember to set a (gentle) alarm for 4-5 hours after your puppy's bedtime.

Never rub a dog's nose in urine or feces, or punish a dog for an “accident.” This will teach your dog to fear you, and he may hide when he has to “go.” It is not instinctive for dogs to relieve themselves outside; it is only natural for them to not go where they sleep. Everyplace else is fair game! You must be patient.

Punishing Your Pup for Accidents

Blaming your puppy for accidents will not help with the potty training process. Doing so can physically intimidate and confuse them and might make them scared to go with you nearby. You should instead use positive techniques to help them learn the basics.

Waking a sleeping dog is likely to result in the dog being startled and disoriented. To prevent bites, make sure that visitors and children know not to bother dogs who are sleeping. Waking a sleeping dog can lead to even well socialized and otherwise friendly dogs snapping or even biting.

Common options include “go potty,” “do your business,” or “get busy.” Be consistent with your chosen cue word or phrase, using it every time you take your dog outside to go. Use Positive Reinforcement: When your dog starts to go after you give the cue, immediately praise and reward them.

What is a good potty schedule for a puppy? ›

Take the age of your puppy in months and add one, and that is the maximum number of hours that your puppy should be able to comfortably hold it between potty breaks. A 3-month-old puppy plus one equals 4 hours that they should be able to stay in the crate without a mess.

However, we recommend starting with treats and then slowly phasing them out as your puppy learns where they're supposed to go. This will help them learn quickly while still teaching them that going potty isn't always about getting a treat.

Because of their vast intelligence Border Collies are one of the easiest dogs to potty train. You will have to be prepared to keep up with its high levels of activity. GERMAN SHEPHERD This dog breed is certainly one of the easy to train dogs regardless of the activity.

Female dogs tend to be easier to housebreak, easier to train, and more connected with their owners—but in certain circ*mstances they can be more demanding of attention.

1. Border Collies: Famed for Being One of the Easiest Dog Breeds to Train. Known for being herders at heart, border collies are energetic, intelligent dogs that make for obedient pets – with the right training of course.

Some dog breeds may have a harder time potty training than others so using a specific command can be especially helpful for those stubborn puppies. We often see that small breeds such as French Bulldogs are harder to potty train so you need to work extra hard with them.