How to Potty Train a Puppy: How often Should My Puppy Go?

Bringing a new puppy into our homes can be an exciting experience. The process of learning all their personality quirks and figuring out their basic needs and desires can be an adventure in itself. One of the biggest and potentially the most stressful adventure for you and your new pup can be housebreaking. The good news is it doesn’t need to be stressful! Potty time should be an enjoyable an easy-going experience for you both and Equipaws is here to help you potty train your puppy!

First things first, though: housebreaking is not only about training your dog, it’s also about training yourself.  A good dog owner, not only needs to learn about their species of dog and teach themselves proper protocols for bathroom training, but they need to teach themselves to be observant, available, and open.

How often should I be walking my puppy?

There is no definitive answer to this question. The frequency in which your pooch needs to go will depend on a number of factors.  Size and age can play a part in this. The smaller and the younger the dog is, the more frequently they will need to go. Food and water intake are other obvious factors. Vets encourage new dog owners to let their puppy out every 1 to 2 hours, giving them ample opportunity to go and also to help establish a routine. Approximately 15 minutes after eating take your young pup outside. Their digestive track works quickly, so accidents can happen fast if you aren’t ready. Once your pup reaches adulthood, these bathroom breaks can occur less often, but it is still recommended they get walked 3 to 5 times daily!

Why so many potty breaks?

These numbers may seem a bit absurd, but frequent breaks are essential when potty training your puppy.

• Puppies, much like babies and young children, have little control over the muscles making up their bladder.  
• They do not understand the concept of “holding it”, nor do they have the ability to.
• Also, forcing them to wait can cause various health issues, like bladder and kidney infections, and kidney stones.

Not only are these bathroom breaks good for their digestive health, but they are important for their physical and mental well-being.

What are some of the best practices for potty training my puppy?

1. Crate train your puppy: Much like their ancestors, dogs will avoid defecating directly into their dens. During unmonitored time alone in the house and between bathroom breaks, the crate can be an effective method for potty training your dog. If you transform the crate into a comfortable space for your dog to rest, they will be less likely to go to the bathroom in their personal space.
2. Positive reinforcement a must! It is also important to never scold your puppy for accidents! Reprimanding our dogs for an accident could lead to negative association with going to the bathroom. A good way to approach an accident is to immediately and calmly remove your pet and place them in an area you want to promote as “bathroom friendly”.
3. Potty time is quiet time! It is important to not add unnecessary distractions while your pet is trying to go to the bathroom. Once a bowel movement has been made that’s when praise can be given. Treats should never be associated with bathroom time. Their reward should be the relief of going and seeing you as a happy pet owner.

Potty training a puppy means routine, routine, routine!

Lastly, create a routine with your dog! Feeding schedules and walks should remain consistent. This will help regulate both your schedules and keep your puppy from getting impatient or restless. This steady schedule will also help you monitor your dog’s bowel movements and let you establish a baseline normal for your pets bathroom breaks. In the long run, this will help you monitor irregularities that could be problematic. Most importantly, never rush your pup! It’s important that they are given enough time outside to do their business, but also enjoy their time outdoors!

How can Equipaws help me potty train my puppy?

So, you work a full-time job or have to go out of town for a couple of days, but don’t want to make your puppy suffer or place it in a kennel for boarding! No Problem! Equipaws have dedicated staff to help you out in these times of need! We can provide you and your pup with potty training relief during the day. That way they aren’t cooped up and you aren’t coming home to a mess.

We also can provide overnights or boarding for your puppy if you have a trip planned. The best thing about our services is that the training doesn’t have to stop because you are busy! Our staff are very diligent with our clients and like to keep training procedures consistent.

Housebreaking is a natural and necessary step to adding a new furry addition to the family and it should not be a stressful! It is important to learn what works best for everyone in your family and what your puppy needs from you! And you don’t have to do it alone! It’s okay to ask for help and Equipaws is happy to do so! We want to accept you and your family into ours and share the joys a new puppy can bring!

Frankie Berti

A founding member of the Equipaws family, Frankie can mostly be found working behind the scenes, helping co-create online branding, managing several social media accounts, designing brand collateral, writing copy, and managing events. She also fills in for pet sitters and dog walkers when needed in Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, and South Miami. Her own small pack consists of Boots the Shih Tzu mix and Nutmeg the Chiweenie.