There are no two views about the fact that dogs bring a lot of joy and happiness in their owners’ lives. However, becoming a dog parent also brings a new set of responsibilities into your life. These includes taking your pooch out for walks, ensuring he/she stays healthy, and house training your puppy, to name a few.

Out of all the responsibilities that a new puppy brings into your life, potty training is one of the most challenging ones and often causes new pet parents distress. While the process is certainly long and requires patience and consistency, it doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right approach, you can train the newest member of your family to do its business outside the home or at a designated area in a few weeks.

Puppies can take anywhere from a few weeks to a maximum of six months to fully house train. The training time depends on various factors, such as the size of the breed, a dog’s previous living conditions or already established habits, and the routine or approach you follow.

How to Potty Train Your Puppy? 4 Simple Tips to Toilet Train Your Puppy Fast

Here are some tips for house training a puppy quickly shared by dog training experts:

1.     Start Immediately

Most experts recommend starting house training the pup as soon as you bring him/her home. If your puppy gets used to relieving himself/herself anywhere, the process of training your dog will become even longer and more challenging. 

2.     Establish a Routine and Stick to It

Like when potty training babies, you need to set a routine and follow it regularly to make the pup grow accustomed to it. However, an important thing to note here is that success (or failure) at this stage of house training has more to do with you than the pup. You need to understand that your pet is only a baby and can only control their bladder for only a certain period. If you don’t take them out on bathroom breaks frequently, accidents are bound to happen.

In general, puppies under a year old can control their bladders for the same number of hours as their age in months. A one-month-old pup can only hold his/hers bladder for one hour, and a nine-month-old puppy can hold it for nine hours.

In addition to taking the puppy out frequently, it’s also important to associate toilet breaks with other tasks to help the dog get used to it quickly. For example, take your puppy outside to do their business immediately after waking up each morning, after meals, naps, and play times.

3.     Designate a Particular Area

When house training, always take the puppy to the same area. By doing this, your puppy will know why you have brought him/her out, and it’ll do its business quickly.

4.     Reward Your Pup Every Time They’re Done

Puppies are just like children; they feel good and follow your directions willingly when appreciated. Praise your little one or give him/her a tiny reward or treat every time he/she eliminates at the designated area. Such actions are collectively called positive reinforcement, and they help encourage the behavior.

Be Patient – Give Your Pup Some Time!

As mentioned above, the process of potty training a dog can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Until your dog doesn’t get fully toilet trained, accidents may happen. Therefore, it’s essential to be patient and make sure not to lose your cool if your puppy eliminates inside the house. Understand that it takes them time to get used to a new routine. Things may get a bit frustrating at times, but all the love and laughter that a dog brings into your life make all this extra effort worthwhile.