How to Potty Train Your Dog -- for puppies and adults!

The step-by-step breakdown of how I would potty train a dog...whether it's a puppy who's learning to hold their bladder, or an adult dog who has struggled with potty issues.

Please note: potty issues in adult dogs is a MUCH harder habit to break. It will take longer, and it will take you being extremely consistent.

If you have a puppy, definitely ensure you are following these steps to potty train, because I promise you, it's much easier to potty train a puppy than it is an adult dog!

So here's the breakdown of how to rock solid potty train your dog:

1. Remove any and all freedom within the home. The dog is never left to their own devices to wander around the home! This means: if the dog is not on Place or in their Crate, they are on a leash attached to you at all times.

2. Take your dog out on the hour, every hour. When they pee or poop outside, give them lots of verbal praise and reward with a treat if you have one. Start to extend the duration between potty times as your dog shows they can hold it longer and longer (i.e. after a few days, extend to every two hours, and then every three hours, etc.).

   1. I also suggest having one designated potty spot for them, it will make it much clearer when you take them out to the same sport every single time what they are there for.

   2. TIP: walk your dog outside to the potty place on a leash! Pause and wait, don't let them drag you along to go pee. Just pause, stay still, and wait.

3. Crate train your dog properly (and if you need help, follow the guide!) and follow these crate rules to prevent pottying in the crate:

   1. Make sure the crate is not too big. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and lay down in the crate. You don't need it much bigger!

   2. Scatter your dog's food inside the crate, and feed them all their meals this way. Dogs don't want to potty where they eat usually!

4. Especially male dogs or excited pee-ers: teach your dog bladder control by not allowing them to mark or pee often. When on a walk with them, and they are in a heel position or you are doing leash work, don't let them pee during this time. When I am actively working on heel with a dog, they are not allowed to just pull off to the side to pee!

   1. TIP: give your dog a few minutes BEFORE leash work to potty, and then when they have relieved themselves, you know they don't need to go during the leash/heel work!

Got any specific questions? Send me a DM on Instagram or leave a comment here!