Black and white image of a woman grabbing her hair and scrunching up her face as she bows her head in frustration
If you have a new puppy, you may be struggling with this common housebreaking issue: sometimes when you take her outside, she’s too distracted to pee — and as soon as she comes back inside, she pees on the floor.
I get calls from frustrated owners about this issue all the time.
Here are 5 tips to help your puppy learn to potty outside instead of inside.
Be a tree. Take your puppy out to the spot in your yard where you would like her to potty. Have her on a lightweight leash. Plant your feet like the roots of a tree and be boring. If you wander all over the yard, your puppy will likely get distracted by every new smell and blade of grass (yum!) that she encounters. By keeping her in a smaller area, you’ll increase the chances that she’ll get down to business quickly.
A tree sitting on a pink slope. The sky is blue and white.
2. Be intentional. Your puppy just woke up from a nap. This is your chance to teach her something new, play with her, and provide her with the opportunity to potty outside. Bring a toy and some of her kibble with you so that if she doesn’t potty right away, you can engage with her by teaching her something and/or having a little play session. You may also bring a water bowl out with you. If she doesn’t pee right away, teach her something and play with her and then give her the chance to potty again by following the steps in #1. If she’s super young, odds are you’ll get at least one pee, if not a poo. After you’ve fulfilled all of her needs, you’re going to take her to her crate and teach her how to feel comfortable in there. Puppies are den animals, so the crate is going to help her get her much needed rest after your lesson, as well as decrease the chances that she’ll pee inside. Puppies don’t like to soil where they sleep.
Braxton the Bulldog mix napping in his crate for the first time. He is a brindle-coloured puppy who had severe separation anxiety.
3. Supervise. If you’re going to have a little play session or indoor training session, you need to be paying attention to your puppy. Anytime she sniffs the floor, paws/scratches the floor, walks near your door, or you think “hmmm, I wonder if she needs to pee,” take her straight out to the designated potty spot.
Australian puppy wearing a blue leash and laying down on the ground
4. Praise. Be sure to praise your puppy for peeing and pooping outside with a calm “good pee” or “good poop.” You can give them a treat or a piece of kibble too, if you like.
A person giving a dark brown dog a piece of food
5. Be present. In order to teach your puppy to potty outside, you need to be out there with her to praise her for getting it correct. There’s so many benefits to going outside with your puppy to potty train them. You’ll prevent her from developing bad habits, like barking at the neighbour’s dog, digging up your garden, and chewing things that aren’t her toys. You’ll also be there to help her feel safe, as some puppies easily startle at loud noises.
A dog laying in a large dirt pit
If you’re struggling with potty training issues and your puppy is losing her mind in her crate, in-home sessions with Beyond Dog Training will help bring your life back into balance.
You’ll enjoy:
-weekly sessions
-homework that you and your puppy will actually enjoy doing
-email support between sessions to keep you on track
Our Happy Puppy Package also helps owners overcome puppy nipping, chewing, and jumping up. Your puppy will also learn how to love leash walks and napping in their crate.
Looking forward to helping you teach your puppy how to potty outside.
Alyssa
About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.
Photos by: Simran Sood @simran01_fashionphotography (Black and white image of a woman grabbing her hair and scrunching up her face as she bows her head in frustration); simon
@simon_berger (A tree sitting on a pink slope. The sky is blue and white. ); mtsjrdl @mtsjrdl (Australian puppy wearing a blue leash and laying down on the ground); Nick & Djalila @nickanddjalila (A person giving a dark brown dog a piece of food ); mehrab zahedbeigi @estoymhrb (A dog laying in a large dirt pit )