How To Train A Puppy to Pee Outside? Full Guide

So you’ve decided to go for it and bring a puppy home, quite exciting, right? Dogs are a brilliant companion to have whether you’re a singleton, couple, or big family with kids. They just fill up your life with joy thanks to their wits and sweet little hearts. But you’re surely worried about taking care of that pup, and your concern is warranted. Dogs can be a lot of hard work, but if you’re well-informed, things can go much easier than you imagine.

The main concern for a lot of people looking to get in-house dogs is… to put it simply, poop. Just like any living creature, dogs need to relieve themselves, and without proper training, they can just do it anywhere, and we don’t want that, do we? So their main concern is, how to train a puppy to pee outside, and it’s actually quite a simple thing to do.

Training a puppy to pee outside is not as hard as it sounds. All you need to do is understand the idea of positive reinforcement. You see, dogs have varying degrees of intelligence, and they evaluate things by associating them with positive feelings, especially if they come from their human best friend. If they eat something for the first time and hate how it tastes, they will probably avoid it next time they see it. Conversely, treats will be more desirable once they know just how good they taste.

In this step-by-step guide on how to train a puppy to pee outside, we’ll show you how to get a puppy to pee outside and answer all your questions about this issue, so you can keep your household clean and pee-free.

What’s the best age to potty train a puppy?

Although most training for puppies should start at about 8-10 weeks of age, some experts advise to start potty training your puppy between 12 and 16 weeks of age. This way, your puppy will be more mature, and hence have more control over their bladder. This control is essential in potty training, as the process can get quite exhausting and perhaps ineffective if your dog lacks any control over their bladder.

How long does it take to potty train a puppy?

Generally speaking, potty training should take between 4 to 6 months. This sounds like a long time, but in order to instill such a habit, you’ll need a lot of repetition. Of course, it all depends on how effectively you practice the recommended techniques, as well as the dog breed, and also the specific predispositions of each individual dog.

How do I know if my puppy wants to go potty?

An important thing in potty training your puppy is understanding when they need to go. There are some clear signs that will help you do so.

1. Your puppy will have a sudden change of activity. They may suddenly stop playing or moving around when they feel a need to relieve themselves.
2. They will keep circling around.
3. Excessive sniffing is a sure sign, they may also sniff or lick their groin or rear.
4. Pups may start whining if they want to pee, especially if they’re in their sleeping or eating area, and would prefer to go potty in another place.

How to train a puppy to pee outside?

There are two main strategies to how to train a puppy to pee outside, and you’re free to choose which one you feel more inclined to.

Method 1 on how to train a puppy to pee outside:

This method may not suit everyone as it requires you to keep a close eye on your dog and take actions accordingly. It goes as follows:

1. Pick the spot where you want your dog to relieve themselves, perhaps in your backyard.
2. Take your dog to that spot and allow them to sniff around and get to know this area.
3. Confine your dog to a small area where he cannot move out of it. Dogs, by nature, are against pooping where they sleep or eat, so this would be a good spot to pick.
4. This is where things get a few time demands. You will need to monitor your pup, especially after meals or a good drink of water, to monitor any signs of their need to urinate or poop, as mentioned above.
5. Take your dog outside to the designated spot once you see a clear sign that they want to go potty.
6. Once your dog goes potty in the right area, reward them with a tasty treat or an affectionate petting.
7. Keep an eye on your puppy as much as you can, and try to catch them in the act if they have an ‘incident’. If you see them relieving themselves inside, punish them by a firm “no”, nothing more severe is needed. You also don’t need to punish them if you only notice their ‘incident’ later.
8. Make sure you always clean up after your dog. If there poop or pee stays in place for a while, they will think that it’s ok for them to go potty in that area. Avoid using ammonia-based products as they do not effectively remove the smell, instead look for enzyme-based cleaning products.
9. Install a doggy door or use whatever method to make sure your puppy can reach the designated area on their own.

Method 2 on how to train a puppy to pee outside:

This method works best if you’re not going to be able to constantly monitor your dog, or cannot accurately gauge when they need to go potty.

1. Maintain a rigid eating schedule and prevent your puppy from eating anything in between meals.
2. Set a designated spot, and take your puppy there in these following occasions:
   1. First thing in the morning.
   2. Every 30 minutes or one hour when you’re home.
   3. After meals.
   4. After a nap.
   5. Last thing at night.
   6. Whenever you’re leaving them alone in the house.
3. Stay with your puppy in that designated spot and wait for him to go potty, then promptly reward them with a treat or praise.
4. Make sure your dog can reach the designated area on their own. Perhaps you’ll need to install a doggy door.

When do I stop potty training my puppy?

As we’ve said, it should take between 4 to 6 months, but some dogs may take a particularly long time, so remember to be patient and consistent. Once a satisfactory period of time has passed without any ‘incidents’ of the puppy going potty inside, you can stop the training process. You can also read How Long Does it Take to Potty Train A Puppy blog for more info on this.