How Long is Too Long For Success in Puppy Potty Training

You'll notice I said when coming out of the crate. Puppies are like babies, they can't be left to roam the house without supervision.

That may seem like over kill but here's the deal. Puppies (and dogs) learn and think in pictures. They don't come with an understanding that just copping a squat and peeing in the house isn't okay. If you don't allow your puppy to have an accident in the house by taking him outside so often that mistakes never happen or are very minimal, the only picture they will capture in their head is going to do the business outside.

Believe me when I tell you, using potty pads may seem convenient, but it's lazy. In fact I just realized it's mediocre. @PowerofTruth posted this: Mediocrity shows up in how you manage your health, eating habits, money, relationships, and spiritual development.

Using potty pads is lazy, mediocre. Take your dog outside unless you want them to forever view your home as their personal bathroom.

Their bladder isn't big enough to hold it overnight.

Here's the big hint though... As the weeks start passing, start stretching the time longer and longer until you've reached making it all night so that you can go to taking you pup out first thing in the morning.

Puppies get their cute little puppy adrenaline going in the midst of a zoomies session. When they stop they often have to go. Get them outside and then the pup can have a bit of free time until you aren't able to supervise. Then, it's back in the crate, or I like to think of its a their own personal little den where it's safe, quiet and accident and trouble free.

If your puppy has had a play session and some free time then curls up for a nap, upon waking ... outside. Repetition, repetition, repetition of correct behavior ends up with a puppy masterful at the the potty thing. Don't wait too long, only to create a problem that in the end will take you a lot longer to fix.

We live busy lives. When you've got to be somewhere, running late happens a lot with a new puppy. Make it a routine to take your puppy out before you get ready to leave. You have a checklist you go through without thinking about it. You might change your clothes, put makeup on, get your shoes, shut all the lights off, turn the heat or air conditioner off, grab your purse, find your keys. It's all habit. If you take your puppy out on the front of that, you won't run out of time and not get it done. Leaving your puppy to accidentally pee while you are gone.

If your pup did the biz before you got ready, this might not need to happen. But just in case you were waiting around and your pup didn't actually go, this is insurance that she really doesn't have to go!

Puppies who are taken out regularly will start developing a pattern. Notice the times they actually go. Then stretch the time out as your puppy gets older. You should be able to get them to 4 hours, 5 hours... and adults up to 6. Crate training overnight helps this process. If you dog holds it overnight, they learn impulse control and not to potty any where any time quickly.

New research on sleep suggest people should not to drink water 2 hours before going to bed so they don't have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. It makes a lot sense that picking up the water for a puppy would aid in them making it through the night pee free.