Part 1: Learning where to go
Leash walk your puppy outside to potty. Try to go through the same door to the same spot each time. Allow your puppy three minutes to relieve themselves. If they go within three minutes, celebrate their success with lavish praise and/or a food reward.
Puppies often have to go when they wake up, after they eat or drink, and after they have played intensely. Make sure to take the puppy outside on those occasions, and regular intervals in between.
What if they don’t go after three minutes?
If the puppy is not successful after three minutes, bring them back inside and confine them either to the crate, or by holding them on a short leash next to you. Wait for 10 minutes, and then take them back outside and repeat. 10 minutes is a guideline, not a rule. If you feel like the puppy can’t hold it that long, take them sooner.
What if they pee outside but don’t poop?
Keep a log of when the puppy went outside and what they did there. Sometimes figuring out how many times a day they will poop or at what times is a trial and error process. If you keep a log, you can start finding patterns in their bathroom activities. Typically, if they miss one “scheduled” poop, I will still allow them some freedom inside, under direct supervision. If they still don’t go on the next potty trip, I will start to contain them inside until they relieve themselves outside again.
Part 2: Learning where NOT to go
If your puppy has an accident and we do not catch them, we cannot do anything about it. It is essential that the puppy is supervised at ALL times. Make sure they are in the same room as you, and within eyesight at all times. If you are busy or distracted, secure them in their crate. If you need to use the restroom, secure them in their crate. It only takes a second for them to have an accident.
What if they have an accident even though I’m watching them?
It happens. Interrupt them and take them outside as quickly as possible. If they finish using the bathroom outside, celebrate with them.
Part 3: Learning to ask
Typically, the first step sign of puppies “asking” to use the bathroom is going towards the door. This is why it is essential that you take the puppy out the same door to the same place. Once the puppy is going towards the door you have two options.
Bells
You can hang bells from the door the dog uses and teach them using the touch command to ring them before they go outside. When you see the dog at the back door, prompt them with your potty command (do you need to go outside?), command them ring the bells, and proceed to the potty area.
Ask Directly
I prefer to have my dogs come to me. When I see them at the back door, I prompt them with the potty command (do you need to go outside?), call them to me (come), and then proceed to the potty area. At some point, the dogs will skip going to the door and will instead go straight to me when they need to use the bathroom. This is a much longer process than bells so is often the less popular choice.