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how to potty train a new puppy


Getting down to business - hopefully outside

Like real estate, potty time is all about location, location, location. It’s up to you to teach the newest member of your family where it’s okay to “go.” While accidents will happen, time, patience, and consistency — plus our time-tested, puppy-approved methods — are all great tools to help housetraining become a habit.

Vector graphic animation of potty training your pup

Crate training is great for potty training

Dogs are den animals, and instinctively love a soft, safe, secure place to curl up and call their own. And once they have this space, they’ll almost never have an accident inside it. This is what makes crate training an effective housebreaking technique. Plus, once they’re comfortable in their safe haven, they’ll be far less anxious and scared when they’re crated for the vet or groomer, or on long car trips.

Choose a crate size and type that is just snug enough for your pup to be cozy, but roomy enough that they can still turn around comfortably. See more about crate training

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Potty train your puppy by understanding crating times

Puppers 6–8 weeks old should never be crated for more than 4 hours at a time. They just can’t hold it that long! You can very gradually lengthen their crating time as they grow, up to a maximum of 8 hours when they’re older.

A crate is a great training tool, but always remember that what your puppy needs most is your love, affection, and attention.

Consistent spot training can help house training

With spot training, you train your puppy to be comfortable going potty in a litter box or a potty spot that you set up in your home or outside. If your pup is a smaller breed and won’t have much access to outdoors, like in an apartment, then paper or box training may be the way to go.

puppy sniffs potty training pad

Don’t punish your puppy for potty “accidents”

They’re called “accidents” for a reason! They happen, it’s OK, no need to get frustrated. Just clean them up as quickly as possible and use an enzymatic cleaner to remove odor. If you catch your pup mid-tinkle, scoop up your pup and immediately take them to the spot where they’re supposed to go. (You may even want to leave a tiny bit of poop in that spot to help your puppy understand that this is where they do their business.)

If you find a misplaced poop or pee, do not discipline your pup. They will not understand what they’re being scolded for, and it will hurt the trust you’re trying to build. If it just keeps on happening, speak to your veterinary team to rule out a health issue.

How Banfield can help

Your veterinary team may be able to recommend videos, local puppy classes, or other helpful resources. Plus, if you are having consistent issues in house-training your pup, we can definitely take a look to rule out or help resolve possible health problems.

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As more people seek to cut carbs like grains from their diet, some owners may naturally wonder if their pets would benefit from a grain-free diet as well — especially ones who suspect their pet may have a corn or wheat allergy or other dietary issue affecting their skin.

However, the issue is slightly more complex than just cutting out grains. Not all grains are the same, and many are important power players for dog nutrition by delivering important vitamins, minerals, and proteins as well as carbohydrates for energy.

Before eliminating all grains (or all carbs or all gluten) from your dog’s diet, talk to your vet about a food trial. This is a trusted way to discover if food ingredients are triggering a skin response and can help guide you and your vet on modifying their diet.

In most cases, the answer is no—most dogs are perfectly happy getting wet. Many pet raincoats are designed to help owners, not pets, since a slightly damp dog is much easier to towel dry than a soaking wet one.

Many pets actively dislike wearing clothing. If wearing a jacket stresses your dog, it’s better to skip it—and even if they don’t mind, never leave your clothed pet unattended, since clothing can become a safety risk.

Short-haired dogs, short-legged dogs, older dogs, and smaller breeds may benefit from a warm coat during winter months, however, since they may not have much fluffy insulation. It can really vary from dog to dog and climate to climate, so ask your vet what we recommend for your unique pet.

It’s very common to see a shed-a-palooza after a bath. It can help to brush well before the bath with a fur-removing comb, and then once afterwards when dry to really get the most hair out during bath time.

It’s not uncommon to see more dandruff after a bath, since bathing can loosen up skin flakes as well as hair. Specks may be especially visible on dark-haired dogs.

If your pet’s dandruff seems crazy excessive, check your choice of shampoo with your vet. We may be able to recommend other options or supplements to help with oils in the coat.

Some dog breeds, like Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Bichon Frise, are considered to be “non-shedding.” This means that their hair continues to grow (much like human hair) instead of falling out in a regular seasonal shed.

However, human hairs do fall out, and so do hairs from “non-shedding” breeds—just less often. You should still expect to see some hair in your house as well as from brushing and bathing.

Here are the basics on caring for your dog’s coat: 

  • A regular high-quality diet (in the proper serving size)
  • Prescription parasite control
  • Baths (as recommended by your vet)
  • Regular coat brushing

Many different things can cause skin issues in dogs. It’s best to speak with your vet to find out the cause. They’ll be able to recommend or prescribe diet changes, medication, or special shampoos to help your sweet pup.

Dry skin on dogs can be caused by diet, skin infections, dry air, and more. See your veterinary team to get to the bottom of your dog’s issue. They’ll be able to recommend products, medication, and/or lifestyle changes to help.