How to House Train and Crate Train a Puppy
Written by Small Door's medical experts
If you’ve recently brought a new puppy into your house, it’s time to start the process of housetraining them! Getting your pup to do their business in the right spot can be frustrating, even for a seasoned pet parent, but read on for tips on how to housetrain with a minimum of fuss, mess, and stress.
How to housetrain your puppy
The key to successful housetraining is repetition and reward. If you’re patient and consistent, it shouldn’t take you more than a month or two to teach your pup how to urinate and defecate outdoors.
1. Choose a spot.
Picking a dedicated location for your dog to go really depends on your individual situation. Is it outside in the yard? A specific street corner, or a pee pad in the laundry room? Regardless of where you choose, that’s the spot you should take your dog whenever it’s time to eliminate.
2. Be consistent.
In the beginning, you’ll want to take your dog to the chosen spot every two hours. Once you’re there, say the same thing to them every time, whether it’s “Go potty,” “Time to pee,” or “Do your business.” You may want to associate going to the potty spot with certain events: the start of a walk, before or after a meal, after a play or nap session. A marker or visual aid can also help.
While you’re still teaching your puppy where and when to go, don’t change the chosen location; this will confuse them. Using the same spot will build up an odor that your pet will detect and want to re-mark with their waste.
3. Praise and reward!
Remain quiet and still while your puppy is eliminating—no distractions. But immediately after your puppy successfully pees or poops in the right spot, provide lots of praise and a special treat. They’ll come to associate the desired behavior with the treat, and that’s the best way to encourage them to go in the right place. (For more info on why this is effective, check out our Puppy 101: Positive Reinforcement Techniques article.)
4. Be attentive and aware.
Learn your puppy’s signals that they want to go outside, such as sniffing, whining, or pawing at the door.
Ultimately, providing a set routine is the most important factor for success. Being consistent about timing, location, key phrases, and rewards will provide structure and a relaxed, steady environment that will be very helpful with housetraining.
Especially when you’re still trying to establish this routine, close supervision is essential, and confinement can be helpful. Close supervision means you can observe their signals, while confinement to a small area will limit the locations in which they can possibly have accidents. Plus, they’ll be close enough for you to pick them up if you notice they’re trying to eliminate in an undesirable location.
5. Control their Diet.
Regular feeding times not only create consistency in your pup’s diet but it’s also helpful when potty training since it will establish a pattern for when your pup needs to “go.”
Give your puppy the same type and amount of food at regular mealtimes each day, rather than leaving a bowl of food out at all times. As many puppies will need to eliminate in between meals, this will naturally help create a potty schedule that both you and your pup will recognize.
Accidents happen: how to respond
Remember, as the human in this situation, it’s up to you to be vigilant and help your puppy get to the right bathroom spot. But accidents do happen and are simply a part of the learning process. Just keep in mind that there’s a right way and a wrong way for you to respond.
If you witness your puppy in the act of having an accident indoors, remember that you should NEVER physically punish them in response. This could make them afraid of eliminating in front of people altogether. A loud clap, spray from a water bottle, or verbal command such as a firm “No!” is a more acceptable expression of disapproval.
Immediately after they stop eliminating in the wrong spot, quickly take them to the established bathroom spot. Once they successfully pee or poop there, reward them with lots of praise and treats.
If you did not catch them in the act, ignore the accident altogether, as this particular opportunity to correct their behavior has passed. Clean the area thoroughly and try to neutralize it with sprays or a cleaning solution, because leaving trace odors of urine or feces will confuse your puppy: only the “right” locations for eliminating should smell like waste. Dogs do not like to eliminate in their sleeping or eating areas, so placing food bowls or bedding in previously soiled areas (after you’ve cleaned up) will discourage future accidents in those locations.
How long does puppy potty training take?
Potty training can vary significantly from puppy to puppy and factors like age, size, training methods, and previous environment all contribute to how long it may take for your puppy to become fully potty trained. Some puppies can learn in a matter of weeks, where others may take months to become fully potty trained. Housetraining is considered “complete” after your puppy has gone 4 to 8 weeks without an accident. Until then, it might be helpful to keep your puppy within view at all times, or in a small area such as a crate or an area of the home cordoned off with baby gates.
Potting training, like all other kinds of training, is all about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. Remember that the goal is to instill good habits and build a loving bond with your pup.
That brings us to our next topic: crate training.
The key to successful housetraining is repetition and reward.
What is crate training?
We encourage crate training for a number of reasons, but primarily because it provides a safe space for your pup when you have to leave them unsupervised. This is comforting for your pet and gives you peace of mind, as well. Child-proof gates, secure cupboards and garbage cans, and clearing or covering electrical equipment are good ideas when it comes to securing your home and pet, but you should consider using crate training in conjunction with those safeguards.
Another bonus? Animals do not like to urinate or defecate where they sleep, especially if it’s a small space. This will encourage your puppy to “hold it” until you’re able to take them to an established elimination spot. (Just remember that you never want your puppy or dog to “hold it” for too long, as it’s not healthy for them.)
Finding the right crate
Think of your dog’s crate as a den of zen. Finding the right crate provides them coziness and a place that’s all their own, which they can retreat to for comfort whenever they’re tired, anxious or overwhelmed. Dog crates come in all kinds of sizes and materials, so it’s important to consider the size of your pup, how much they’ll grow, if they want to look around, and if they’re prone to escaping. You may also wish to consider portability if you plan to take your pup away on trips often.
With those factors in mind there are a handful of crate options you can choose from:
Wire dog crates: these are the most basic, sturdy dog crates out there as they’re made of metal, allow your pup to see their surroundings and allow for steady airflow. Most come with removable floor pans which are helpful for easy clean ups during the potty training stage.
Dog crate furniture: These crates are usually made of wood and are designed to look nicer to go with your home’s aesthetic. Most dog crate furniture is on the smaller side, so these may only work if you have a small to medium size dog. Most have good airflow and are a bit on the darker side if your pup likes a cozy, cave-like space.
Soft dog crates: These are lighter weight than wire crates or dog crate furniture and are quick to set up and take down on the fly — making them good for travel. These also offer a darker space for your pup to get cozy but due to their soft fabric nature, can hold smells and stains if your pup has an accident inside.
How to crate train your puppy
1. Pick the right crate size.
Choose a crate that’s big enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around in when the door is closed. However, it shouldn’t be so big that they feel free to urinate and defecate in it. Think cozy, but not claustrophobic. Some types of crates come with moveable dividers, so you can increase the size available to your dog over time – these are perfect for growing puppies.
2. Pick a quiet place for the crate.
The crate should be kept in a quiet, calm part of your home, where there’s not a lot of activity. A den, spare bedroom, or area with no windows may be ideal. Of course, not all of us have that option, so be creative when establishing a separate, quiet area for your pet’s crate.
3. Introduce your puppy to the crate.
Use a command such as “Go to bed” (or even simply “Crate”) as you guide your puppy into the crate, and use the same command every time. (Remember what we said about consistency!) Do this after an exercise or play session, not when they have a lot of energy or playfulness. Tempt them inside using toys and treats, and once they’re in, give lots of praise and treats as a reward. Positive reinforcement at every turn!
When you’re just starting out, you’ll want to stay nearby—you need to practice crating them before leaving them in the crate on their own for real.
4. Ignore bad crate behavior.
Especially when you’re just starting out, your puppy will probably vocalize, whine, and scratch. Do not acknowledge this behavior or let them out in response, because it will teach them that whenever they want to be let out of the crate, they should repeat this undesirable behavior.
If your puppy stops the bad behavior when you tell them to, you may release them from the crate and provide praise and treats.
This step requires patience—both for you and your pup!
5. Be consistent and observant, especially early on.
When your dog is in their crate for longer periods (i.e. when they’re not under your direct supervision and needs to be in their crate), make sure you let them out every few hours to their special bathroom spot. If you see them showing signals that they need to go outside, don’t ignore this.
6. Prepare yourself for possible anxiety.
If your pup is very anxious and showing no progress with crate training, you can try a special dog-calming pheromone diffuser, such as Adaptil. These pheromones are chemicals released by animals that have a soothing effect. You won’t be able to smell them, but some dogs find them to be calming.
7. Never use your crate for punishment.
Do not use the crate as a “sin bin” or place for punishment. It is meant to be a safe space for your pet where they can rest; they should want to go there. Using it for punishment will create a negative association with the crate, and they will begin to resist being confined there.
Summary of housetraining and crate training puppies
Training a puppy isn’t easy or fast. It requires patience, routine, and lots of praise and rewards at the right times. All puppies learn differently and at different paces, but with time, you’ll be rewarded with a dog who knows exactly when and where to go. If you’re finding it difficult to fit housetraining into your lifestyle or schedule, consider puppy classes or trainers to help with the process. And for more help or advice, don’t hesitate to ask a member of the Small Door team!
