How to Potty Train Puppies at Six Weeks

House training a brand new puppy can be a challenging task even for the most experienced pet owner. Moderate changes to your schedule and the occasional soiling "accident" by your new addition are just a few of the things to expect when potty training. Professional dog trainers will advocate different styles of house training including crate or paper training. Regardless of what type of training you choose, the experts agree: consistency is critical.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Puppy treats
  • Newspaper
  • Baby gate
  • Towels or blankets
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Instructions

    • 1
      Laundry rooms work well as confinement areas.

      Prepare an area of confinement for your puppy by gating one section of a room in your home. Recommended rooms include the laundry room, bathroom or a small section of your garage. Ideally at 6 weeks old this space should be approximately 8 feet by 10 feet.

    • 2

      Create two sections within the confinement area: one for sleeping, playing and eating and another for going potty. Although the goal is to have your puppy eliminate outdoors, you should expect that he will have a few accidents in the beginning.

    • 3

      Lay down several sheets of newspaper in the potty area and towels or blankets in the other. At only 6 weeks old, a puppy's mother would teach her pup to eliminate in a separate place from where he plays and eats. As the puppy's owner you are taking on that teaching role.

    • 4

      Clean the potty area of your puppy's room frequently. This will reinforce his natural instinct to maintain a clean living space and aid in the training process.

    • 5
      Consistency is important to the training process.

      Create a regular schedule for your puppy. This includes feeding times as well as bathroom breaks. Experts state puppies can hold their bladder one hour for every month of their age. This means if your puppy is 6 weeks old, he would be able to hold his bladder for one and a half hours.

    • 6

      Take your puppy outside for bathroom breaks at least every two hours. You should also expect to take him outside after eating or drinking and immediately after waking up.

    • 7
      Keep your puppy on a leash during potty training.

      Secure your puppy to a leash when inside. It is not advised to let him roam freely in your home during potty training. Having your puppy close by will allow you to watch for signs that he needs to go outside (such as sniffing the ground) so that you can immediately take him on a potty break.

    • 8

      Select a spot outside where your puppy can go to the bathroom. Each time you take your puppy to this location, use a key word or phrase (like "go potty") to reinforce the action.

    • 9
      Dog treats are a great form of positive reinforcement.

      Praise your puppy after he is done going to the bathroom. You can use positive words or give him a treat.

    • 10
      You may need to take your puppy out late at night.

      Set an alarm to go off at least once during the night so you can take your puppy outside. It is nearly impossible for a small puppy to hold its bladder through an entire six to eight hours while you sleep.

    • 11

      Remember that your puppy will have the occasional accident. This is to be expected at first. Don't get frustrated or harshly discipline your puppy. Instead, stick to your schedule and make a point of being consistent. Before you know it, your puppy will be house trained.