How to Potty Train a Lab Puppy

Purchase a crate for your Lab puppy. Remember that it will grow to be a 55 to 80 pound Labrador retriever, so invest in a crate that will be big enough for your full grown lab to stand up, turn around and lie comfortably in. Because most dogs don't like soiling their beds, keeping your Lab confined to a crate when you are not home will help speed up house training and prevent your puppy from making messes in the house.

Crate train your Lab puppy by giving it time to get accustomed to the crate. Place treats inside that your naturally inquisitive Labrador puppy can find. Avoid locking your puppy inside the crate until it is used to going in and out on its own. This can cause your Lab puppy to fear the crate, which will make house training harder. When you do start closing the crate door, reward your puppy with a bite-sized snack and don't stay away for more than an hour or two at a time.

Attach a leash to your Lab puppy's collar and walk it to a designated potty area in the yard. This will teach your puppy two things. It will learn that there is a time for play and a time for business. Labs are playful dogs and your puppy will be inclined to make a game of its trip outside unless it is confined on a leash at first. While outside, encourage your lab to "go potty." This verbal cue will help your dog recognize later on when you are letting it outside to potty. Walking your puppy to a specific spot in the yard will also teach it that that is an acceptable potty area, and it will confine the mess to that place in the future.

Place your Lab puppy on a regular, daily routine. Feeding your Lab puppy at the same time each day will help it regulate its bladder and bowels. Always take your Labrador outside approximately half an hour after each meal, as well as immediately before and after crating it, just before bedtime, and first thing in the morning.

Take your puppy outside every one or two hours until it is old enough to wait longer. Labrador puppies have small bladders that won't last for hours on end, so give your puppy the opportunity to potty outside frequently.

Praise your puppy excitedly for going potty out in the yard. Labrador retrievers are eager to please and respond well to positive training methods. They crave affection. If you reward your Lab, it realizes that it is doing a good job and will be happy to repeat the experience because it makes you happy. You can add a treat to your praise or let your puppy off the leash to play as an additional reward.

Interrupt your puppy each time you catch it going potty in the house. Make a noise that will startle it or get its attention. You can try clapping or using a whistle. Once you have your Lab's attention, take it outside to finish and reward it when it does. Even though it's frustrating to clean up messes, try not to get mad at your puppy (especially if you did not catch it in the act) for having an accident. Labradors are affectionate dogs that don't respond well to punishment. They can instead become fearful and develop other behavior problems in the future.