How to Toilet Train a Month-Old Puppy

When you first get a puppy, all you think about is how cute it is and how innocent it looks. When it is brought home, some of that innocence fades away when your carpets and floors are used as a toilet. A month-old puppy is usually still feeding from its mother, but some are taken away from their mother, which puts you in charge as the puppy's trainer. Potty training a puppy requires much patience and time; it is important to stay on schedule to make the transition easier on the puppy.

Things You'll Need

  • Newspaper
  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Spray bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a schedule. Monitor when your puppy wakes up, eliminates, drinks water, eats food, goes into the crate and plays. A schedule should be made around those activities. The schedule can be adjusted as the puppy grows and begins to catch on to the routine. An example schedule is available below:

      5 a.m. Puppy wakes up. Take to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

      5:15 a.m. Give the puppy food and water.

      5:45 a.m. Take puppy to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

      6 a.m. Let puppy have playtime and participate.

      6:45 a.m. Place puppy in cage, as you leave for school.

      11 p.m. Come back home, take puppy to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

      11:15 p.m. Give the puppy food and water.

      11:30 p.m. Let puppy have playtime and participate.

      11:45 p.m. Place puppy in cage, as you go to work.

      4 p.m. Take puppy to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

      4:45 p.m. Give the puppy food and water.

      5 p.m. Take puppy to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

      7 p.m. Let puppy have playtime and participate.

      7:30 p.m. Take puppy to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

      10 p.m. Take puppy to potty spot. Reward a treat on success.

    • 2

      Feed your puppy food and water at the same time on a daily basis. This helps you keep track of your puppy's food intake, while getting the puppy into a routine. It also helps with keeping track of how often your puppy goes to the potty.

    • 3

      Take your puppy to its potty spot every time it is fed food or water and when the puppy wakes up in the morning. Depending on the size and the exact age of the puppy, you don't want to take your puppy outside just yet because the puppy needs to be a certain age to receive all of its shots. A potty spot is needed so the puppy can eliminate immediately after consuming food and water. A potty spot consists of newspaper covering a floor, preferably hardwood. After the puppy is finished eating and drinking or is waking up for the morning, take the puppy to its potty spot within five to 10 minutes. Do not play with the puppy while it is using the potty; this will only confuse him while he is having playtime on later dates. After the puppy has successfully eliminated reward the puppy with a treat or praise and clean-up the area.

    • 4

      Say "No," to the puppy when he has an accident in your home. It will take a while for your puppy to catch on to the schedule, so there are times when the puppy will have accidents in your home. If you catch your puppy in the act, tell him "no" and take him to his potty spot. Yelling and other punishments are not effective when training a puppy. Clean the "accident" up with a scrub brush and cleanser that removes odors from a carpet or hardwood surface. To make your own solution, mix half a bottle of vinegar and half a bottle of water into a spray bottle.

    • 5

      Keep the puppy's potty spot clean. This prevents you and the puppy from stepping in feces and urine, while keeping your home smelling fresh. Pick up the soiled paper using gloves. Place the paper in a plastic bag and throw it in the outside trash. Clean the spot with a scrub brush, using the odor removing solution.