How to Potty Train a Difficult Puppy

If you're having difficulty potty training your puppy, it's more likely your fault than your puppy's fault. Have you established a schedule for the puppy? Are your expectations too high for a puppy of this age? Are you taking your puppy out for potty breaks frequently enough? The general rule is that a puppy can only hold its bladder for the number of months old that it is. This means, for example, that a 2-month-old puppy needs a potty break every two hours--with the exception of six to eight overnight hours, when puppy should be sleeping.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate
  • Dog toys
  • Dog treats
  • Leash
  • Jingle bells
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Instructions

  1. Crate Training

    • 1
      Crate training your puppy will make potty training much easier.

      Set up the puppy's crate with a comfortable bed or blanket on which it can sleep. Add toys and a water bowl.

    • 2

      Put the puppy's favorite treat in the crate and encourage the puppy to go inside.

    • 3

      Leave the puppy inside the crate for only a few minutes the first time.

    • 4

      Repeat the treat and encouragement to get the puppy to go into the crate several times over the next week. Increase the time the puppy stays in the crate each time, making sure each experience is a positive one for the puppy. However, don't leave the puppy in the crate for more than a few hours at a time, even as it gets more comfortable with the crate.

    • 5

      Put the puppy in the crate anytime you can't directly supervise it until it is completely potty trained. The puppy is unlikely to potty in the crate unless you don't get it outside on time.

    Preparation

    • 6
      You can train your puppy to ring a bell when it needs to go outside.

      Establish a schedule for the puppy. Feed the puppy, play with it, crate it and take it out for potty breaks at the same time every day. Potty breaks should occur when the puppy wakes from a nap, after eating and before going in the crate. Potty breaks should be at two- to three-hour intervals during the day.

    • 7

      Hang the jingle bells on the door used for taking the puppy outside to potty. The jingle bells should be placed at a level the puppy can reach.

    • 8

      Put the leash on the puppy and tie the opposite end of the leash to your belt loop so that the puppy is with you at all times that it is not in the crate. This will allow you to react immediately if the puppy starts to potty in the house.

    Potty Break

    • 9
      While potty training, you should always take your puppy out on a leash.

      Put the leash on your puppy.

    • 10

      Put treats in your pocket.

    • 11

      Ring the jingle bells on your way outside to take the puppy for a potty break. Within a few days, your puppy should learn to ring the bells to let you know that it needs to go outside.

    • 12

      Take the puppy to the same location each time you go outside for a potty break. Walk around the area with the puppy and wait. Do not go back inside until the puppy has urinated or defecated, depending upon which you expect based on the puppy's schedule. At the beginning of the training, you may have to wait a half hour or longer for the puppy to potty.

    • 13

      Give the puppy a treat and praise it lavishly once it does potty. Repeat the entire process in one to two hours.