How to Potty Train an Inside Puppy to Potty Outside

House-training a puppy requires setting and sticking to a routine for your puppy. If you have already successfully trained it to use puppy pads indoors, then the transition to outdoors is a very similar process. Your puppy will follow your cues to what behaviors are praised and rewarded, but you must send consistent signals.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog crate
  • Leash
  • Dog treats
  • Carpet cleaner with odor eliminator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Confine your puppy in its crate when you are working or not actively paying attention to it. Young, untrained puppies should not be granted the run of your home; it encourages accidents.

    • 2

      Walk your puppy on a leash to the spot outdoors where you want it to learn to go to the bathroom. Do this once an hour for smaller puppies and less frequently as they age. If you have already trained your puppy on wee pads, take it out when you see the puppy heading for the pad.

    • 3

      Choose a command for elimination. For example, "go potty". This command should be the same one you used to train the puppy on the pads, if applicable. Repeat this command encouragingly until the puppy uses the bathroom and then praise your puppy with petting, enthusiastic words, and treats (optional) so it will associate going outside with your approval.

    • 4

      Repeat this routine until your puppy goes outside regularly. Remove the pads from indoors once your puppy accepts the new routine also.