Housebreaking a Dog When You Live in an Apartment

Trying to housebreak a new puppy in an apartment can be a concern for new puppy owners. If you live in an apartment building on the second or third floor, it gets harder to get the puppy out the door in time to prevent accidents. Puppy training will take place in apartments if you keep a consistent training method and schedule. Pick one particular style to use to potty train your puppy in your apartment and it will be easier on both you and the puppy for it to become housebroken.

Things You'll Need

  • Newspaper or puppy pads
  • Litter box
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Instructions

    • 1
      Many people use newspaper to help housebreak puppies.

      Decide if you will use a potty pad or newspaper to train the puppy to go to the bathroom in one spot in the house. This is usually the first step that apartment owners take because apartment dogs find it easier to go in one particular spot, rather than the owner trying to rush the dog outside. Try to stick to either pads or newspaper so as not to confuse the puppy.

    • 2

      Place the paper or the puppy pad where you want the puppy to go to the bathroom. Do not place it next to the puppy's food dish because dogs do not like going to the bathroom where they eat. Put in on an area that does not have carpets so that cleanup is easier.

    • 3

      Set a potty schedule for the puppy. Every two hours put the puppy on the pad or paper and encourage it to go to the bathroom. Praise the puppy when it does go to the bathroom and reward it with a treat.

    • 4

      Use one phrase of words when you are housebreaking the puppy. This will keep the puppy from becoming confused. An example of this is to tell the puppy to "Go ahead and go potty" or "Go piddle."

    • 5

      Ignore any bad potty behavior, or simply move the puppy from where it is going to the puppy pads or paper. Punishing a puppy will only make the puppy afraid of you and will not encourage the puppy to trust you.

    • 6

      Start training the puppy to go outside by taking a piece of the used paper or pad outside with you and setting it on the ground. This will let the puppy know that it is okay to go outside, especially if the puppy has not been outside much.

      Alternatively, you can teach a small apartment dog to do its business in a litter box. Put the newspaper or pad that the dog normally uses to go to the bathroom into the litter box and then place the puppy in the litter box also. This is especially good for apartments that are on upper floors because young dogs may not always make it outdoors before they have to go.