How to Potty Train Three-Month-Old Puppies

Puppies are just the right age to begin potty training when they are 3 months old. At 3 months, they are able to hold their waste long enough to allow you to teach them when to hold it and when to relieve themselves. A 3-month-old puppy can hold it for about 4 hours, long enough for you to be available to take him out.

Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a schedule for taking the puppy outside to relieve himself. The schedule should include a trip outside every 4 hours or less. This way, the puppy can anticipate when he will be taken out and he will learn to hold it for that period of time.

    • 2

      Take some puppy treats with you on each outing. When the puppy relieves himself, pet him, praise him in a happy tone of voice and give him a treat. The treat and attention will motivate him. With consistency and plenty of treats, the puppy will begin to hold in his waste to get the treats. This process can take a few weeks for puppies to fully grasp.

    • 3

      Confine the puppy inside if you won't be with him for more than 4 hours. This may mean keeping him in a small room or in a dog crate. Crate training is used for some puppies to keep them confined during work hours or overnight. They don't like to soil their bedding space.

    • 4

      Clean up any urine or feces the puppy leaves in the house. Use soap or a commercial dog urine cleaning product to remove the smell from the floor or carpet. If the puppy smells his urine in the house, he may be tempted to mark the same spot again.