How To Potty Train My Small Dog?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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As a dog trainer, I have found that

smaller dogs can be harder to house train

. Not due to them being vastly different dogs, but because we often give little dogs a bit of a pass. Their elimination is much smaller and much easier to pick up. If they go in the house once or twice, it's not a big sacrifice.

At what age should a small dog be potty trained?

It typically takes

4-6 months

for a to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor.

What is the best way to potty train a small dog?

  1. Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.
  2. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot. …
  3. Reward your puppy every time they eliminate outdoors.

What is the easiest small breed dog to potty train?


Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzers are one of the easiest small dog breeds to housetrain. Some puppies will even be housetrained by the time they leave the breeder ́s home, but of course, if you change the training method (using pads instead of grass, for example) it will set the dog back a little.

Should my 12 week old puppy be housetrained?

Some puppies can be potty trained with a crate. “

Only use use a crate for a puppy that has obtained better bladder and sphincter control (at least 12 weeks old

); otherwise, use a small puppy-proof area.”

Do small dogs always pee in the house?

The authors suggest several possible reasons why small dogs may not be completely house-trained, including:

Small dogs have a higher metabolism but a small bladder and so need to pee more often

. Small dogs produce smaller amounts of urine and so owners are more tolerant of mishaps.

What is the hardest dog to potty train?


Jack Russell Terrier

“Of all of the terrier breeds, the Jack Russell is, hands down, the most difficult to housetrain,” according to MedNet Direct, who says, “Jack Russells can be some of the most stubborn dogs out there.”

How often should you take a 12 week old puppy out to pee?

Ability to Hold Urine – 12-week-old puppies can generally hold their urine for about 4 hours. This means you will need to take them out

at least every 4 hours

to get them “housebroken”. Intelligence – 12-week-old puppies are very interested in their environment.

Are puppy pads a good idea?

Pee Pads Are Convenient

One of the primary advantages of puppy pads is convenience.

They can be a useful aid for training, especially at the stage in your puppy's life when they need to go frequently

. Maintenance and cleanup are as simple as tossing the previous pad and laying down another.

How do you stop a dog from peeing and pooping in the house?

  1. Rule Out Medical Issues. The first thing you'll want to do is make sure your dog is healthy. …
  2. Be Patient. …
  3. Set Up a Routine. …
  4. Give Them a Trigger. …
  5. Reward Good Behavior. …
  6. Clean Up Accidents Carefully. …
  7. Interrupt Accidents.

Should a 13 week old puppy be potty trained?

since your dog is small he has a smaller bladder so he'll need to go out quite often but

you can be consistent and go out every three/four hours at night

(this will only last a few weeks until he gets better control of his bladder). during the day, if he can't last an hour without peeing, take him out more often.

Why does my puppy pee inside after being outside?


Fear and anxiety are the most common reasons why a puppy refuses to urinate outside

and continues to have accidents inside the house. There is a chance that your pup had a bad experience while being outside on a potty break and is now scared of reliving the same bad thing.

What is the best behaved small dog?

  • 11 Calm Small Dogs that are Mild Tempered.
  • 1 The Pug. Pugs are the entertainers of the doggy world. …
  • 2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We bred this beautiful dog to be a gentle companion to everyone. …
  • 3 Corgi. …
  • 4 Boston Terrier. …
  • 5 Yorkshire Terrier. …
  • 6 Miniature Schnauzer. …
  • 7 Havanese.

Are miniature poodles easy to potty train?

Defining Tasks. Poodles are highly intelligent dogs capable of learning a wide range of tricks and behaviors, but before you try to train your pup some of the more advanced tricks, one of the first things you need to teach your dog, is that

it is not okay for him to pee in the house

.

What is the smartest small dog?

  • Miniature Poodle. …
  • Toy Poodle. …
  • Papillon. …
  • Miniature American Shepherd. …
  • Miniature Schnauzer. …
  • Pomeranian. …
  • Shetland Sheepdog. …
  • Schipperke.

How do you housebreak a stubborn puppy?

  1. Limit Your Dog's Home Access. …
  2. Potty Training Pads Are Lifesavers. …
  3. Devise a Feeding and Napping Schedule. …
  4. Potty Break Immediately After Nap & Mealtime. …
  5. Reward with a Tasty Treat. …
  6. Crate Your Dog Until They Learn to Go in the Correct Spot. …
  7. Stay Consistent.

How long does it take to potty train?

It typically takes about

three to six months

to potty train a child who is ready, with about 98 percent of children being trained by the time they are 3 years old. But, these are just averages, and each individual child needs their own time to understand the process.

How often do puppies need to pee at night?

At first, you'll probably need to set your alarm to go off a few times at night, depending on your puppy's age at the time you're starting his program. If you start him when he's 7-9 weeks old, it'll probably need to be every 2 hours; from 9-14 weeks, every 3 hours; 14 weeks and up, every 4 hours.

How do I stop my little dog from peeing in the house?

  1. Visit Your Veterinarian. …
  2. Spay or Neuter Your Dog. …
  3. Train (or Retrain) Your Dog. …
  4. Give Lots of Potty Breaks. …
  5. Identify and Eliminate Triggers. …
  6. Clean Up Accidents Properly. …
  7. Get Professional Help.

Does vinegar stop dogs from peeing in the house?


Yes, because dogs don't like the smell of acetic acid, the smell of vinegar can be a deterrent

. If your dog pees on the carpeting, you can mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it on it.

How do you toilet train a puppy?

Try to take them to the same place each time. Use a command they can associate with the correct behaviour, such as ‘be quick', when they begin to toilet. When they've finished, reward them immediately with lots of praise, a treat or play. Walk your dog around or play for a bit before going back inside.

How do you teach a dog to tell you when it needs to pee?

What is the stupidest dog breed?

  1. Afghan Hound. The Afghan Hound is the “dumbest” dog. …
  2. Basenji. Basenjis also make the list of dumbest dog breeds. …
  3. Bulldog. Bulldogs are known for their stubbornness. …
  4. Chow Chow. Chow Chows can also be difficult to train. …
  5. Borzoi. …
  6. Bloodhound. …
  7. Pekingese. …
  8. Beagle.

Where should a dog poop?

Choose a dog potty spot

outside of the high traffic areas of your yard

. The spot you designate should be appropriate for the size of your dog. A small area might be fine for a toy or small breed dog, but larger breeds are going to need more space.

What time should a puppy go to bed?

But in all honesty,

there's no ‘right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night

. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.

Should I wake my puppy up to pee at night?


You should wake your puppy up to pee at night

! Once a puppy reaches 4-6 months old, they will have almost a full-sized bladder and are able to hold in their urine for longer. With proper potty training, you and your dog might get through the night without wet incidents.

Can my 11 week old puppy sleep through the night?

When Do Puppies Start Sleeping Through the Night?

Most puppies will sleep through the night by the time they're about 4 months (16 weeks) old

. But with some help, diligence, and proactive training, you may be able to get your puppy there even earlier!

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.