How To Potty Train A Dog

Patricia Berliner, Ph.D

OKAY. You KNOW that with a new dog in the house there are going to be accidents on your floor. So, let’s consider some simple steps you can use to potty train your dog. Setting up a specific dietary schedule and menu can be a great potty training tool.

Right from the beginning, provide a consistent and measured diet, being especially careful to limit treats, because too much food, especially foods high in sugars or fibers, will inevitably lead to accidents in the house.
While you are busy figuring out how to potty train a dog, remember to set up, and adhere to, a schedule of bathroom breaks. It is best, but not always workable, to bring your dog outside for a potty break first thing in the morning and after every meal.

As your dog gets used to going out on a regular schedule, start asking your dog if he needs to go potty. This is a great step in teaching your dog to learn and to let you know when it actually needs to go out. My dog used to pull at the leg of my pants when she had to go out, but, when I let her know that wasn’t a good idea, she started to tap my hand. Whatever way your dog lets you know, let your dog know you appreciate being told.

When your dog goes outside, praise him, say what a great dog he is. Dogs are eager to please and most are happy with being told they did a great job.

In her potty training, our dog, Beth, was rewarded with a “poopy nummy" (treat). Treats are given as rewards for successfully accomplishing a task. It is important, for health as well as training purposes, not to get into the trap of giving your puppy a treat for no reason.

Potty training can be tedious and frustrating. Sometimes it may seem like your dog will never get the message! Because puppies have a hard time making cause and effect connections-and tend to choose what’s easiest for them- it is important that you praise the dog immediately when it accomplishes the task at hand.



Punishment should be gentle, but firm and clear. Punish your dog for accidents inside ONLY if you catch him in the act. Definitely do not yell at him for an old potty training accident, because he will have no idea of why he is being punished.

Dogs may be “man’s best friend.” They are faithful companions and helpmates and the love they give deserves to be returned by us, their caretakers.

Yelling at or hitting a dog may seem effective, but in the long run, it affects trust between the dog and the owner. Your dog should respect you and not be terrified or mistrustful of you.

As trusted stewards of our pets, we, too, must be respectful of them and ourselves. If you feel yourself getting angry and/or resentful, it is best to walk away or to put your dog in a “time out” space (for example, in its traveling cage). Sometimes WE may be the ones who have to put ourselves in a time-out space.

Potty training dogs, like potty training human babies, may seem like an endless, thankless, dirty job. But, in the long run, the rewards are great.