Regular trips
Trips after waking, meals and play prevent many accidents.
Potty training check
Is My Puppy’s Potty Training on Track? Free 4-Question Check
Answer four questions to see what is working and what to do next.
About 2 minutes
Developed with the behavior experts at
Review tool
Check your puppy's potty training.
Question 1 of 4
How potty training develops
Reliability grows one situation at a time.
A puppy may succeed with one routine but still need help in a new room or after excitement.
Quick rewards
Reward your puppy as soon as they finish outside.
More freedom slowly
Add space and time only after your puppy is reliable.
Help your puppy succeed
Use accidents to improve the routine.
Punishment does not teach the right place and may make your puppy hide.
- 1
Record accidents
Note the time and activity before each accident for one week.
- 2
Reward outside
Give food, praise or play immediately after your puppy finishes.
- 3
Clean calmly
Clean the area without scolding or showing anger.
Common questions
Potty training questions.
Should every puppy be trained by the same age?
No. Health, development, routine and previous learning all affect progress.
Is my puppy having accidents out of spite?
No. Look first at timing, supervision, stress, incomplete learning or health.
Should I punish an accident?
No. Move your puppy outside if you catch the accident starting, then reward success there.
Sources.
Reviewed
- RSPCA: Toilet training your dogExplains regular toilet trips, supervision, signals and immediate rewards.
- AVSAB: Humane dog training position statementExplains reward-based training and the risks of painful or frightening methods.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior problems of dogsExplains health and behavior causes of indoor toileting.
- CATCH Canine Trainers Academy: Our PhilosophyForce-free, positive-reinforcement methods based on modern learning principles.
This tool considers accidents, routine, supervision and health over the last two weeks. It does not set one training age for every puppy.