Puppy Potty Training Schedule – The Best Way to Potty Train a Puppy |

The first thing anyone who brings home a new puppy or dog wants to teach is potty training. Creating a puppy potty training schedule, in my opinion, is the best way to potty train a puppy.

It depends on the puppy but if you consistently stick with a schedule a puppy can have a fairly good grasp of potty training in a week or two. This is a time-consuming process at first you will be thankful in the long run doing it right the first time.

How Long Can a Puppy Hold it?

It’s important to know about how long your puppy should be able to wait in between bathroom breaks.

The number of months old a puppy is plus one is the max number of hours a puppy can hold it comfortably. This may be less depending on your puppy.

For example, a 2-month-old puppy would be able to hold it 3 hours max (2 months = 2 hours + 1 hour).

You may want to start out your schedule at half this time or if your puppy is having issues take them out on an hourly basis if needed. This can give you a general idea for the max amount of time a puppy is capable of going and useful to know when you start increasing the time between potty breaks.

This should also be the max amount of time a puppy is crated. Most of us have to work and if you are going to be gone all day don’t crate a puppy the entire day. Get a doggy playpen and toys to keep them entertained during the day.

When to take the puppy outside

The puppy should always go outside

immediately after waking up
As soon as they are done eating
After playing or training
If they start sniffing around or become distracted and wander off

Pick a Potty Spot and be Consistent

Pick a spot you would prefer the puppy to go potty at. Always bring your puppy outside to the same spot. Use the same door every time you take the puppy out. The consistency makes it easier for the puppy to learn what to do.

When you take your puppy out if they go to the bathroom right away give them about 5-10 minutes to make sure they have fully emptied their bladder. They may take more than one time to fully empty their bladder. This makes it less likely that you don’t have an accident as soon as you bring the puppy back inside.

If you have a yard the dog can play in don’t just let them out and assume they have gone. Unless you have witnessed them go potty assume they have not.

When your puppy is outside playing before taking them back inside walk them to the potty spot. If the puppy doesn’t go you can take them back inside but watch them close or crate them for 15-30 minutes and take them back out.

Example of a Schedule

It is always easier for me when I see an example. I am giving an example based on the time I wake up and my day but it can easily be shifted a few hours earlier or later.

A few things to remember when making your schedule:

Schedule 3-4 times a day to feed your puppy. Puppies do better when fed more often. As your puppy gets older you can change the feeding schedule to twice a day. For more information on feeding your puppy, you can check out this AKC website.
After a puppy has fully emptied their bladder there should be about 30 minutes of semi-safe time. This is a great time to give the puppy free time in the same room as you. It depends on the puppy for some the safe time is only 15 minutes but for most puppies 30 minutes after is a fairly safe time frame if they have fully completed their business.
Even though it is a fairly safe time keep the puppy in the same room as you and watch for any signs they may need to go out.
I like to start out the first few days having bathroom breaks no longer than 1.5 hours apart or sooner is there is sniffing or any accidents. Some dogs when young may only make it 20-30 minutes so be prepared to take many trips outside and adjust the schedule accordingly.
After the 30 minutes of semi-safe time is up, keep the puppy on a leash close to you. Work on training or just have them follow you around on a leash. Hold on to the leash or keep it tied to something close to you.
If you are unable to keep the puppy close to you if they are used to the crate they can be crated for short amounts of time.

An example schedule for a 2-4 month old puppy if you are home all day with them.

6 a.m. – Wake up and take the puppy out instantly. It may be necessary to carry the puppy out to avoid accidents for the first few weeks. Remember to make sure to give the puppy enough time usually at least 10 minutes to fully complete their business.

6:15-6:30 – Let the puppy have some free time in the same room as you if they went potty while outside.

6:30-6:45 – Feed and water the puppy. Watch for when the puppy is done and take them out right after and give them 10-15 minutes outside to go potty.

6:45-7:00 – Take the puppy out. Since the puppy has eaten they should poo shortly after. Make sure to give them enough time to finish all their business. If your puppy did not go during this time take them back in and keep them very close or put them in the crate for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes take them back outside to the potty spot. It shouldn’t take long after eating for them to go. Don’t consider it semi-safe time unless they poo after eating if they don’t poo when you take them out they are a time bomb waiting to go off, be careful.

7-7:30 – Free time in the same room as you, if they went to the bathroom. When you notice your puppy being calm, not chewing on anything inappropriate and behaving reward them. It doesn’t always have to be treats verbal praise and attention can be rewarding for the puppy too.

7:30-8:30 – Keep the puppy close. Having them on a leash next to you or tethered on something close to you is a good idea.

8:30-8:45 – Take them outside to the potty area.

8:45-9:15 – Free time

From here on out it gets fairly repetitive but there are times your schedule will have to be adjusted. For example, your puppy takes a nap for 30 minutes regardless of the scheduled potty time they should go out after waking up.

I am sure you get the idea of making a schedule I’ll finish out the day just adding in different times when the puppy may need to go out to give you an idea of different situations.

9:15-10:15 – Puppy takes a nap in the crate

10:15-10:30 – Take the puppy out since they just woke up from a nap.

10:30-11 – The puppy gets free time but only if they have gone to the bathroom.

11-11:45 – Keep the puppy close on a leash. The puppy starts to sniff around quickly get them outside!

11:45-12:00 – Take them directly to the potty spot to do their business.

12:00-12:30 – Free time as long as the puppy has gone potty.

12:30-12:50 – Feed and water the puppy. Water can be available all the time but if there are frequent accidents offer a limited amount of water between meals.

12:50-1:00 – Puppy is taken outside. The puppy doesn’t go potty.

1:00-1:15 – Puppy goes into the crate. Set a timer to take the puppy out shortly. After eating, it is only a matter of time before a poo will happen.

1:15-1:30 – Puppy is taken back to the potty spot and poos.

1:30-2:00 – Free time

2:00-3:00 – Keep the puppy close semi-safe time is gone

3:00-3:10 – You need to run some errands so you take the puppy outside to the potty area

3:10-5:00 – Crate time with some chew toys while you run a few errands.

5:00-5:15 – Take the puppy outside as soon as you let them out of the crate.

5:15-5:45 – Free time if the puppy has gone to the bathroom.

5:45-6:00 – You try to keep a close eye on the puppy but while you are busy making supper the puppy wanders off and has started to pee.

how to stop a puppy from peeing on the floor

Clap your hands to interrupt the puppy (avoid doing it loud enough to scare the puppy you want to distract and interrupt not scare them).

6:00-6:15 – Clapping your hands stopped the puppy partway through. Take them directly out to the potty area. Make sure to praise them when they finish going potty in the correct spot.

6:15-6:30 – Feed and water the puppy.

6:30-6:45 – Take the fully loaded poo time bomb outside to the potty area.

6:45-7:30 – The puppy runs around exploring the back yard. You go get the puppy from the back yard but make sure to take the puppy to the potty area before going inside. Don’t trust that they have gone to the bathroom. The puppy dosn’t go to the bathroom.

7:30-8:00 – Give the puppy a chance to drink water for the last time tonight. Since the puppy has not gone keep them next to you on a leash or cuddled in your lap. Take them back out after 15-30 minutes to see if they will go. When restricting water before bed use common sense. If your puppy has been playing hard and thirsty make sure to let them have water and plan on waking up in a few hours to take them out.

8:00-8:10 – Take the puppy out to the potty area.

8:10-8:40 – Free time since the puppy went potty. Play with the puppy some make sure they are tired so they will sleep at night. If the puppy is playing hard and thirsty give them water even if restricting water before bed. You don’t want your puppy dehydrated. Making sure puppies get plenty of exercise during the day helps the puppy sleep at night.

9:30-9:45 – Take the puppy out one last time to go potty and put them in their crate for the night.

Make sure the crate is the correct size and close enough that you can hear the puppy whine if they need to go out in the middle of the night.

It maybe smarter to set an alarm and take the puppy out in 4-6 hours until you know how they do in their crate or if they will whine enough to wake you up if they need to go potty.

When you wake up in the morning start all over again.

What to do When You Can’t be Home

Most of us are going to have to go to work during the day so what should you do with your puppy?

Don’t crate a puppy for long amounts of time. The best solution is to use a room or set up a playpen with the crate open inside it. It is best to use an area close to the door you use to take the puppy outside to the potty area if possible. Avoid keeping the puppy in a carpeted area, puppies plus carpet are usually not a good idea.

Get some puppy potty training pads and place them down inside the playpen area. Leave some water but no food for the puppy.

Sometimes there is no option to come home or anyone to check on the puppy for you. In that instance leave them some food or get an automatic feeder. I have one to use for my dogs when gone all day. I was hesitant to buy one but it has been really useful.

Coming home at lunchtime or having someone who can come feed and let the puppy out is ideal. Change out the dirty potty training pads at this time too.

Make sure to take the puppy out to the potty area just before you have to leave and as soon as you come home.

When you are home follow the schedule and make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise.

Keeping the Puppy in the Backyard During the Day

Keeping a puppy in a backyard can be a good idea. Make sure the puppy can’t get out (they can be sneaky little things) and has shelter if the weather gets bad or too hot. Leave plenty of water for them since they are outside running around don’t limit the water.

When you come home before taking the puppy back inside go over to the potty area, if the puppy goes, give them some free time inside but if they don’t keep a close eye on them. Take them back out every 15-30 minutes until they have gone.

When you are home in the morning and evening simply follow the schedule.

Keep a Log

I know it sounds kinda goofy but if you are having any problems this can help. Just write down the times the puppy goes to the bathroom and also the times they were fed.

It can give you a good idea how quickly your puppy will need to go potty after eating or how long they can hold it in between. The information makes it easy to adjust the schedule.