How to Teach Your Dog Not to Pee and Poop Everywhere

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting moment, but one of the most important tasks to tackle immediately is house training. If you allow your puppy to relieve itself wherever it pleases a few times, this can quickly develop into a hard-to-break habit. Dogs have an incredibly strong sense of smell, and even if you clean the spot thoroughly, they may return to the same location to mark it again. So, starting off with the right training is key to maintaining a clean and odor-free home.

Why House Training is Essential

Teaching your dog to use a designated bathroom spot indoors can be challenging, especially for those who keep their dogs primarily inside. While outdoor dogs may not have this issue, many small and toy breeds are indoor pets, making house training a necessity.

The goal is to have your dog consistently use a specific spot, ideally the bathroom or an area with easy-to-clean flooring. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through this process.

Step 1: Prepare a Designated Spot

Before you bring your puppy home, choose a designated bathroom spot, such as your bathroom or laundry room. To make cleanup easier:

Line the floor with several layers of newspaper or puppy pads.

Ensure the area is dry and clean to avoid confusing the puppy with other odors.

Step 2: Timing is Everything

It’s best to bring your puppy home 1-2 hours before its usual feeding time. Ask the breeder or pet store for its feeding schedule. This window gives you time to start initial training.

Step 3: Teach the "Good Dog" Praise

Before tackling house training, your puppy needs to understand the concept of praise. Here’s how:

Call your puppy over (using a command like “Come”).

When your puppy comes to you, praise them by saying “Good dog!”

Reward with a treat and gently pet the underside of their neck. While some people pat the head, many dogs dislike this, so neck pats are a friendlier alternative.

Why do this before feeding time? Because a hungry puppy is more motivated by treats, making it easier to reinforce positive behavior.

Repeat this process several times, but don’t overdo it. If the puppy gets bored, they might stop responding to “Good dog.”

Step 4: Handling First-Day Accidents

Your puppy may have an accident as soon as it enters your home due to nervousness or excitement. If this happens:

Calmly pick up the puppy and carry it to the designated bathroom spot.

Let the puppy see the surroundings as you go.

Place the puppy on the newspaper or puppy pad and encourage it to finish peeing or pooping there.

Praise and reward with a treat immediately if they go on the paper.

Step 5: Post-Meal Training

After your puppy eats, stay near the designated bathroom area and observe for signs that they need to relieve themselves. These signs include:

Sniffing the floor

Circling around

Arching their back (a sign they’re about to poop)

When you notice these signs:

Gently guide or carry the puppy to the bathroom.

Close the door behind you and use a command like “Poo-poo” or “Potty” to encourage them to go.

If the puppy does its business on the newspaper, immediately reward with a treat and say, “Good dog!”

Let the puppy leave the bathroom and clean up by discarding the top layer of soiled newspaper.

Step 6: Reinforce the Routine

Dogs thrive on routine. After each meal, take your puppy to the bathroom about 15 minutes later. Keeping a log of your puppy’s eating and potty schedule can help you anticipate when they need to go.

Consistency is key. For the first week, follow this routine diligently. If you need to leave for work, ensure a family member continues the training using the same words and tone.

What to Do About Accidents

Even with the best training, accidents happen. Never scold or punish your puppy for accidents. Instead:

Clean the area thoroughly with an odor-neutralizing cleaner or diluted bleach to eliminate any scent.

Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners, as urine contains ammonia, and this may attract your dog back to the spot.

Training Larger or Stronger Breeds

For larger breeds, teaching the “Come” command is crucial early on. This command will help prevent future problems and keep your dog under control as they grow.

Final Thoughts

House training a puppy requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. With the right approach, your puppy will quickly learn where it’s appropriate to go to the bathroom, making life easier for both of you.

Happy training!