How to Train Your Dog to
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Want faster, cleaner house breaking? Learn how to potty train a dog step-by-step, teach a clear “go potty” command, prevent accidents, and troubleshoot common dog bathroom training problems with guidance from leading humane societies and veterinary behaviour experts.
How to Train Your Dog to “Go Potty”
A solid dog bathroom training plan makes life easier for dogs and humans alike. Whether you call it toilet training, house training, or house breaking, the goal is the same: help your dog understand exactly where and when to go, then put that behaviour on a reliable “go potty” command. Humane societies and veterinary behaviourists consistently stress that successful housetraining relies on routine, supervision, and rewards, not punishment.
House breaking basics: how often should dogs go?
When people search “how to potty train dog,” “how often should I take my puppy out,” or “potty training schedule,” they are usually looking for a clear routine. Welfare organisations advise:
- Young puppies (8–16 weeks): Outside at least every 1–2 hours, plus immediately after waking, eating, playing, or excitement.
- Older puppies (4–6 months): Every 2–4 hours, still with trips after sleep, meals, and play.
- Adult dogs new to house breaking: Follow a puppy-style schedule at first until habits are reliable.
These timings answer high-intent questions like “how often should I take my puppy out at night” and “how long can my dog hold it during potty training” and set the foundation for the “go potty” command.
Step-by-step: teaching the “go potty” command
Many humane societies explicitly recommend using a toilet cue such as “go potty,” “do your business,” or “hurry up” during house breaking. A simple, science-based process looks like this:
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Choose a bathroom spot
- Pick a small outdoor area (preferably grass) where you always take your dog to toilet, on lead if possible.
- For flat dwellers, vet-nurse guidance suggests using a grass tray or sod box as a latrine area.
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Wait quietly and watch
- Take your dog to the spot, stand relatively still, and give them a few minutes to sniff and circle.
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Add the cue at the right moment
- As soon as your dog begins to squat or lift a leg, calmly say your chosen phrase once: “go potty.”
- Avoid saying it repeatedly beforehand; research-informed behaviour advice notes that pairing the word with the act helps the dog learn what the words mean.
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Reward immediately
- The instant your dog finishes, praise warmly and offer a small treat or play session right there at the toilet spot.
- Staying outside with them is important so the reward clearly follows the toileting, not just coming back indoors.
Over time, your dog associates the “go potty” command with the action and the location, so you can later use the cue before car journeys, bedtime, or visits to new places.
Supervision, confinement, and preventing accidents
Expert house-training guides emphasise that the other half of dog bathroom training is preventing rehearsals of indoor toileting.
- Supervise indoors – Keep puppies in the same room, tethered to you (“umbilical cord training”), or behind baby gates so you spot early signs (sniffing, circling, wandering off).
- Use crates and pens thoughtfully – Most dogs avoid soiling a suitably sized crate, making it a powerful management tool when combined with regular breaks.
- Interrupt, don’t punish – If you catch your dog mid-accident, calmly interrupt with a noise, take them straight to the toilet area, let them finish, and reward there.
- Clean with enzymatic cleaners – Vet-authored articles advise using enzyme-based products to remove odours; ordinary cleaners may leave scent markers that draw dogs back to the same indoor spot.
Punishing accidents after the fact is discouraged by all major welfare organisations; it can teach dogs to hide when they toilet rather than to wait for the right place.
Indoor potty options and special situations
Owners often search long-tail questions such as “how to potty train a dog in an apartment,” “can I use puppy pads and still teach outside,” or “indoor bathroom training for small dogs.” Humane-society and vet resources explain:
- Pads and indoor stations can be helpful for small breeds, people with mobility issues, or very young puppies in high-rise housing.
- However, mixing pads and outdoor toileting can confuse some dogs and may make outdoor house breaking slower, so a clear long-term plan is important.
If you choose pads or a grass tray, the same principles apply: one consistent location, the “go potty” command, and immediate rewards for using the correct spot.
When potty training is not working
Sometimes owners follow all the usual advice and still struggle. Veterinary behaviour and nursing articles emphasise that persistent house soiling can have medical or emotional causes.
You should contact your vet if:
- Your dog suddenly starts having accidents after being reliable.
- There is increased thirst, frequent urination, diarrhoea, constipation, or pain.
- Your dog seems anxious about going outside (scared of noises, weather, or people).
Conditions such as urinary tract infection, bladder stones, arthritis, gastrointestinal disease, cognitive decline, or fear issues can all affect house breaking. Once medical problems are ruled out, a veterinary behaviourist or reward-based trainer can help with deeper fears, anxiety, or long-established habits.
About the author – Carina Evans
Carina Evans is a lifelong dog lover, pet-care educator, and CEO in the pet-products industry. For more than twenty years she has worked alongside veterinary professionals, behaviourists, and welfare charities to develop practical, science-led solutions that make everyday life with dogs easier and kinder—from house breaking and lawn protection to enrichment and behaviour support. Carina specialises in turning technical veterinary guidance into clear, step-by-step advice for pet parents and is passionate about reward-based training and environmental sustainability. Her own dogs have road-tested countless housetraining tools and routines, inspiring her belief that with the right plan, every family can enjoy a clean home and a confident, well-trained companion.