How to potty train a small dog. Housebreaking your dog or puppy takes time, effort, and a great deal of consistency. Accidents are inevitable, but by following some basic house-training recommendations, you can get your new family member on the right track.
There are some other methods on how to potty train a small breed puppy, but here we offer what we believe is the simplest and most effective.
Three simple steps how to potty train a small dog includes:
- Establishing a routine.
- Taking the dog out.
- Encouraging your small dog.
Step 1. Establishing a routine
Begin potty training as soon as possible
If you’re bringing a new puppy home, make sure you’re prepared to start training right away. The sooner your little puppy identifies where to go, the easier training will be.
Remember that every breed is unique, and your small dog is no exception. Some dogs learn to use the potty quickly, while others require more practice.
We have provided an article on the easiest small dogs to potty train. We also have an article on the easiest small dogs to train in general.
If your dog is still a puppy, you can begin training right away, but keep in mind that puppies under 8 weeks old have poor bladder control and will not be able to perfect it until they are older.
Choose a specific toilet location
Choose an area outside for your small dog to go. Take your dog outside and walk it right to the spot.
When it’s time to do its business, don’t let it ramble around or run away. Make it a habit to let the dog out first thing when you go outside. After that, take your dog for a stroll or playtime.
Make potty breaks a regular part of your day
If your small dog is still a puppy, you should take it out every 20 to 30 minutes, which increases the likelihood that your puppy will be in the right place at the right time. This also develops habits and expectations for them.
If your small dog is an adult, take him out at regular times throughout the day, for example:
- First thing in the morning.
- Just before going to bed at night.
- After meals or drinking.
- After being in a crate.
Maintain consistency in your expectations
Dogs learn best through repetition, so stick to your daily potty training schedule. If you do not stick to your own timetable, the dog will become confused and be more likely to misbehave.
For example, if you normally take your dog outside after meals but forget one day, your dog may have an accident since it is accustomed to going out after eating.
Step 2. Taking the Dog Out
Take your dog outside and say a command like “go potty”
Keep your young puppy on a leash and walk it over to the location where you want it to go. Allow it to roam around the area for a while.
When it begins to move, mention a word or phrase that will link with the motion. You’ll be able to use the cue word as a trigger later; for now, you’re still establishing the mental relationship. Say something like “go potty” or “go pee”.
Praise and food treats should be used to reward your dog
When you witness your dog successfully going in the proper location, pronounce the cue word and lavish it with verbal praise such as “Good job!” or a tiny dog reward.
Reward it immediately so that it associates going there with good things. If you’re offering a treat to your small dog, keep the treat small as well. You should always use a good nutritional treat that is good for them.
If your dog does not go to the bathroom the first time, give it another chance
If you let your dog out as part of its regular routine but it didn’t pee or poop, bring them inside and put them in their crate/kennel. Keep them in the crate for 15 minutes, then bring them outside to try again.
Continue doing this until the dog pees. This will help it comprehend that it only has one place to do their business. If you don’t have a crate, keep your dog on a leash and tie it to your belt. After a few minutes, take it outside.
Clean up any accidents to keep your dog from going there again
When you detect that your small dog has had an accident, clean it up immediately. Blot the mess with a pet odor neutralizer spray.
It is critical to erase the odor so that your dog does not urinate there again in the future. If your dog has been chewing on cushions, bedding, or blankets, mix baking soda into your laundry detergent. Wash and properly dry the items. If the urine odor persists, wash the items again with an enzymatic cleanser.
Do not yell at your dog
Expect mistakes while your small dog learns to go in the proper location. When this happens, never yell or shout at your dog because dogs do not learn through punishment. It just increases their anxiety which may lead to more mistakes.
You should also refrain from rubbing your dog’s nose in its mess, striking it, or throwing anything at it. These harsh behaviors will only scare the dog and harm your bond.
Step 3. Encouraging your Small Dog
Limit your dog’s freedom within the house until it has been properly trained.
If your small dog enjoys exploring your home, he or she may choose to use the bathroom inside rather than outside until properly trained.
Keep the dog in one or two rooms until it is potty trained. Because your dog cannot escape and urinate somewhere unexpected, confining it reduces the risk of accidents.
Wait at least one month after your dog has been potty trained before allowing the dog to enter other rooms of your home.
Make your dog feel at ease with going outside
Small dogs may dislike going outside to relieve themselves because it is chilly or the grass feels odd.
If you know it’s going to be cold outside, put a sweater on your dog before taking it out. Walk out with them and give encouragement to put them at ease.
During the potty-training process, keep an eye on your dog
Your dog will require a lot of guidance until it learns to relieve itself outside. Stay with your dog and continue to offer it plenty of opportunities to go outside, especially if it exhibits signs of needing to potty. These signs include:
- Whining.
- Scratching at the door.
- Following you around.
- Pacing near your feet.
When you can’t supervise your dog, put them in a crate/kennel
If you know you’ll be gone for an extended period of time and won’t be able to keep an eye on your pup in the house, put it in its crate/kennel.
Keep in mind that your dog may have an accident in the crate if you leave it for too long, so try not to leave your dog for more than a few hours until it’s potty trained.
How to Potty Train a Small Dog
We have given some good simple steps on how to potty train a small dog that you can start using right away.
Remember to be patient and stay consistent. It takes time for them to learn the appropriate place to go and get into the routine of going there.
There are many dog potty training aids to help potty train your little one and ease your frustration. One of them is a bell that hangs on your door knob that you train your little dog to paw at and ring when they need to go out. I know this actually works because we have one that our dog Maddie uses each time she needs to go out.
I hope that this article on the easiest small dogs to potty train will help you narrow your search to find your perfect small dog.
As always, it is important to give your dog proper nutrition as part of an important part of a dog’s health along with feeding the recommended amount. Also check out my article on Are Grain Free Diets Bad for Dogs?
See my article on how to stop small dogs from barking for additional training.
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