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• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Maintain a consistent routine with puppy pads
• Part 2 of 3: Introducing Outdoor Potty Training
• Part 3 of 3: Rewarding your dog
• Warnings

If you live in an apartment, it is good to start potty training your dog with puppy pads. That way your dog can learn to go to the bathroom in one specific place in the house. However, it is also good to train him to relieve himself outside. This allows you to develop flexibility and allows your dog to urinate in the house when you are not there, and outside when you are there.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Maintain a consistent routine with puppy pads

1. Follow a 24-hour schedule. To house train your dog, you must follow a strict schedule. This establishes a routine for both you and your dog. Your dog should go outside immediately in the morning, after meals and playtime, and before going to sleep. Every moment must be covered. The schedule can vary based on your dog's age - assume that for each month of his life, the dog can hold his pee for one hour plus one hour. So a two month old puppy can wait up to three hours, a three month old puppy up to four hours, and so on. This is sample schedule for someone who is home all day and has a three month old puppy:
   • 7:00: get up and take the dog to the place where he relieves himself (pee area)
   • 7:10 am - 7:30 am: Free time in the kitchen - let the dog play unsupervised for 15-20 minutes if you know he has an empty bladder / bowels
   • 7:30 am: food and water
   • 8:00: urination (always after eating and drinking)
   • 8:15 am: free time in the kitchen
   • 8:45 am: in the crate
   • 12:00: food and water
   • 12:30 pee place
   • 12:45: free time in the kitchen
   • 13:15: in the bench
   • 5:00 pm: food and water
   • 17:30: urination place
   • 6:15 pm: in the bench
   • 19:00: water
   • 20:15: urination place
   • 20:30: free time in the kitchen
   • 21:00: in the bench
   • 23:00: pee place and in the bench for the night
2. Choose a specific place to urinate. Choose a place in your house that is suitable as a pee area for your dog. Ideal is a place with easy-to-clean floors, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Put a puppy pad there.
   • You have to choose the pee spot. You have to find the chosen spot suitable for when the dog urinates indoors. For example, you may not want to pee in your kitchen if you don't want the dog to defecate and urinate near where you cook and eat.
   • Use consistent words to refer to this place. For example, when your dog is on the spot, you can say "go pee" or use a similar verbal command. Your dog will then associate this place with going to the bathroom.
3. Take your dog to the urination area. Take your dog to the pee site at a scheduled pee time or when you recognize that your dog needs to go to the bathroom.
   • It is good to bring him to the pee spot on a leash, even when he is indoors. This will get him used to the leash, which is useful when you start potty training outdoors.
4. Refresh the puppy pad regularly. Make sure to clean up after your dog has gone to the bathroom. Dogs like to go to the bathroom where they smell their own urine. So leave a puppy pad with a little urine on it under a clean puppy pad. Remove all feces from the area after your dog has gone to the bathroom.
5. Learn your dog's body language. Pay close attention to your dog so that you learn to recognize when to urinate. Signs can be for example; walking stiffly in circles, smelling the floor as if looking for a place to urinate, and letting the tail hang in an odd position.
   • If you make them look like he needs to go to the bathroom, get him there to the pee spot right away. Do that even if it is not a scheduled pee time.
6. Always keep a close eye on your dog. You need to keep a close eye on your dog when he is out of the crate. Even in the kitchen, during his free time, you have to keep an eye on him. This ensures that you understand before an accident happens. At this point, it is very important for your dog to associate going to the bathroom with the puppy pad.
   • You may want to consider tying your dog to your waist with a leash when he is not crated. This way you know for sure that he stays close to you and you can keep a better eye on his movements.
7. Clean up excrement immediately. If your dog has an accident in the house, clean the area as soon as possible. You don't want your dog to go to the bathroom anywhere other than the puppy pad.
   • Do not use ammonia-based cleaning agents. Urine contains ammonia, so your dog may associate the cleaner smell with urination. Use an enzymatic cleaner on soiled areas.
   • Don't punish your dog if he's had an accident.

Part 2 of 3: Introducing Outdoor Potty Training

1. Start moving the puppy pad to the door. The goal of getting your dog out when he needs to go to the bathroom. When your dog can use the puppy pad consistently, you can add outdoor training. Move the puppy pad a little more towards the door every day. Do this in steps, a few tens of centimeters per day.
   • Praise the dog every time he uses the puppy pad. Give him a pat and speak to him in a friendly voice.
   • If your dog has accidents after moving the pad, you may be going too fast. Move the pad back and wait another day before moving it again.
2. Move the pad to just outside the door. Once your dog uses the pad successfully after moving it over and over, you should start getting the dog used to urinating outside. He will get used to relieving himself in the fresh air, even while it is still on the puppy pad.
3. Place the pad near the outdoor pee area. Choose an area where the dog can go to the bathroom. This can be a piece of lawn or under a tree. If your dog needs to go to the bathroom, bring a puppy pad so that your dog associates the outdoor area with the pad.
4. Remove the puppy pad completely. Once your dog uses the pad outdoors, you can stop to put it in front of him. He will use the chosen spot outside instead of the toad.
5. Add a puppy pad to the indoor pee area. If you want the dog to have the option to go to the bathroom both indoors and outdoors, you can re-enter the urination area indoors.
6. Alternate between indoor and outdoor urinating areas. Make sure your dog stays familiar with both the indoor and outdoor pee area by guiding him to both. Alternate the two spots for several weeks so he gets used to using both.

Part 3 of 3: Rewarding your dog

1. Praise your dog generously. When your dog has gone to the bathroom, indoors or out, give it a lot of attention and pats. Say "good dog" and other sweet things. Make it a small party with your dog. This will let your dog know that his behavior is special and deserves praise.
2. Make sure to praise at the right time. When your dog is done going to the bathroom, give him a praise right away. You want to associate praise with the action he just took. Otherwise, he might get confused about exactly what he's getting credit for.
3. Keep your voice nice. Do not use coarse tones with your dog when you want to potty train him. He shouldn't get scared or anxious about going outside to urinate.
   • Don't yell at your dog if he has an accident.
4. Don't punish your dog for accidents. Your dog is still learning how to follow your instructions. Be patient. Don't push his head in his feces. Don't yell or yell at your dog. Don't hit your dog. If you are not patient and kind, your dog may associate fear and punishment with going to the bathroom.
   • If you catch the dog in the middle of an accident, make a loud noise or clap your hands to startle him. He will then stop urinating or defecating, allowing you to take him to the urination site to complete the process.

Warnings

• If your dog has accidents and doesn't seem to be house trained, see the vet. You can then rule out medical and emotional issues that could be affecting your dog.