#potty training a puppy

[puppyexpressions]

How Long Can a Puppy Be Left Alone?

You love your puppy. Spending time with him is so much fun. But you must work outside the home. After all, you want to provide the best life you can for him and the cost of food, treats, vet bills, training, and grooming can add up. So, you wonder: How long can your puppy be left alone?

It comes down to his age, socialization, training, and exercise needs

Number of hours a puppy can be left alone for bathroom needs

A puppy needs to potty often and can hold his bladder for only so long. So when determining how long your precious puppy can be left alone, take into consideration his need to go to the bathroom. Puppies can “hold it” for the following periods of time:

Under 10 weeks old, a puppy can hold it for one hour

10 to 12 weeks old, a puppy can hold it for two hours

3 months old, a puppy can hold it for three hours

4 months old, a puppy can hold it for four hours

5 months old, a puppy can hold it for five hours

6 months old, a puppy can hold it for six hours

Over 6 months old, a puppy can hold it for six to eight hours

This chart is a guideline. You never want your puppy to be uncomfortable or have an avoidable accident. My advice: Err on the side of caution and arrange for someone to take your puppy — even at 5 months old — out to potty every 4 hours. And before you leave the house, make sure that he’s gone out.

How long a puppy can be left alone socialization wise

In addition to his bathroom needs, your puppy still requires time to bond with you. Feed him, play with him, train him, and socialize him; he will understand that great things happen when you’re around.

Puppies under 14 weeks old are in a sensitive, crucial socialization period. They benefit from a lot of appropriate exposure to what they’ll face in everyday life. This includes people, animals, noises, smells, and sights. Being isolated can damage a puppy’s development.

Puppy socialization guidelines

Puppies should be slowly exposed to different stimuli every day and throughout the day. After your puppy has had a sufficient number of vaccines, take him on walks, visits with friends and to dog-friendly stores.

Dogs are social creatures. And being alone too long can lead to behavior problems because a puppy can become distressed.

Get help instead of leaving a puppy alone for 8 hours

If you can’t meet the above potty schedule, enlist the help of others, such as a reliable friend or family member to potty your pup as well as play with, feed, and exercise him. Or hire a reliable pet sitter or dog walker to perform these tasks. Puppies sleep most of the day — up to 20 hours. Of course, no one is a substitute for your care.

How to leave a puppy alone in a safe area

Puppies want to investigate the world. This can be very dangerous if the area isn’t puppy-proofed.

Train your puppy to be in an appropriately-sized crate. Alternatively, leave your puppy in an exercise pen, complete with a play area, a sleeping area with a bed, and a potty pad. Or you can leave your pup in a puppy-proofed safe room.

When determining how long your puppy can be left alone, consider his age because he needs to potty on a regular schedule. But also consider his need for socialization, training, exercise, and companionship. After all, dogs are social creatures. And you want to spend as much time as you can watching him bloom into the best version of himself.

[kangals]

kep report card, month 3! wild to think he's been with me for 3 months already:

food (drive, appetite, sensitivity): 🟢/🟡 eating 2200+ calories a day like a fucking maniac. is getting very annoying about countersurfing.

leash walking: 🟢 still doing really well, pulls a bit sometimes but re-adjusts with enough reminders

sleeping: 🟢 - tentatively giving this one a green, he seems to be doing better during the day about settling (even if he does nap very lightly). still great overnight.

crating: 🟢/🔴 - leaving this as is bc i haven't re-visited it. great at night, presumably still shit during the day but he'll get his big boy crate in next week and we'll re-visit how he does during the day.

potty training: 🟡 can hold it 10 hours overnight, 5-6 hours during the day no problem - EXCEPT in my living room. the ONLY potties inside in the last 2 months have been in my goddamn living room. i am getting ready to just rip out my entire rug until he gets the hell over it. annoying as fuck.

general training: 🟢 mensa student. too bad i suck.

manners: 🟡 countersurfs incessantly

grooming: 🟢/🟡 as long as there's food, he's good for whatever.

cars: �� rides quietly and calmly

outings/socialization: 🟢 loves a good adventure

other dogs: 🟡 finally seems to have gotten over his urge to maul stellina, they play very nicely now and he rarely needs correction. did try to hump once or twice but stopped immediately when i scolded him. very friendly with other dogs, still barky and over-focused onthem but typical for a herding puppy.

other people: 🟢 BEFRIEND THE KEPPY

small animals: 🟢 polite with butters, chases but doesn't obsess over backyard critters and bugs

overall he's still a 🟢, and frankly if he could control himself in my fucking living room and countersurf like, 50% less i'd call him perfect. we'll be re-integrating the crate during the day now that the weather's heating up, we'll see how it goes - he will willingly nap in stellina's, and he's better about sleeping during the day, so hopefully he's not too obnoxious. as soon as he's housebroken and stops taking everything off of my counters he's fine to free roam, so this is on him at this point. will adolescence turn him into a little demon? find out next time!

[golden-girl-daisy]

“But I’m so cute how could I have been the one to pee on your bed and on the floor and on the tile and poop on Leia’s bed and poop on the floor today?”

[border-collie]

Four nights in a row now, so I feel like I can brag about it, but Saga is sleeping through the night!

I've got my puppy potty training routine down to a T now and I kennel them right next to my bed so they* will wake me up when they need to go. On top of that, I don't take them out at night if they don't ask to go to prevent practicing extra, unneeded potty trips. With a potty trip before bed and a potty trip when I wake up about 8 hours later, you can quickly build a routine for the pup while protecting the integrity of the daytime potty training you are doing.

*I've never had a dog that doesn't wake me up to go potty and it's something I actively shape and reward when they do so, part of this is border collies are very clean dogs so if they mess in their crate once they will actively avoid doing so again and icies seem to be in the same category. This might not be as effective in pet store puppies, rescue puppies or dirty breeds like some shepherds can be

[zorosdimples]

OMG KAE YOU ALSO GOT A PUPPY??? we got a puppy about two weeks ago so she's like 10 weeks old now & we love her to PIECES, her name is max lol

the baby in question! this is our first time having a Puppy puppy, the closest thing was when we got our first family dog (he was 6 months when we got him and i was like 7 years old) so this is a Ride for sure but it's wonderful. anyways sorry for rambling sjhgkdhsgj

OHHHHH SHE’S A PUPPY PUPPY! A TEENY TINY BABY! how precious jdbfjvjcjddbcn i bet she’s so soft and cuddly 🥺 give max kisses for me please <3

my girl isn’t technically a puppy—she’s a year and a half. but she’s brimming with energy (and adjusting to her new life is us). adopting a young dog is so much different than adopting a senior dog, i can say that much!

[roughbunnywren]

1 hr 45 minutes and 1750ml in to my first omo dungeon run! I've got up to 450ml that I'm allowed to let leak if I need to and still be able to win!

Do you think I should wait until it gets dark and then let a little bit escape in the back yard? Give my tired bladder a break before I tuck myself into my nice warm, dry bed?

I'm wearing my masters favourite dress so it'l just run right down my legs and I won't even have to change after!

Mommy and my master aren't answering their phones anymore and my bladders so full my little puppy brain can't even think straight anymore. Tell me what to do please?

[misterparsnip]

its grass

but inside

what is this sorcery

[gar-a-ash]

[whippetcrimes]

.

[shadowbugtidbits]

Shadowbugs and Potty Training

Adult Shadowbugs that have been befriended are already potty-trained since they are taught by their parents to go outside. They can freely enter and exit their human's home to do this.

However, orphaned/recently befriended Shadowbabies might have accidents in the house since they don't know they have to potty outside.

For younger (0-5 Irken months) or newly domesticated Shadowbabies, it's best to use a diaper like you would with a human baby in this situation. For older (6+ Irken months) and Shadowbabies that have learned to speak "hoo-min" (human), they can be trained to go potty outside. If you are lucky, a befriended Shadowbaby will already be potty trained.

The training will require a mix of tough love, praise, and maybe even some help from an adult Shadowbug (who might be one of the Shadowbaby's parents if you managed to befriend a Shadowbug family).

[border-collie]

New drinking game: join a breed specific dog group and then do a shot when someone complains that their puppy is doing puppy things

[starburstsobsessions]

puppies are SO much work and they only get harder 🧍 my 5 and a half month old German shepherd pup is starting to push boundaries and she is still biting a good bit (less than she was, but in a different way now) and is starting to try and ignore me despite my best efforts.

Anybody got any tips/support/it gets better words for me? 😭😭😭 the puppy blues are REAL. German shepherds have an extremely bad reputation where I live and I actually haven’t personally met good ones so I just have a lot of worries. WAH!!!!!

This is her btw she’s sooooo cute 💕 sometimes 👿

[cass-ass]

Some days I love having a border collie/aussie mix.

And other days she eats my banana bread off the counter, jumps on my book as Im reading it, vaults over the baby gate that is supposed to keep her out of things, and slams my cat into a window.

[puppyexpressions]

Puppy Potty Training: Tips for Success

Potty training from a young age is very important. It helps your new puppy develop good habits and manners for life.

While it may take a little time and patience, potty training can be a rewarding experience for both of you.

Think of it as a way to bond with your new companion as they learn, and to provide mental stimulation for your puppy’s growing mind.

Here are some tips to help make the process easier for everyone…

The Basics:

Most dogs learn quickly, but there are bound to be some “messes” along the way. That’s just a part of learning and growing up.

So, keep your pup in a place that’s easy to clean, especially when you can’t supervise them directly.

A crate is a great place for this.

Puppy Crate Training

A crate can be a place where your pooch enjoys their naps—and a place they go if they ever want quiet time or privacy, even as adults. And during puppyhood, a crate helps them develop a normal sleep routine. It’s important to get your puppy used to the crate from a young age. Try these tips…

Be sure to choose a crate that's just large enough for your puppy to comfortably stand up, turn around and lie down.

Some crates even come with separators/dividers, which can be added, removed or adjusted as your puppy grows. This can help your pup learn not to go to the bathroom where they eat or sleep—a very important first step in potty training.

Use a potty pad or other material that’s appropriate for them to urinate or defecate on. Ideally, something you can easily remove to clean or throw away.

Start with small increments of time in the crate and work your way up to longer periods, if possible. Generally speaking, for every month old your puppy is, that’s how many hours they can comfortably be crated.

When leaving your puppy in the crate overnight or while you’re at work, be sure they have enough food and water.

Very small breeds need to eat often to avoid low blood sugar—ask your vet for a specific recommendation.

Teach Your Puppy Where to “go”

Decide where you’ll want your pup to go to the bathroom, whether that’s your backyard, or a potty pad inside the home.

Then encourage your pup to use this spot by bringing them there several times per day, especially right after they eat—a common time for puppies to go to the bathroom.

Then, when they pee or poo in the right spot, offer them plenty of praise and attention.

What to Do If You Catch a Puppy “in the Act”

If you catch your new puppy urinating or defecating inside the home, try to pick them up and bring them outside or to a potty pad right away.

It’s OK to wait until they’ve finished—otherwise they might go while you’re carrying them, resulting in a big mess.

But, right after they’re done, bring them to their potty spot. Remain calm and offer some positive reinforcement in the form of petting or praise while they’re on the spot.

Do this consistently, and it will help them make the mental connection between that spot and their bathroom habits.

Think Like A Puppy

When it comes to training, it may help to get inside the mind of your furry friend…

This means understanding that the way your pup learns may be different from the way us human beings learn. With that in mind, remember to…

Use Praise and Positive Reinforcement

New puppies are developing a bond with you and your family. So, yelling and other negative interactions will not only NOT work—they can also damage the growing bond between you and your adorable puppy.

Remember, your puppy might not understand WHY you’re unhappy.

That’s especially true if the accident happened hours ago, while you were at work. They may have already forgotten it was them who left the mess on the rug.

So, the best training method involves offering plenty of praise when they go to the bathroom in the right spot. Offer praise, praise, and more praise!

This positive interaction will be so exciting for the puppy, they will want to repeat the behavior that caused it.

And, this living interaction will help to develop your new bond and friendship—a win-win for both of you.

Use Treats

Praise and attention are important. But, you can also use treats in moderation, especially if your new pup is food-motivated.

Check with your vet on how many treats are too many—especially if your puppy is a small breed. Then, let your puppy enjoy their favorite snack as a reward.

Nutritionally speaking, treats should not make up more than 10% of the total diet.

Consistency is key

You want to offer praise EVERY TIME you see your puppy go to the bathroom in the right spot.

Of course, this won’t be possible when you’re at work. But, do your best to use the same positive reinforcement when you are home.

The reason is, inconsistency can cause confusion, while consistency helps your pup learn faster.

Get the Whole Family Involved and on the Same Page.

If you live by yourself, it should be easy to provide consistency. However, if you have a partner, roommate, or kids, you’ll want to be sure everyone is using the same training method.

And, during this training time, remember to enjoy all the special moments with your new puppy—playing and cuddling and really getting to know them. They’re only this age once, so be sure to enjoy their “puppyhood” to the fullest!

[northgeorgiadogtraining]

What Can I Do to Make My Puppy Stop Nipping My Hands?

We all love puppies. They are so cute and cuddly.  They are the closest thing to perpetual love machines that we could possibly imagine.  Because of that, we love to play with them. We pick them up, give them hugs, play with their little paws, give them kisses, and allow them to do just about anything they want.

It is so cute to watch them chase the ball that we have rolled under the chair at the far end of the room.  Seeing them bark at the leaves floating outside the back window never gets old.  Feeding them by hand and letting them lick our fingers is just the best.  Once they finally get their little bark, we find that so cute. They will bark at us, and we will make funny little whining sounds back at them. 

It is always so much fun to play hide and seek with them.  Well, it really isn’t “hide and seek”, it usually is “Where am I?, Where am I?, Where am I?”, and as soon as our puppy looks at us, we jump up and down and run off, hoping that they will chase us.

As long as we are having fun and mutually engaging with our little puppy, these are really fun activities.  The problem arises when we decide we are done and need to work on the computer, answer our phone, read a book, have dinner, or go to bed.  We turned our “off switch”, but nobody told our puppy to turn off their “off switch”.  On top of that, what were all the “things we were teaching our puppy” while we were mutually going nuts?

The answer is “Probably not all good stuff”.  Some of this “not all good stuff” is often nipping. 

How can we interact with our puppy and not have him nip?  It all is based around proper communication and focused behavior. Robin and I have a great dog training article that explains all of this.  Please read our dog training blog titled “What Can I Do to Make My Puppy Stop Nipping My Hands”.

[whippetcrimes]

I kinda want to check in on the status of this litter. But the loss of a friend is so heavy that I feel like maybe it isn't a good time for a puppy....