We read guides from the American Kennel Club (AKC), PetMD and Humane World for Animals on 5 October 2026 and compared them. We did not test any of this ourselves.
Step 1
Pick one spot and one cue word
Puppy potty training works when the puppy goes out often, to the same place, and gets a reward at once. Start with the place and the word.
Choose one spot outside and lead your puppy there every time. Say a short cue such as “go potty” in a calm voice while it goes. Humane World for Animals and the AKC both use that exact phrase as their example.
Keep your puppy on a leash for every trip. PetMD lists a leash for potty breaks. Humane World for Animals says a 6-foot leash can also tie the puppy to you, or to a piece of furniture, when it is not playing or training.
Step 2
Set a schedule around naps, meals and play
Go out first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Go out after every nap, after play, after eating or drinking, and after time in the crate. The AKC gives this full list. Humane World for Animals gives the wake, play, eat and drink part.
For the first weeks, go often. PetMD says new puppies, especially those under 8 weeks, need a trip every one to two hours. Humane World for Animals says at least every two hours.
Step 3
Go out on a leash and reward at once
Stay with your puppy outside and wait for it to finish. Then give praise and a small food reward right away. The AKC says to reward “immediately”. PetMD says the reward “should immediately follow the event”. Give it at the spot, not after you walk back indoors.
Step 4
Watch your puppy, or use a crate when you cannot
Keep your eyes on the puppy indoors, or confine it. Humane World for Animals says to supervise closely or use confinement. PetMD says to use a crate whenever you cannot watch the puppy, and for naps and bedtime.
Pick the right crate size. The AKC says the puppy should be able to stand, turn around and lie down, but the crate should not be so big that one corner works as a toilet. A crate with a divider lets you grow the space with the puppy.
Never use the crate as punishment, says PetMD.
Step 5
What to do when a puppy has an accident in the house
Stay calm. Humane World for Animals says: “Never punish your puppy for accidents. Scolding or rubbing their nose in it will only make them fearful and slow progress.”
If you catch your puppy mid-accident, pick it up and move it outside at once, says the AKC. Humane World for Animals adds: reward it if it finishes there. If you find the mess later, the AKC says to “just clean up the mess”.
Then clean the spot well. Humane World for Animals says to clean soiled areas thoroughly, to remove scents that might lead to repeat accidents. The AKC names enzymatic pet stain cleaners and says to follow the product instructions.
Step 6
How to handle potty training at night
Take your puppy out last thing at night, as in step 2. Humane World for Animals says most puppies can sleep about seven hours without a bathroom break.
How long does it take to potty train a puppy?
Potty training a puppy usually takes four to six months, says Humane World for Animals. The page says it depends on the puppy’s size, age and earlier habits.
The other two guides are less exact. The AKC says some puppies learn within days, while others need several months. PetMD says most puppies are nearly fully house trained within a few months if you stay consistent. Plan for the long end and be glad if it goes faster.
How long can a puppy hold it?
A puppy can usually hold its bladder for about as many hours as its age in months, up to about 9 months to 1 year, says the AKC. A 6-month-old may last about six hours. Treat that as a limit and go out before you reach it.
Young puppies need much more. PetMD says new puppies, especially those under 8 weeks, need a trip every one to two hours. By 4 to 6 months, PetMD says, a puppy should have full control of its bladder, but it still needs several breaks a day.
Should you use puppy pads?
Pads suit some homes. The AKC says they may be useful if you cannot return home often during the day, or if you have a very small dog and live where winters are severe. An expert quoted in the AKC article, Dr. Burch, warns: “You’re reinforcing two different options for the puppy.” That means inside and outside.
If your goal is an outdoor toilet, skip the pads and use the schedule from step 2.