How long should it take before a puppy is fully potty trained. She's only 4 months now.?

Question

I see that a lot of people are saying it depends of the breed. She is a puggle. She tends to also be good(on and off accidents) in her cage but its when she is out. Also the vet said not to bring her out yet due to the weather(live in NY) and she's not complete with her shots

Answer 1

She should be about trained. The first thing to remember about house training a puppy is there ability to hold themselves is limited. a rule of thumb is they can hold "it" usually 1 hour for each month of age. 2 months old = 2 hours, 3 months old = 3 hours, etc. when your puppy wakes up (morning, nap, whatever) the pup has to go, right then! take the pup out. when the pup eats or drinks, it has to go, take the pup out. after exercise (play), take the pup out. when the pup does it's thing outside praise it. a lot. tell the pup how good, how smart it is. you have to pay attention to the pups "looking for it's spot" behavior. when you see that behavior indoors, whisk the pup out. if you catch the pup in the act, simply tell it "NO!" and whisk it outside. if you find a puddle or pile after the fact, clean it up with an enzyme cleaner (pet food store) get a newspaper and hit.... yourself in the head and say "i should have been paying more attention" daytime training they get pretty fast. night time training is easier if you crate train the pup. also remember the one hour/one month rule. you will have to get up through the night to take the pup out. good luck

Answer 2

It takes what it takes.

Now let's see how to do it.

The puppy needs a crate that we shall now called a house, and it has a small blanket or carpet - but remove it immediately if the dog tries to chew it - which could cause stomach damage by getting fibers caught.

Remember you are training a puppy, and that is compared to having a small child not potty trained, who runs around the house without a diaper.

1. The house has a door, and is usually left open during the day so the puppy can feel free to go there when tired.
2. At night, and when the puppy would be left alone for any time, the pup goes into the house.
3. Never let a puppy run free in your home (remember the baby running around without a diaper).
4. Morning - let the dog out of the house, and put the lead on the dog (collar is already left on).
5. Take the dog immediately outside.
6. Bring a ball or something along so you can make the dog run in case the puppy doesn't get the idea that the dog needs to "go" first when going outside.
Make sure you take the puppy to the place you choose for him/her to go. Try to go to the same place everyday.
7. When you bring the dog back inside, now feed the dog - not on a lead.
8. Right after feeding - a puppy then many times has to go again.
So take the puppy outside - within 10 minutes of feeding.
9. Keep the puppy with you and if you can't be with the dog, put the puppy back into his/her house, with toys if possible.

The puppy learns that you are the source of food, and for going outside. The pupply learns that the house is safe. The puppy does not learn the "run of the house - and go anywhere".
You now control the puppy and the puppy will be happy when it learns BOUNDARIES.
YOU MUST TEACH THE BOUNDARIES.

Consistency is most important.

GOD bless us one and all.
CPA-retired
MBA-Boston Univ.
I once had 11 dogs when my german shorthaired pointer had 10 puppies - and it was the fastest and best 9 weeks of my life. So amazing (and I was working part-time and going to graduate school at Boston Univ. full-time). I was blessed.

Answer 3

Don't' consider the pet to be "reliable till at least a year old. Some breeds are easier the train than others (the smaller breeds tend to take longer). My Aussie had the idea down by 6 months, but still had an occasional accident now and then till about 1 yr old.

Answer 4

Completely depends on the dog. I have a sheltie took me two hours to completely potty trained her, (one good yelling after an accident) I recently bought a pug puppy (he is 8 months old) and 6 months later I am still battling to teach him to go outside. Some breeds just take longer and need more patience.

Answer 5

Expect it to be at least a year. There is no way she can hold it right now - her muscles aren't strong enough to control elimination. And if you are currently working on papter training instead of teaching her to go outside, it will take some time to transition to outdoors if that is what you want to do.

Answer 6

Try not to get her excited, because when they are pups they have weak bladders. Just be consistant with her training, and you'll notice less and less accidents.

Answer 7

well... it should have been potty trained about 2 months ago....just get rid of it, you are going to make its life misrable.