Why the crate is the key
The key to successful housetraining is using a crate. Dogs instinctively avoid soiling their sleeping area, so a crate motivates your puppy to hold it.
Puppies under four months have limited bladder capacity and control, and they need frequent bathroom breaks.
- The rule of thumb: hours equal months of age plus one. A two-month-old puppy can manage about three hours, a four-month-old about five. That is a ceiling, not a target.
- Overnight is the exception: most puppies sleep longer than the rule suggests, because everything slows down while they sleep.
- Whatever the number says, a puppy who has just woken, eaten, played or chewed goes out now.
It's a common mistake to assume a puppy can hold it for eight hours during the day just because they can sleep through the night.
When puppies need to go
Puppies need to relieve themselves at predictable times: after waking, eating, playing, or chewing, and whenever they've been left alone for a while.
If your puppy starts sniffing and circling, they're likely about to go. Pay attention to these signs so you can quickly take them outside.
Get the full plan, free
The eight-step routine, what to do when accidents happen, and a one-page sheet for the fridge. We will email it to you as a printable PDF.
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