House training your puppy is about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. The goal is to instill good habits and build a loving bond with your pet.

It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year.

Experts recommend that you begin house training your puppy when he is between 8 weeks and 14 weeks old. At that point, he has enough control of his bladder and bowel movements to learn to hold it.

Steps for Housetraining Your Puppy

Experts recommend confining the puppy to a defined space, whether that means in a crate, in a room, or on a leash. As your puppy learns that he needs to go outside to do his business, you can gradually give him more freedom to roam about the house.

When you start to house train, follow these steps:

• Keep the puppy on a regular feeding schedule and take away his food between meals.

• Take puppy out to eliminate first thing in the morning and then once every 30 minutes to an hour. Also, always take him outside after meals or when he wakes from a nap. Make sure he goes out last thing at night and before he’s left alone.

• Take puppy to the same spot each time to do his business. His scent will prompt him to go.

• Stay with him outside, at least until he’s house trained.

• When your puppy eliminates outside, praise him or give him a treat. A walk around the neighborhood is a nice reward.