How old does a puppy need to be to begin house training?

Posted under Dogs

This post was written by Puppy House Trainer on December 28, 2008

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20 Comments so far

  1. Ya Boy Al December 29, 2008 2:06 am

    As soon as possible. They won’t learn anything this young but you can strt a routine that will get them thinking its time to go.

  2. Peanut Butter December 31, 2008 1:46 am

    Posted by Peanut Butter

    Start training right away! The earlier the better for she is fully capable of grasping the concept and the sooner you train, the better the results. Congrats on the cute puppy!

  3. leggertobe3 December 31, 2008 10:14 am

    definitly start asap.. i got a puppy at 7wks too, and she’s 4 months old now, and was completely house trained by a month!

  4. BundyGil January 1, 2009 6:02 am

    Immediately if not sooner. Take her out for her business right after every meal. Be house trained in no time.

  5. Helena January 2, 2009 10:33 am

    Posted by Helena

    No. It is a perfect time for you, actually. It’s good to start RIGHT away so it sticks with the dog for life. Good luck on your puppy!

  6. paintedrain2 January 5, 2009 1:44 am

    I had all my puppies house-trained before they were adopted to new homes. They were in their new homes, by 8 – 12 weeks of age.

    Once they can defecate on their own, without their mother’s assistance, they can begin housetraining.

  7. DP January 8, 2009 5:12 am

    It’ll take a bit before she gets the idea.. Basically you will be trained, knowing when to get her outside, to make she she doesn’t have any accidents in the house.

    When she gets up, when she drinks, eats, when she is having fun playing, every 1/2 hour or so, take her outside and tell her ‘ pee pee ‘ and when she does, praise her .

  8. Giovanna R January 11, 2009 10:16 am

    It’s still young but try taking it outside or where you want it to pee at or poop, It will get use to the spot and go there everytime…. It’s kind of hard to train a puppy when it’s so small but don’t get mad at it because it’s a baby….But once you keep working with it , it will use the restroom where you want it …I had a hard time with my puppy…Using the restroom on the newpaper…But she does it now..Try not hitting your dog either because that just scares them….Good Luck

  9. Bullfrog21 January 12, 2009 9:17 pm

    I managed to train a very young puppy that had just been weened. I put him in a used bassinet with a towel and some other padding. I kept him close especially at night. Puppies do not like to mess where they sleep. He learned to whine when he needed to go out and I would take him out (yes even in the middle of the night) and allow him to squat (yes he was still squatting not raising his leg) After he learned that trick he could run free in the house and did not ever soil or wet inside and he would wake me to go outside as needed.

  10. David January 13, 2009 9:40 am

    Posted by David

    I would start right away. Puppies can start learning straight away, one of our dogs, who is 5 years old now, came almost puppy trained. The breeders started puppy training the entire litter for the last two weeks that they were with their mom. I never thought this would work or do anything, but Delta (our dog) had only 2 accidents in the first week with us, and then never had another one. I have had 5 dogs, and I currently have 3, and never have I experienced such an easy dog to house train.

    Either way, if the breeders training helped or not, 7 weeks is in a puppy’s most impressionable time, so I would start training straight away. House training and command training.

    But most of all, have fun and enjoy your new little puppy!!!

  11. drt_49 January 14, 2009 1:29 pm

    Posted by drt_49

    As soon as the puppy can walk and poo you need to start training him or her to use the places you want used. Of course you should ONLY use positive reinforcement with a young pup, scolding does no good until they are a full 3 to 4 months old, it just rolls hurts their feelings, they need those months to form a bond with you.

  12. Sue B January 15, 2009 3:05 am

    Posted by Sue B

    7wks. is a good time to begin regimenting him to a spot for going potty. After naps, in the morning, after meals, after play, generally a pup will pee pee every 15 min. when awake and active. So at this age it is accustoming him to where to go, don’t expect training yet. His bladder can’t hold much for long. By 3 mo. old he will be able to understand better and have more control.

  13. watchandware January 17, 2009 7:03 am

    Posted by watchandware

    Smaller dogs can be paper trained in the house. Any time after 4 weeks the puppy can start learning the process. I found that some pet stores have a fragrance that can be dropped on newspapers to encourage wetting on the paper. At first it seems like it’s you who are being trained. They are like babies and training a toddler. You get to know them and their personalities by studying them and how often and when you should take her to the paper. Put her on the paper just after they go or when you can catch them in the middle of wetting is even better. Same thing with going outside to the same spot. My friend actually kept her’s in a cage and let him out every two hours just long enough to get the idea that he needed to go potty. That was a little extreme and I felt sorry for the puppy.

  14. Tara B.-J. January 20, 2009 4:38 am

    Posted by Tara B.-J.

    nope it isn’t too soon. I say if they can walk they can start to learn to potty train. take the puppy out every fifteen minutes if possible. take a small treat with you. after do it’s business give him the treat while he’s in the same spot. now have patience this will take some time. disipline is required only don’t spank the puppy a firm no is usual all he needs to know better then immediately take him out again till his bladder devolps better controling skills. but above all have patience

  15. HDB January 23, 2009 1:08 am

    No, it’s not too young. You should start house training the day you bring the dog home. If you start letting the puppy eliminate in the house, it will only cause confusion to him or her.

    It takes time and patience, so be prepared for some accidents. Whatever you do, NEVER rub a dog’s nose in his or her accident and never hit the dog for making a mistake. This teaches the dog absolutely nothing. Consistency and positive reinforcement is the key.

    I’m adding some links to house training that you might helpful, too. Good luck with your little one. I’m sure your new furry friend will catch on quickly. :-)

  16. bad1998vette January 26, 2009 1:16 am

    rigt now,pups will not be able to fully hold it until 12 weeks of age so there will be some accidents.it took me a week to house break my dog.

  17. author2go January 26, 2009 5:55 am

    TAKE NOTE !!! All puppies are different! Yours in particular. The reason I say that is that a Dachshund is a very loving, yet self teaching dog. By self teaching I mean once they start a habit it is very hard to break them of it. Everyone has told you very good advice and you should take heed of it. about the only thing I can add is that your puppy has a very fragile bone structure in her back. be very careful how you pick her up. Be sure to support her rear portion and her front and never, never pick her up by her front legs.
    I know your dog is precious to you that is the only reason I give you that advice. Also be sure to get a book that deals with the raising of Dachshunds. It will be of immense value in the long run.
    By the way my bonifides are that I am a senior citizen and my last dog lived for fifteen years and I got him when he was six weeks old.
    Enjoy your puppy to the fullest.
    Sincerely: Author2go.

  18. Canadian Girl January 29, 2009 12:19 am

    I think the sooner the better, but keep in mind that they have very little bladder control, and are only physically capable of holding it for about 2 hours until they are about 5 months old. I would say that you shouldn’t expect any miracles until around then. They are just like babies. They need time to develop, so just be patient.

  19. angiekeoseyan February 1, 2009 4:44 am

    Posted by angiekeoseyan

    i would suggest to start once u get it. start on the first day. so that way as the dog is growing up, it could be used to what you are saying, and listen to it too. it would be too late once the dog is grown. by then it wouldnt be used to all the things you tell it to do. the sooner you start the better.

  20. littleone February 2, 2009 2:11 am

    Posted by littleone

    Start training now. It will be easier now than later.

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