PUPPY BASICS
Puppies can't control their bladder until they're about 16 weeks. After that, in general they can only hold their bladder for the same number of hours as the number of months of their age. So, a four-month-old puppy can only hold their bladder for about four hours. It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller size bladders plus higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside.
Plenty of fresh, cool water should always be made available to your puppy during the day. Puppies are more prone to dehydration than adult dogs because of their greater need for water. Restricting water intake can also lead to obsessive behavior like resource guarding. So, even while housetraining, you shouldn't restrict water. A puppy will die from dehydration after 72 hours without water. A puppy will start showing signs of dehydration after just 24 hours. A good rule of thumb, is to give your puppy approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. So if you have a 10-pound puppy, for example, they should drink a little more than 1 cup of water each day.
How much you should feed your puppy is written on the label of your puppy’s food. These instructions will provide you with the specific brand's recommended daily feeding amounts based on your puppy’s current age and weight. Most puppies eat three to four meals a day while they're growing and they'll have to pee and poop after each meal. For younger dogs, wait about 20 minutes after a meal to take them outside to potty. The younger the puppy, the sooner you should take them out after a meal.
To potty train your puppy, never let them roam the house unsupervised. When unattended, make sure your puppy is contained in a comfortable crate or gated enclosure. Establish a routine, take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot. After they go potty reward them with verbal praise and a healthy treat (treats are optional).
Plenty of fresh, cool water should always be made available to your puppy during the day. Puppies are more prone to dehydration than adult dogs because of their greater need for water. Restricting water intake can also lead to obsessive behavior like resource guarding. So, even while housetraining, you shouldn't restrict water. A puppy will die from dehydration after 72 hours without water. A puppy will start showing signs of dehydration after just 24 hours. A good rule of thumb, is to give your puppy approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. So if you have a 10-pound puppy, for example, they should drink a little more than 1 cup of water each day.
How much you should feed your puppy is written on the label of your puppy’s food. These instructions will provide you with the specific brand's recommended daily feeding amounts based on your puppy’s current age and weight. Most puppies eat three to four meals a day while they're growing and they'll have to pee and poop after each meal. For younger dogs, wait about 20 minutes after a meal to take them outside to potty. The younger the puppy, the sooner you should take them out after a meal.
To potty train your puppy, never let them roam the house unsupervised. When unattended, make sure your puppy is contained in a comfortable crate or gated enclosure. Establish a routine, take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot. After they go potty reward them with verbal praise and a healthy treat (treats are optional).