{"id":11612,"date":"2023-06-12T15:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T14:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/?p=11612"},"modified":"2025-06-17T21:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T20:14:25","slug":"15-puppy-potty-training-problems-solved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/15-puppy-potty-training-problems-solved\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Puppy Potty Training Problems Solved"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I often get messages from people that are very frustrated as a result of puppy potty training problems. They have followed all the standard advice and yet their puppy pees in the house more than he pees outdoors! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-1024x588.jpg\" alt=\"yellow labrador outside for potty training\" class=\"wp-image-11614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-1024x588.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-768x441.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-696x399.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-1068x613.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden-732x420.jpg 732w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-labrador-puppy-garden.jpg 1220w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, most of these problems can be solved with a few tweaks to your routine. And with the right system your puppy will be potty trained in no time at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#supervise\">How well are you supervising your puppy?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#crate\">Puppy crate training errors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#routine\">Unrealistic puppy potty training schedules<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#clean\">How clean is your rug really?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*The products linked in this article were carefully selected by me to be shared on The Labrador Site. If you decide to purchase using the links provided, you&#8217;ll be supporting our site by allowing us to earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The causes of potty training problems in small puppies can include insufficient supervision, crate training mistakes, over ambitious routines, the wrong cleaning products and even bladder infections. But essentially, fast, efficient puppy potty training depends on setting our puppies up to win. It&#8217;s all about building great habits for the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each family and puppy is different but fortunately in nearly every case, we can pin potty training difficulties down one of the following problems.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"supervise\">#Problem 1: The puppy is unsupervised when his bladder is filling up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Puppies have very little control over their bladders, so to begin with your puppy is not going to wait until his bladder has filled right up, before depositing the contents on your floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may want him to empty his bladder in the yard, but <em>he<\/em> is going to empty his bladder as soon as it starts to feel a bit uncomfortable. That might be a lot sooner than you think it should be.&nbsp; And you won\u2019t get much warning.&nbsp; He may look a bit distracted or start to sniff around briefly.&nbsp; And that\u2019s about it.&nbsp; If you don\u2019t spot the signs, a puddle will soon follow.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1220\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy.jpg\" alt=\"cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy\" class=\"wp-image-11616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy.jpg 1220w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy-1024x604.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy-696x411.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy-1068x630.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cuddle-yellow-labrador-puppy-712x420.jpg 712w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>You need to <i>either<\/i> supervise your puppy very, very closely when his bladder is beginning to fill.&nbsp; <i>Or<\/i> put him somewhere where he will try very hard not to empty it.&nbsp; Such as a small crate, or being held in your arms or cuddled on your lap. Once that \u2018bladder fill level\u2019 is past half way, you are in \u2018danger\u2019 territory.&nbsp; You need to be actually watching your puppy like a hawk, or cuddling him, or he needs to be in his crate for a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut, but\u201d you cry \u201chow am I supposed to know when his bladder is filling up!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Working out when your puppy&#8217;s bladder is getting full<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>True enough, there is no \u2018fill gauge\u2019 on&nbsp; your puppy, to tell you when his bladder is past the half way mark, no little red light, and no warning buzzer. That makes it hard for you.&nbsp; And it\u2019s why accidents happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to keep accidents to the absolute minimum, or even avoid them altogether, is to figure out how full your puppy\u2019s bladder is, <em>based on how often he empties it<\/em>. So, if your puppy empties his bladder every twenty minutes, then ten minutes is the longest you can take your eyes off him for, after he has emptied himself in the backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reducing supervision<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Once he is able to last an hour between pees, then you may be able to reduce supervision for half an hour after his last pee. Not everyone wants to use a crate and we&#8217;ll look at coping without one in a moment, but many people do use \u2018crate time\u2019 for those periods when a puppy\u2019s bladder is filling up and they cannot supervise him. And that brings us to reason 2 because problems can arise when a crate is too large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"crate\">#Problem 2: your crate is too big<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people put their puppies in a crate at night, or when they can\u2019t watch him for short periods during the day, because they have been told that the puppy won\u2019t pee in his own bed. Only to find that he pees right there inside the crate!&nbsp; What\u2019s that about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you kick your crate out of the house, hold on a second.&nbsp; This does not mean that crate training doesn\u2019t work. Unless you are crating your puppy for too long (and we&#8217;ll look at that in a moment) in all probability, it means you need a smaller crate. This can be annoying, because crates are not cheap, and puppies soon grow out of a puppy crate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11615\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained.jpg\" alt=\"potty training black lab puppy\" width=\"1066\" height=\"604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained.jpg 1066w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained-1024x580.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained-696x394.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/puppy-potty-trained-741x420.jpg 741w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1066px) 100vw, 1066px\" \/><\/a>Short time \/ small crate:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The crate that your 8 week old puppy sleeps in won\u2019t last him much more than a couple of months.&nbsp; But if you are going to use crating as a potty training aid,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof\/dp\/B000OXAERM?crid=OSB53FXL7JE1&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z3LIQDSLg1atUrsFixVDFi5vaZDiW1uflVE7jl0mF72HI3mhdRTRzGYdeqCEBuvmkO94jUFBIEyEy6wVF54xaLpY-RIga8WnpxOGFKCD6sTW4JNLqRdYhoW7U30OISD7iIbT50To2VrIw3-gdeB_BxLiQ2BK9IpwiX_SuUfK5_GWRUyylk_oXNSudgDePllY9EUz6Kak2i4YUpu3Xrj8XMrAX9RESHsLxGEL5Ee0lr0qMJNquwOt57Dr5zf_ltgUQXkVDCjEQ3YURz6qPO-8EGyYZZ2uH6ny7G6GSdprkHY.C5mYn7m3BwLfp1TnhGlCtcECj2KQ907StpcHdbxZydI&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=dog%2Bcrate&amp;qid=1720186693&amp;sprefix=dog%2Bcrat%2Caps%2C193&amp;sr=8-3&amp;th=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thelabsit-20&amp;linkId=4c295933ba2badf86a9d2ee547bea30e&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\"> the crate needs to be small<\/a><span class=\"affiliate-link-text\" style=\"color:#757575;\">(paid link)<\/span>*. This also means that crate <em>time<\/em> must be very short. Not just because it is unethical and inappropriate to crate a small puppy for very long, but because he physically can&#8217;t wait very long once he is awake and active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It doesn\u2019t matter that there isn\u2019t room for the puppy to play, because apart from the dead of night, <em>he isn\u2019t going to be in there for very long.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use your crate appropriately<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The puppy crate is not meant to be a place for puppies to romp and play. It is meant to be a safe and secure \u2018nest\u2019 for him to rest and sleep in at night, and for very short periods during the day. Which brings us to problem 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 3: you are leaving your puppy too long in his crate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Puppies will try very hard not to wet their own bed.&nbsp; But their efforts are limited by the puppy\u2019s ability to hold onto the contents of his bladder.&nbsp; An ability that quite naturally, is somewhat limited in the early weeks of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/crates-pens.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"206\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/crates-pens.jpg\" alt=\"labrador puppy in a crate\" class=\"wp-image-9613\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rachael in her puppy crate<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>So, a crate can be a useful potty training aid, because it helps the puppy learn to hold on to the contents of his bladder that little bit longer. Provided, of course, that the wait is within the limits of his physical maturity. And many people get this proviso part wrong. The result is then a puppy that wets his bed. Sometimes this can go unnoticed by puppy parents until it has become a habit and the puppy has stopped trying to keep his bed dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set your puppy up to succeed, not to fail:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s face it, if you are trying your best at something, but are continually prevented from succeeding, you eventually give up trying. This can happen to your puppy too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t overestimate your puppy&#8217;s ability:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer is not to overestimate your puppy\u2019s ability to hold on to the contents of his bladder (we\u2019ll look more at that in Reason 4) and to always check your puppy\u2019s bedding for damp patches when you fetch him out of his crate, to make sure you are succeeding. And this is actually about you and your success, more than about the puppy, he really doesn\u2019t have much say in the matter<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check your puppy&#8217;s bedding:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>So, check <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Vetbed-Petlife-Original-20-inch-White\/dp\/B000UGDNWG?crid=NSBURNB4HT9B&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P4e8iynRXHHmYn36OQqxuZ2pg1PVpNHcO5ecLkOasX7aqHxDksKyeiUvpy_7OiEXLDRgiijJp2zD3PWuDgSzhS8PzN8sYLB1EyeX-zr5EegNle6RpL8b_LsElyW2m13DsdaVXR1ybDsvXTLKpEjuBiG0_qsIkGPixLDBSUBQERruyKS9X7Y-Q0hx5EaD6i33nMX74o82zAGgaODu8ivYAicIIDXfmkFVXNstA11Vy5qvL98sxIALhcu4VAWRT8nDnZD7wYPcxTFPyvWMCFgzybm0g_RoFILjHlfmBPk_4VM.qdZAGmVWmWk_qRIB2rodL2NSiUiYb2iEMvRld_zlv4Y&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=vet%2Bbed&amp;qid=1720186937&amp;sprefix=vet%2Bbe%2Caps%2C181&amp;sr=8-5&amp;th=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thelabsit-20&amp;linkId=b4739f737e108c4ce00ee29a5bb19e58&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\">that bedding<\/a><span class=\"affiliate-link-text\" style=\"color:#757575;\">(paid link)<\/span>*, and if the bedding in a sufficiently small crate is wet, you have left your puppy too long. &nbsp;If you&nbsp;<em>have to<\/em> leave your puppy longer than he can last without a pee, you need to leave him in a large puppy pen or puppy proof room, with puppy pads or newspaper at one end, and his bed at the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bear in mind also, that a puppy can last longer at night when his metabolism drops and he is sleepy, than he can during the day when he is eating and drinking regularly and is active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using the crate at the right time:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, the right way to use a crate is for short periods <em>when your puppy&#8217;s bladder is starting to fill<\/em>, but before it is so full that he can&#8217;t hold it any longer. Don&#8217;t waste your puppy&#8217;s &#8217;empty bladder&#8217; time by shutting him in his crate when he has just done a pee. This is the time when you can relax a little and enjoy his company without worrying that he is going to wet himself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t crate if you can&#8217;t keep crate time short:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have to leave your puppy for long stretches, crate training is not for you. If don&#8217;t have the time or concentration to supervise your puppy this closely, you need to consider having<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AmazonBasics-Foldable-Metal-Exercise-Fence\/dp\/B075898NLN?crid=1EEWFMBK9H78A&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZKELpUAsOSXPCSH1Hb2CkC6GjoUnRD9mNzuQbxUJWtStQrk7b5PpjjnDJ1Im7e4wDh5hePuJx3XiAnBi0agLcKMU1COtxw3plWUPbnuaQFfLvaP1esdDtt35W8vOe9O8Eo9Qjv9SkE3C_P6Nao4zi3YUZOpsN8Xqc4PQB90PK5iUQQXYl93kdfpz1H2nypxliAmOUxCjAgW6RWzF7dOqyOu7UBVeyIXylQGvhKA-MeZjFQeF-lUdgNpJ973ugkr7MRSHNxH4qXct7UROP7rAhpYjk8rfRANVCCvBKcM_wvs.BwVWaa-lPABD3hrZdHhmcxCw8hW9qd_3ObwTwzUiQvw&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=puppy%2Bplay%2Bpen&amp;qid=1720187006&amp;sprefix=puppy%2Bplay%2Bpen%2Caps%2C174&amp;sr=8-4&amp;th=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thelabsit-20&amp;linkId=2e6e0d852c100335bf064c7bb74eb208&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\"> a puppy pen<\/a><span class=\"affiliate-link-text\" style=\"color:#757575;\">(paid link)<\/span>*. Or puppy proof room where you put down<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Amazon-Basics-Leak-Proof-Quick-Dry-Absorbency\/dp\/B00MW8G3YU?crid=2CCT21STSSS1C&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0LIXHtby_KJRUKbRTCJnx-ucdq-6GH-hIhWYfCFu-RHt9CvdTM6hGmRQaom_GA09gpPQTYbPW3RtR2jraGlO0r-YWCy0c381vTXKE3iur1L-HawjQ2OLmjvHJ7CohxriCUoKUwQEnTGwx8PsKbqTQcxcsJpM9nQLdwVkBqsHBk9d_Af8s3tExhRer2xMlEkCvZJ-0kh_CoMH9Tlx1KzLtECWh0dLCWabW_0O2ukChfeKAtUPSZEi6Bu9Kk7zulpukptD7HhwuU2YL76hHhhf38d5yr-Keb6PX0rWHFaFj0g.JKt8BChzZh9w2c0-5aKAV2wHR_jlysCDHh3RTo8Uzek&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=puppy%2Bpads&amp;qid=1720187036&amp;sprefix=puppy%2Bpad%2Caps%2C174&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&amp;th=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thelabsit-20&amp;linkId=498460c4010f7a3d595ba66ea85cdd25&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\"> puppy pads<\/a><span class=\"affiliate-link-text\" style=\"color:#757575;\">(paid link)<\/span>* or newspaper for your puppy to pee on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cover the whole area to begin with. Then gradually make his toilet area smaller and smaller and eventually move it outside. &nbsp;We used to call this &#8216;paper training&#8217;. Don&#8217;t forget, puppies should never be left for long stretches shut in a cage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"routine\">#Problem 4: you are leaving your puppy too long between bathroom breaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This problem applies to the puppy that is not in the crate at all, but is wandering about in the house.&nbsp; If you are having regular accidents outside the crate, you may well be leaving your puppy too long between trips to the yard. Puppies have annoyingly small bladders, and very little control over them.&nbsp; One of the commonest reasons for puppies to pee indoors, is that you have simply left the puppy indoors too long.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1220\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate.jpg\" alt=\"chocolate Labrador puppy waiting to go potty\" class=\"wp-image-11619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate.jpg 1220w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate-1024x611.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate-696x415.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate-1068x637.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-puppy-at-gate-704x420.jpg 704w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>People often say to me &#8211; \u201cbut I let him out every hour!\u201d&nbsp; as though that should be sufficient. And for some puppies it would be. But I have had puppies that need to pee every twenty minutes in the first week or so. It is also very easy to underestimate the time that has passed since the last trip to the backyard. Especially when you are busy. Set a timer for twenty five minutes, or forty five minutes, or whatever gap of time you think your puppy can wait, and take him outside when it goes off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frequent visits to the yard are time consuming but it is what it is. You have to deal with the puppy in front of you. Not try and make your puppy fit in with what someone else\u2019s puppy is capable of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rest assured, he will grow and mature very fast.&nbsp; In just a month of so, this will be a distant memory, provided that you get good habits established now.&nbsp; That means putting your puppy out when he needs to go, not when you think he should need to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 5: you are expecting your puppy to &#8216;ask&#8217; to go out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People often say to me &#8211; &#8220;but he didn\u2019t even ask to go out &#8211; he just went right there on the floor in front of me!&#8221; Here\u2019s the thing: most puppies do not \u2018ask\u2019 to go out.&nbsp; They don\u2019t give a cute little \u2018yip\u2019 by the door like something out of a Walt Disney film.&nbsp; They don\u2019t whine or scratch at the door, and some don\u2019t even go and <em>stand<\/em> by the door.&nbsp; At least not for the next few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are observant, you <em>may<\/em> be able to spot the signs that your pup needs to &#8216;go&#8217;. Some pups will sniff around in little circles in the same place. This is especially true if they feel a bowel movement coming on. But many puppies give very little warning at all.&nbsp; They just squat down, and there it is. So, it is <em>your<\/em> responsibility, to decide when your puppy is likely to need a bathroom break. And to make sure he gets one. Don\u2019t wait for him to tell you, because he probably won\u2019t<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 6: you are leaving the door open for your puppy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of us do this in the summer. We leave the back door open, so that the puppy can wander in and out of the yard at will. There\u2019s nothing intrinsically wrong with this, but it can cause problems if you are not careful<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1220\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass.jpg\" alt=\"labrador puppy looking for a place to potty\" class=\"wp-image-11629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass.jpg 1220w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass-1024x581.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass-696x395.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass-1068x606.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/black-lab-puppy-on-grass-740x420.jpg 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">he&#8217;ll soon find his favorite place<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Many puppies will quickly learn to find their favorite patch of grass, all by themselves.&nbsp; And their delighted owner is convinced they have potty trained their puppy successfully in a matter of days. But, what they have actually done, is made sure that the puppy has the opportunity to be clean.&nbsp; They have not taught the puppy to \u2018hang on\u2019 if that opportunity is not there. And there is a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the door permanently open, the puppy never has to wait very long. And although he has learned that there are great places to pee outside, which is good, if one day the door is shut he is likely to be caught out by a full bladder, and well, you know what happens next. I\u2019m not saying that this (door open) method doesn\u2019t work, it can work well, especially if the access to out doors is always available.&nbsp; In this case, gradually, the puppy will need to pee less often and his bladder will mature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main problem with this method, lies in assuming the puppy is housetrained at a very early age when really he still needs your help in reminding him, and providing access to his bathroom area.&nbsp; And it isn\u2019t a great method if the puppy\u2019s access to outside varies from day to day. &nbsp;If you can\u2019t consistently leave the door open for the next three months, I don\u2019t recommend it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"clean\"># Problem 7&nbsp; you are not cleaning up effectively<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Puppies have a useful instinct that encourages them to pee in places where they have peed before.&nbsp; This is useful because it means that once you establish a habit of going outside in your yard, or in the toilet area you have designated for your puppy,&nbsp; he will really want to go there again. But this instinct is a double edged sword in that it also encourages the puppy to pee indoors in places where he has had an \u2018accident\u2019 in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hasten to add, I am not suggesting that you are not cleaning up properly after your puppy. Of course you are. But there is cleaning, and then there is <em>cleaning<\/em>. You see, your puppy has an extraordinary nose.&nbsp; He can smell traces of urine that would be impossible for you or I to detect.&nbsp; And what is worse, some human cleaning agents, have chemicals in them that smell quite like urine to a puppy. So, you need to make sure that you not only mop up any accidents thoroughly. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Simple-Green-Remover-Carpet-2010001215301\/dp\/B003QRRLN8?crid=M4RQH2E0JUTW&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MqnLjvnu_9Gl-djnIpVbMEEPiUvMN1f6CKfclp9CPnCSSrg_FXi2njiDAjizK1o4ZBgRbvzCl8Po7uTNGaFCUo6JNT9Ctr11dCNCkPdUUPPKv5ROkds1bWrXWOYGexqlrx1ntZg4_lDxiJ2XYB7zwXeTXPG5xvGa0cujVXIPxynFJ_ZoO3Jh1ef4-qRaFiCAsNTRWTLa7vLyg9HLM8qBJzDV9DT_2g6Xd121wQNUjFh69wf4FlitRiqe0OF6Z0pshTwKAXRY-qVeDR4EYSKV82hUnc56HpxCdQ3yAD1HoEY.8eZkp1TFd6ngYedmwDCGZSID6y9THfc1xznjdbnSV_o&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=dog%2Burine%2Bcleaning%2Bspray&amp;qid=1720187084&amp;sprefix=dog%2Burine%2Bcleaning%2Bspray%2Caps%2C173&amp;sr=8-1&amp;th=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thelabsit-20&amp;linkId=b98cecb943339e3f12f5596a65b97c6b&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\">But only use cleaning products that do not contain ammonia.<\/a><span class=\"affiliate-link-text\" style=\"color:#757575;\">(paid link)<\/span>*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can buy specially designed products for clearing up puppy accidents and these are quite a good idea. Especially if your puppy is struggling a bit with this part of his education. Of course, cleaning up on washable floor is one thing, cleaning up from carpets is quite another.&nbsp; Which brings us to problem 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"># Problem 8 you are allowing the puppy onto your carpets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you bring a new puppy into your life, you bring him into the heart of your family. In many homes the rooms where families spend a lot of their lives are carpeted. And this can be a problem for puppies. To a puppy, a carpet feels a lot like grass. It\u2019s soft and spongy. Just the kind of place a puppy likes to relax and empty himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make matters worse, it is almost impossible to remove all traces of urine from a carpet, to a level that the puppy cannot detect. So, if you bring your small puppy into a carpeted room he needs to be supervised every single minute. And preferably held in your arms or on your lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A better solution for many families is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/best-dog-crates-and-playpens\/\">prevent the puppy having access to carpeted areas of the house<\/a>. If you want your puppy to be near you in the evening while you watch TV then use a crate. Put it next to your sofa with some nice Kongs inside it to keep him occupied is an alternative to letting him romp around at will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 9 you are leaving the puppy outside on his own.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I know exactly how tedious it can be waiting outside for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/9-week-old-puppy\/\">nine week old puppy<\/a> to go for a pee, when he would rather play with your shoe laces or dig up the lawn. It is very tempting, especially in bad weather, to push the puppy out into the backyard and leave him there to do his business.&nbsp; After all, there\u2019s no point both of you getting cold, is there.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"266\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in-266x300.jpg\" alt=\"labrador puppy sitting on steps\" class=\"wp-image-11621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in-266x300.jpg 266w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in-768x866.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in-908x1024.jpg 908w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in-696x785.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in-372x420.jpg 372w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/waiting-to-come-in.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">waiting to come in<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The problem is that most tiny puppies are very dependent on their new \u2018grown-ups\u2019 for at least the next few weeks. If you don\u2019t go with him, he won\u2019t relax enough to think about going to the toilet.&nbsp; In fact, unless he is absolutely desperate, he probably won\u2019t go at all. The chances are, he\u2019ll sit by the door, waiting for you to let him in again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, I\u2019m afraid you need to bite the bullet. Get yourself out there with your puppy and wait with him until he does a wee, or a poo if he has eaten recently. And don\u2019t expect it to be a two minute job, which brings us to problem ten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 10&nbsp; you are not waiting for long enough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people find that their puppy pees in the house, right after they bring him indoors after an unsuccessful stint in the backyard. This is often simply because they haven\u2019t waited for long enough. Depending on your puppy you may be looking at five or ten minutes to get results. If you don\u2019t like standing around, you can put a chair out by your puppy\u2019s toilet area.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1220\" height=\"818\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair.jpg\" alt=\"labrador puppy on a garden chair\" class=\"wp-image-11622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair.jpg 1220w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair-696x467.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair-1068x716.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/yellow-lab-garden-chair-626x420.jpg 626w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A garden chair can be helpful during potty training!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If your puppy can\u2019t concentrate on having a pee with you sitting near him, you are going to have to stand up. Try walking about very slowly too. As your puppy follows you, his little nose will drop to the ground and he may come across a place that triggers his urge to &#8216;go&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I know the waiting is a pain, but it has to be done.&nbsp; And once your puppy has got some good toilet habits going on, in a month or two, you will probably find you can send him outside to pee on his own, without any problems<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 11 the puppy is too distracted to pee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you take your puppy outside to go for a pee, and your kids are playing ball, it isn\u2019t going to happen. Puppies will empty their bladder if they have to. They will do so because it is very very full, or if there is nothing better to do. So, if your puppy\u2019s bladder is only two-thirds full, he is not going to empty it if there is fun to be had. The \u2018full\u2019 signal just won\u2019t be strong enough to break through the excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep things low key and boring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 12&nbsp; the weather has got worse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a common one where I come from in the UK. Even during the summer, there are often periods of bad weather. A puppy that has been dutifully using his outdoor bathroom area for several weeks, may suddenly start having accidents in the house when the weather changes. After all, would you like to stand outside and pee in the pouring rain? Or in a howling gale? Puppies quite naturally consider this unreasonable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if you are finding puddles under the kitchen table, in an older puppy that you thought was capable of taking himself outside to do the necessary, you\u2019re going to need to put your hat and coat on, and teach your pup to pee outside in the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 13 You have taken your eye off the ball<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, your puppy is four months old, and there have been no accidents for at least a couple of weeks. You\u2019ve cracked it right? You\u2019ve won. How easy was that? You are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. Then, all of a sudden, you step in a puddle &#8211; or worse! The weather is fine, there are no distractions in the back yard. What is going on?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball\" class=\"wp-image-11624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball-768x998.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball-788x1024.jpg 788w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball-696x905.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball-323x420.jpg 323w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/chocolate-labrador-puppy-ball.jpg 928w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The most likely reason is that you have \u2018taken your eye off the ball\u2019. Or in this case, off the puppy. You have dropped your level of supervision too quickly. You are not noticing the signs that your puppy needs to go out, or helping him to hold on when his bladder is full. You have also probably stretched out the gaps between toilet breaks too far for the puppy to cope with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t panic! All is not lost. Take a deep breath and go back a step. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/a-quick-guide-to-house-training-your-labrador-puppy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">house-training instructions in this article<\/a> &#8211;&nbsp; and just treat your puppy like a baby for a while longer. Even if you have to go right back to intense supervision, you will make much faster progress this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 14 you are leaving your kids to supervise the puppy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t need to tell you that small puppies and small children should not be left unsupervised. But, it is very tempting to leave the puppy in the tender care of your older children.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"boy with a black labrador puppy\" class=\"wp-image-11625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy-696x1044.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy-280x420.jpg 280w, https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/boy-with-black-lab-puppy.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">They think they&#8217;ll watch him, but they probably won&#8217;t..<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll watch him Mum\u201d&nbsp; they cry, and carry him off happily to their bedroom, where they proceed to forget the promise in favor of video games. And let\u2019s face it, you can\u2019t fight martians, or race cars effectively and watch a puppy at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sad truth is, if you want this puppy potty trained fast, the chances are, you are going to have to do the lion\u2019s share of the work yourself. Children are rarely as committed to the whole process as you are going to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#Problem 15 your puppy has a bladder infection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So far, I have thrust the entire responsibility for potty training your puppy firmly on to your shoulders. It can be tough knowing that everything depends on you. But just occasionally, it isn\u2019t your fault at all. Puppy potty training problems can be a result of a bladder infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pets.webmd.com\/dogs\/canine-bladder-infection-what-look-how-treat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cystitis<\/a> is not that common in puppies, but it does happen, and may need treating with antibiotics.  The chances are, that you have simply let things slip, but it\u2019s best to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I often get messages from people that are very frustrated as a result of puppy potty training problems. They have followed all the standard advice and yet their puppy pees in the house more than he pees outdoors! Fortunately, most of these problems can be solved with a few tweaks to your routine. And with&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[221],"class_list":["post-11612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-labrador-puppies-2","tag-fetch"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>15 Puppy Potty Training Problems Solved<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We look at 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