As a puppy parent, it is your primary responsibility to help your puppy with proper training and behavioral management. Potty training is a part of behavioral management in puppies as it helps to reduce unwanted accidents.
The fact of how long a puppy should eat puppy food is subject to their breed, size, lifestyle, and unique dietary requirements. Just like the feeding schedule your puppy also needs a schedule while potty training. This schedule will help in building habits for a disciplined life for your puppy.
However, the frequency of meal times directs the puppy potty training schedule by age.
Puppy Potty Training Schedule By Age
After helping many of my clients in potty training over the 7 years of my experience as a breeder, I have come up with the ultimate schedule puppy parents need to potty train their puppy.
This schedule is designed by age to ensure optimal efficiency and simplicity of the puppy potty training experience for both you and your puppy.
Newborn to 3 Weeks
Like newborn babies’ puppies at this early age cannot be potty trained as they are on their mother for elimination needs. Keep your puppy and mother near the designated potty area so that your puppy can follow their mother. Your puppy may need to defecate after each meal at this stage
3 weeks to 8 weeks
As soon as the weaning process is done, you are supposed to feed your puppy 4 meals a day. Take your pup to a designated potty area and wait for 5 to 30 minutes for them to do their business.
Your puppy may need to release themselves 4-5 times a day. At this age, you may encounter a few accidents as your puppy is not quite well-trained.
8 to 12 Weeks
As per the meal frequency take your puppy out to the desired potty area 30 minutes after each meal. You may want to wait for 30 more minutes until they are done. Your little friend needs 4 meals daily and may have to potty 3-4 times a day.
3 to 6 months
As you reduce your puppy’s meal frequency to 3 meals a day, your puppy may reduce the frequency of defecating as well. Your puppy is now more capable of holding it for longer with a stronger digestive system. You can take your puppy out for potty time 3 times after each meal.
6-12 months
With the ultimate transition to two meals each day you need to take your puppy out twice for potty time. Take them out 1-2 hours after feeding. Look out for your puppy’s reaction after feeding. They may try to communicate with you in case of urgency. Otherwise, follow the puppy potty training schedule by age
1 year+
By this age, you may have already potty trained your puppy. Your little puppy is now more in control of their bowel movement and can hold it for even longer. You may want to take them 1-2 times a day for potty time 2 hours after eating, according to your puppy’s needs.
This time you may not need to wait for a longer period for your puppy to finish their business.
A quick guide to potty train your puppy in 5 steps
Here is a quick guide for potty training your puppy in 5 steps.
- Establish a consistent routine for feeding, playtime, and bathroom breaks.
- Use positive reinforcement, praise, and treats when your puppy eliminates in the appropriate area.
- Supervise closely indoors and watch for signs that your puppy needs to go potty.
- Be patient and avoid punishing accidents; instead, interrupt and redirect them outside.
- Gradually extend the time between bathroom breaks as your puppy develops better bladder control, and introduce cues for signaling when they need to go outside.
Final Words
Potty training may seem like a lot of effort. But with the right feeding and the puppy potty training schedule by age any puppy parent can easily potty train their puppy.
Potty training doesn’t only have to be a monotonous activity, you can make it fun by implementing positive reinforcements.
Reward your puppy with traits, toys, and praise. Celebrate milestones with your little friend. This will create a positive association with potty time. Making the training an enjoyable experience for both of you.
