Prevent, reward, repeat
House training is about two things: preventing accidents indoors and rewarding the right spot outdoors. Every successful outdoor potty strengthens the habit; every indoor accident is practice of the wrong habit. A general rule of thumb is that puppies can hold it for roughly their age in months plus one, in hours, up to a maximum of about 6–8 hours for adults, but every dog differs.
Go out with your dog, stay calm and boring until they finish, then mark and reward right away, outside. Rewarding after you come back in is too late. Pick a consistent spot and use a cue word like “Go potty” just as they start.
Key takeaways
- House training is prevention plus well-timed rewards.
- Reward outside, the moment the dog finishes.
- Use a consistent spot and a cue word.
Training session: Potty log
- Note every potty time and location for three days.
- Look for patterns: after meals, naps, play.
- Take the dog out 5 minutes before each expected time.
- Reward each outdoor success within two seconds.
Troubleshooting: If your dog doesn’t go after 5 minutes, come in, supervise closely or crate briefly, and try again in 10–15 minutes.