Last updated: October 27, 2025
Everyone’s favorite topic, right?
And by “everyone” I of course mean no one. But it’s gotta be done – and it doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. With the strategy I’m about to teach you, it’s actually pretty simple.
Before we get started, there are a couple of things we need to get out of the way first:
1. Yes, you CAN house train your dog. It takes some commitment, but so does anything that’s worth doing, right? Take a deep breath. I believe in you.
2. There WILL be accidents in the house. It’s not the end of the world, it doesn’t mean that you have a bad dog, and it doesn’t mean you’re a bad owner.
The formula for successful house training:
Prevent unwanted behavior (eliminating indoors) and reward good behavior (eliminating outdoors).
Yup. That’s about it. And notice I said unwanted behavior, not bad behavior. Because your dog has no clue that she shouldn’t pee in the house. She’s not being “bad” on purpose.
Prevent unwanted behavior: crate training and management
Letting an un-potty-trained dog roam unsupervised in your house is like letting an un-potty-trained toddler roam free without a diaper. Sooner or later, there’s gonna be a mess.
When your dog (or uh, toddler?) is inside the house, she needs to be watched carefully to make sure she doesn’t go where she shouldn’t. We’re trying to prevent bad habits from forming (or if Sparky is already eliminating inside, stop bad habits in their tracks).
A crate can be helpful for this. When you can’t directly supervise your pup, put her in her crate to prevent accidents from happening. As soon as you let her out of the crate, take her directly outside so she can relieve herself.
When you are around to provide complete and total supervision, use baby gates to block off forbidden areas (i.e. areas that’ll be hard to clean if Sparky makes a mess), and use them to keep Sparky where you can see her so you can watch for any sniffing, squatting or leg-lifting.
Reward good behavior
Take your pup outside every hour. Bring treats or toys with you. When she goes, tell her what a good dog she is. When she’s completed her business, give her some treats or play fetch or tug-of-war with her. The specific reward is not important, just anything Sparky really likes.
So that’s the overall strategy. There’s a bit more to it once you factor in things like work schedules, nighttime routines, regression periods, and what to do when your puppy suddenly forgets everything you’ve ever taught them (because they will).
But no matter the details, don’t lose sight of the big picture: Be patient and consistent, don’t beat yourself (or Sparky) up over mistakes, prevent unwanted behavior and reward good behavior.
Need more help? Our online course makes potty training as simple and drama-free as possible
This course teaches a step-by-step plan that works for dogs of all ages. Even ones who’ve had a lot of accidents. It’s part of our Academy membership, which also includes courses on puppy biting, crate training, leash manners, and more. And membership comes with direct help from us to tailor the plan to your unique dog.
