1. Wait until puppy likely needs to go to the bathroom (drank water, just woke up, just ate, been a while since potty, etc.) and take out to your established potty area. Have treats stashed in a pocket, but don’t take one out yet.

2. Put puppy on the ground and give the desired cue “Go potty!” and let puppy sniff on the ground. (If puppy gets too distracted while outside in a fenced yard you may have to use a leash)

3. Once puppy has just finished peeing, use your verbal marker ‘Yes!’ and get a treat out for your puppy and praise him/her. (Optional: give puppy an additional potty cue (one for pee, one for poop) “do your business” and repeat step three for second potty)

4. Walk with puppy to go back inside and give a treat once you get indoors. Why do we do this?

We do this to teach puppy to do his or her business and come immediately back inside. Letting your puppy play around outside during potty breaks can make your dog delay learning to go promptly on cue.

5. Repeat every time you take puppy out to potty! Using the same location each time will help your puppy make the connection faster than if you take him/her to a new spot each time from the start of potty training!