How do I teach my new puppy to potty in a specific spot?

Hi there. At 8 weeks old, Mimi is still a tiny baby - puppies have very little bowel or bladder control at this age, so it's normal for her to urinate and defecate frequently at random times throughout the day. You need to take her out every 20-30 minutes at this age, so give her plenty of opportunities to do her business outside. Praise and reward her with a treat each time she goes. Inside, supervise her constantly and take her out immediately if you see any signs that she's thinking about using the bathroom - circling, sniffing the floor intently, etc. Don't scold or punish her for having an accident in the house, as this will only make her afraid to go to the bathroom in front of you - which then makes potty training much harder! Here is an article with more information on housetraining puppies, which should help to get you on the right track: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/

If he is not neutered this can be a behavioral issue. I would recommend neutering him immediately to hopefully stop this behavior. I would also recommend crate training him. You must choose a crate that Hachi can stand up, sit down and turn around. A crate should only create a positive environment. Never use the crate for punishment. Despite what many people think do not line the crate with blankets or beds. Keeping Hachi in the crate when you cannot keep 100% eye on him is important. Every time you take him out of the crate take him on a walk to make sure they go to the bathroom and give positive reinforcement if he does. If they do not eliminate while you are outside then put Hachi back in the crate for another 20minutes. After 20 minutes take him out once again to try. If Hachi does go to the bathroom make sure you take time to play with him and when you have to turn your back again put them back in the crate. I hope this helps. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

At 8 weeks, your puppy is not potty trained and is likely very confused. At this age they can't hold their potty very long (no more than 1-2 hours) and will usually have to go after playing, eating, drinking, waking up, etc. You can use this to your advantage to start timing going over to the potty pad and waiting until she goes. I'm including several potty training articles that may also help with establishing a routine! https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-housetraining-mistakes/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-tips-to-potty-train-your-dog-young-and-old/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/new-dog-survival-guide-tips-for-training/

Soil and feces can carry viruses for a long period of time, so trying to find an area Blakely can go where other dogs don't frequent is best until he has had at least 2-3 sets of shots (or the OK from your vet). If you don't have a spot like that, but have a patio area, you could try making your own "potty" area with a piece of sod or a litter box filled with dirt to get him used to going outside and on that substrate without as much confusion when you do transition to outside. Making sure you're taking him out often enough (every 1-2 hours for a 2 month old puppy, or after waking, eating, drinking, or playing) can also help reduce accidents since his bladder can't hold it very long at this point.

You can reasonably expect a puppy to hold its bladder and bowels for as many hours as they are months old. Keep your puppy on a consistent daily feeding schedule and remove food between meals. Keep the puppy on a consistent schedule. Puppies should be taken out every hour, as well as shortly after meals, play and naps. All puppies should go out first thing in the morning, last thing at night and before being confined or left alone. Know where your puppy is inside at all times. Watch for early signs that he needs to eliminate so you can prevent accidents. These signs include pacing, whining, circling, sniffing or leaving the room. If you see any of these, take your puppy outside as quickly as possible. If you can’t watch your puppy, he must be confined to a crate or a small room, door closed or with a baby gate. Gradually give more freedom, starting with a small area, and gradually increase it. If he eliminates outside, give him some free time in the house (about 15 to 20 minutes to start), and then put him back in his crate or small room. If all goes well, gradually increase the amount of time he can spend out of confinement. Accompany your puppy outside and reward him whenever he eliminates outdoors with praise, treats, or play. Take your puppy to the same place each time because the smells often prompt puppies to eliminate. If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating inside, clap sharply twice, just enough to startle but not scare him. Immediately run with him outside, encouraging him to come with you the whole way. Allow your pup to finish eliminating outside, and then reward him with happy praise and a treat. If he has nothing to eliminate when he gets outside, don’t worry. Just be more watchful of him inside. If your puppy has an accident but you don’t catch him in the act and only find the accident afterward, do not punish him. He cannot connect the punishment with something he did minutes, let alone hours ago.

[Housetraining](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/) a puppy can be frustrating, but with a little patience and consistency, it can be accomplished. Puppies will typically need to use the bathroom about 10-15 minutes after eating/drinking, waking up or playing. You can use these times to reinforce [training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/housetraining) by bringing the puppy to your designated potty area (such as outside or a puppy pad) and giving them a chance to go. It may take up to 10-20 minutes before your puppy settles enough to actually go. Expect accidents and [mistakes](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-housetraining-mistakes). Be sure to praise and treat if the puppy goes in the right spot. If you catch puppy going in a spot other than the recommended area, do not punish him or her, simply pick the puppy up and move them to the right spot, then praise and reward profusely once they finish there.

You may want to work on crate training Kronos, or start taking him to a potty location more often. A puppy generally needs to go every 1-2 hours at Kronos' age, so you will want to have yourself or someone take him to the potty spot, make sure he goes, and then remove him from the area so he can't lay in it. He likely doesn't quite understand what is going on yet at such a young age. I'm including a few articles on crate training and potty training that may help! https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-choose-a-wire-kennel-or-plastic-crate-for-your-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-or-older-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/housetraining/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-housetraining-mistakes/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-tips-to-potty-train-your-dog-young-and-old/