Welcome to Puppy Parenthood!

Congratulations on welcoming a new furry friend into your home! Puppies bring joy, energy, and a bit of chaos — especially when it comes to housetraining. Don’t worry — with patience, consistency, and structure, you can help your puppy learn the right habits early on.

The Basics of Puppy Elimination Behavior

What To Do

When You’re Away from Home:

• DO confine your puppy to a small, clean space (crate, bathroom, or puppy pen) with toys, food, and bedding. This becomes their “den,” which they’ll avoid soiling.
• If you’ll be gone longer than your puppy can reasonably hold it, DO provide a larger area (e.g., playpen or small room) with potty pads placed far from their food/sleep space.
• DO expand their allowed space gradually as they prove reliable.

When you’re at home…

DO follow a consistent elimination schedule:

Puppy Age	Breaks Per Day
6–14 weeks	8–10 times
14–20 weeks	6–8 times
20–30 weeks	4–6 times
30+ weeks	3–4 times

• DO take them outside or to their potty spot after eating, drinking, playing, napping, or waking up.
• DO praise and reward your puppy immediately during proper elimination.
• DO supervise constantly — try using a leash clipped to your waist to prevent sneaky accidents.
• DO use enzymatic cleaners for accidents to completely remove odors.
• DO return to the same potty spot consistently — puppies learn by repetition.
• DO interrupt accidents with a gentle “Oops!” or clap, and immediately take them to the proper area.
• DO stay positive and be patient. Consistency is key!

What Not to Do

Housetraining takes time, patience, and lots of repetition. Stick to a schedule, reward the right behavior, and supervise closely. If you have concerns or need help troubleshooting, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at St. Francis Animal Hospital Brooklyn.

📞 Call us at (718) 621-1629 — we’re here to support you and your new best friend!