Choose an outdoor toilet spot and arrange help.
Offer timely trips
The AKC puppy guide includes trips after waking, eating, drinking and play, plus before bed. Arrange help when you cannot provide them.
Battersea adds regular daytime opportunities and suggests an alarm for a night-time trip.
Observe and accompany
Dogs Trust starts on lead at the chosen spot. Watch for sniffing or circling before elimination. If nothing happens, return quietly, supervise closely and offer another opportunity soon.
Reward the completion
Following the AKC's route, praise and give a small treat immediately after the puppy finishes outside. Have it ready before leaving.
Handle accidents calmly
If an accident is underway, Dogs Trust advises letting the puppy finish without reacting. Do not punish.
Clean the area with an appropriate enzymatic pet cleaner, following its instructions.
Adjust the routine
Persistent accidents despite consistent training call for veterinary advice; training changes cannot diagnose the cause.
Check missed opportunities and delayed rewards. Indoor pad training is a separate choice, not a required outdoor stage.
