24/09/2026
Home training. A hot topic for every puppy owner.
- How do you correct the indoor accidents? You don't
- How do you teach them doing it outside? Simply observe what they tell you.
- Aren't you annoyed when the pup does it under your nose while they "know" to do it outside? No, because they don't do it to be naughty.
So what's the point with those little ones and how do you do it without corrections and eventually do have a home trained doggy?
First, we need to understand that a puppy can't control their bodies yet. The second they feel the need to go, they run to a (for them) suitable spot and release. If you don't recognise the "I need to go now" walk, you'll have an accident. The first days, I got caught by surprise too as I didn't know the newbe yet. Excitement about a new environment makes them showing even less signs. The split second they're not being watched can be exactly the moment of release.
And yeah, let me give you a funny s**t story in here. I thought my puppy did everything outside during the day. So all happy I went to bed in the evening, stepping fully in a fresh made 💩.
It was the furthest away from her bed. So, cleaned myself, the floor and went to bed. New Day, new chance.
The second day I noticed this puppy preferred to do her business as far away as possible. So when she starts running, I pick her up and put her outside. Praising her when she did her stuff. After some days, she started to make the connection: when I feel a p&p coming up, I need to go to the door. And there we are, the start of getting home trained.
When you know that dogs are only having full control at the age of around 6 months, it also means that you've to schedule potty moments closely. After a nap, play, food or any activity, they'll need to go. Make it a habit to put them out after every activity.
Last but not least: when there's a lot of activity, the pup can be too distracted. Then, when you come back home, they happily release in the environment of safety. That means: if you go out for a walk they could be so distracted that they'll release eventually inside. Make it a habit to come back at the potty spot after an outside walk, despite if they did something already or not.
In the end, your puppy will be as home trained as you notice their signs of needs and if you recognise it well, you'll not have accidents at all.
If you feel the need to punish because you are sick of clearing up, punish yourself, not your puppy 😅 but even better: just enjoy your puppy and accept that cleaning is part of the journey. Take a drink and reward yourself as well, before you know, the puppy will be an adult. 🥰
