How to potty train your puppy
By Nathan Gilmore, November 8, 2021
Potty training is the first big lesson for any new puppy, and with an American Bully it goes fastest when you are consistent from the very first day. Puppies are not being stubborn when they have an accident. Their bladders are small, their muscles are still developing and they do not yet understand where you want them to go. Your job is to build a routine that makes the right choice easy and rewarding. Here is the method we recommend to every new owner.
Start with a schedule. Young puppies need to go out more often than most people expect. Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after every meal, after every nap, after play, and right before bed. During the day that often means every one to two hours for a very young puppy. As a rough guide, a puppy can hold its bladder for about one hour for every month of age, plus one. Use the same door and the same spot every time so your puppy learns what that place is for.
Add a cue word and a reward. When your puppy starts to sniff and circle, say a simple phrase such as go potty, then stay quiet and let them focus. The moment they finish, praise warmly and give a small treat right away, before they walk back to you. Timing is everything. A reward two minutes later teaches nothing, but a reward in the second they finish teaches exactly what you want. After a few weeks of this routine your puppy will begin to go on cue.
Use a crate to help. Dogs naturally avoid soiling the place where they sleep, so a properly sized crate is a strong training tool. The crate should be big enough to stand up and turn around, but not large enough to use one corner as a bathroom. When you cannot watch your puppy, use the crate or a small gated area. Take your puppy out immediately when you open the crate, because a puppy that has been resting will almost always need to go.
Supervise closely indoors. Most accidents happen when a puppy is loose in the house without watching eyes. Keep your puppy on a leash tied to you, or in the same room in your line of sight. Learn the warning signs: sniffing the floor, circling, whining, or suddenly walking away from play. When you see them, calmly pick up your puppy or lead them outside. If you catch an accident in progress, interrupt with a quick sound and take them out to finish, then reward outside.
Never punish accidents. Yelling, rubbing a nose in a mess or scolding after the fact only teaches a puppy to hide when it needs to go, which makes training harder. Clean every accident with an enzymatic cleaner that breaks down the odor, since regular cleaners leave a scent that draws the puppy back to the same spot. Stay patient. Every puppy learns at its own speed, and setbacks around four to five months are normal as they grow.
Most American Bully puppies are reliable within a few weeks to a few months of steady routine, and full reliability can take up to six months. At night, expect to take a young puppy out once or twice until they can sleep through. Keep meals on a schedule so potty times become predictable. If you have questions about a puppy from our program, text us any time. We are always glad to help new owners start off right, and you can find details on our available puppies on the puppies page.
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NMG Bullies, licensed American Bully breeder. 7534 Briarcliff Cir, Greenacres, FL 33467. Call or text 561-714-2477. Email nmgbullies@gmail.com. Open anytime by text or call. $1,000 deposit reserves a puppy (Cash App $nmgbullies, PayPal paypal.me/nmgbullies). Prices $4,000–$8,500.
