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House-training your puppy: seven steps, without scolding
7 min · last updated 07/09/2026
House-training is not a question of intelligence but of bladder size and opportunity. Small breeds have small bladders — but they learn fast if we do not give them the chance to fail.
Steps 1 to 3: rhythm, carrying, place
Go out after every waking, every meal, every play session and additionally every two hours — with eight-week-old puppies once at night too.
Carry the puppy to the door rather than letting it walk; otherwise the way is often too long. Always choose the same spot in the garden or at the kerb.
Steps 4 to 5: reward and name it
Praise calmly and give a treat immediately after the puppy has finished — not back indoors, otherwise you reward the return.
A quiet cue word spoken while the puppy relieves itself becomes associated within a few weeks and helps enormously when travelling later.
Steps 6 to 7: accidents and setbacks
If something happens indoors, do not comment on it. Clean with an enzyme cleaner, never with ammonia-based products — to a dog they smell of urine.
Setbacks between weeks 16 and 20 are normal. Briefly increase the frequency again rather than the strictness; the phase passes within a few days.
Frequently asked questions
How long does house-training take?
Most small dogs are reliable during the day at four to six months, often earlier at night. Full bladder control is physically possible only at around eight months.
Are indoor puppy pads useful?
Only in exceptional cases, such as a high-rise without a lift. They lengthen the learning process because the dog has to learn two contradictory rules.