Contrary to some beliefs, potty training puppies should begin with the BREEDER, very early in life. At 3-3.5 weeks old, the pups become mobile and start to potty on their own. It is not natural for puppies to pee or poop where they sleep.
Wolf mothers are meticulous about keeping their den very clean. So, once their pups start eating solid food, the mother no longer cleans them up because they can walk at this point, too. (The mother wolf and den-mates would have already trained the pups to eliminate outside the den.) Therefore, it is up to the BREEDER to keep the whelping box/nest very clean.
At Shore Acres Chesapeakes, we use the “Misty Method” for potty training, which begins at 3 weeks old. This is an incremental process that continues from 3-8 weeks old that teaches the puppies the concept of housebreaking. By 5 weeks old, our puppies will be using a doggy door to take care of their business outside – on a fresh patch of grass! This method also helps the breeder keep their whelping/den area clean, which also makes puppies easier to housebreak once they go to their fur-ever homes. A win-win for everyone!!
So – believe it or not – what goes on from the time of birth to puppy Gotcha-Day at 8 weeks old, plays a huge role on the success and ease of potty training at home.
