We cannot really know what our puppy does outside if we don’t go outside with it.  Further, owners who do not supervise their puppy outside have more accidents inside, and they miss an opportunity for teaching some good habits.  

Guiding Principle:   Potty before Play.   Say it again!  Potty before Play.  

We want to teach our puppy the routine that as soon as they go outside with us, they relieve themselves, and then they play or explore.  

Potty break supplies.  

1.Back Door (toileting door)

2. Success Station (Instructions, treat holder, treats, clicker, and leash)

Potty Break Routine (each member uses this every time)

1. Rush puppy to back door.

2. At your Indoor success station put on your shoes (slip on shoes suggested), grab your leash and leash your puppy, and put on your bait bag (bait bag has treats, clicker, and poop bags).

3. Toss a few treats out the back door as soon as you open it to teach the puppy to run outside and start sniffing.
 
4. Stand still while your puppy sniffs and eats the treats.  Wait patiently for your puppy to potty.

5. The Moment “the act” is obviously unstoppable say your “go potty” cue one time quietly.  

6. The moment “the act” is finishing up CLICK, then call your puppy to you and feed it a treat.  

7. After eating the treat, remove the leash (optional) and take your puppy for a walk around the yard, or a play session, or both.  

When you come back inside the house, write the time, person, and potty (yes or no) on your tracking sheet, replace shoes, leash, and make sure there are treats and a clicker for next time.  

Puppy can have supervised house time if it relieved itself.

Puppy can have playpen or buddy leash time if it did not potty.   Consider another puppy break in 30 minutes.