How I Successfully Potty Trained My Puppy Lizzy: A Guide for New Dog Parents

Potty training a puppy can be one of the most rewarding and sometimes challenging parts of bringing a new dog into your home.

Every pup is different, but with consistency, patience, and lots of positive reinforcement, success is possible!

I’m here to share how I potty trained my sweet puppy Lizzy, step by step. (Isn’t she just the cutest? She is 2 months in this pic.) Lets begin.

Step 1: Praise & Treats for Success

The first thing I learned was the importance of praising and rewarding Lizzy when she went potty outside.

Each time she peed or pooped outdoors, I would go over the top with excitement. I’m talking full-on celebration mode—clapping, cheering, and lots of “Good girl, Lizzy!” in a very happy tone.

Puppies respond to this positive energy, and Lizzy certainly loved it.

Along with verbal praise, I also gave her a treat immediately after she finished.

Timing is key here: she needed to associate the act of peeing outside with something good happening right afterward.

Treats were a crucial part of the training, but pairing that with my exaggerated praise helped reinforce the behavior much faster.

Step 2: Keep an Eye on Your Pup (Watch Like a Hawk!)

At home, I kept a close watch on Lizzy. If you’re in the process of potty training, this step is crucial.

I noticed that when she needed to go, she’d start sniffing around the floor like she was searching for something.

That was my cue—when Lizzy started sniffing, I quickly took her outside.

This timing is everything because catching them in the act of needing to go allows them to make the connection between going potty and going outside.

Step 3: Accidents Happen—But No Yelling

Even with the best supervision, accidents happen. When Lizzy had an accident inside and I missed her while in action, I made sure not to scold or yell at her.

Why?

Puppies don’t understand being scolded after the fact. If you yell at them, they won’t associate your frustration with the accident—they just know you’re upset, which can confuse them and slow down the training process.

The best time to correct behavior is only if you catch them in the act.

If that happens, gently interrupt them and take them outside.

If you don’t catch them, just focus on cleaning it up properly.

Step 4: Clean the Spot Thoroughly

One important thing I learned: dogs tend to return to the same spot if they can smell where they peed.

Even if I thought I had cleaned up thoroughly, Lizzy would often return to the same spot. That’s when I realized that regular cleaning products don’t always remove all the scent.

I started using a special urine remover I got from Amazon designed to break down the enzymes in dog urine, and this made a huge difference.

Once that smell was truly gone, Lizzy didn’t return to those spots again.

Step 5: Consistency is Key

For the first two weeks, I would take Lizzy outside to eliminate 15 to 30 minutes after she eats or drink.

This helped her learn that the outdoors was where she was supposed to go potty. Yes, it meant a lot of trips outside, but consistency paid off!

After about two weeks, Lizzy had it down.

Of course, not every dog will catch on at the same pace—every puppy is different.

Lizzy happened to understand fairly quickly, but some dogs may take longer, and that’s okay.

What’s important is to remain patient, consistent, and positive throughout the process.

Final Thoughts

Potty training a puppy can be a test of patience, but with a strategy in place, it’s absolutely achievable.

For me, using lots of positive reinforcement, staying vigilant at home, and cleaning accidents properly were the keys to success.

And remember, every dog is different—so if it takes a bit longer than you expected, don’t get discouraged.

If you have any questions or tips, please leave them in the comments below.

Your pup will get it! Click here to watch my potty training video.