House training
How many accidents are normal when potty training a puppy?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Most puppies have somewhere between 2 and 5 accidents a week during the first month, dropping to roughly 1 or fewer a week by 3 to 4 months with a consistent schedule. A puppy having more than 4 or 5 accidents a week past the second month usually means the schedule needs tightening rather than that the puppy is unusually difficult.
What a realistic first month looks like
Expect several accidents in the first 2 weeks especially, since the puppy's bladder control has not caught up and the household is still learning their specific signals. A gradual decline over the following weeks, rather than an immediate drop to zero, is the normal and expected pattern for nearly every puppy.
When the number is a signal to adjust
If accidents are not trending down at all after 3 to 4 weeks of a consistent schedule, the gaps between trips outside are probably still too long for that individual puppy, and tightening the schedule by 30 to 45 minutes for a week or two usually shows a noticeable improvement.
Key takeaways
- Expect 2 to 5 accidents a week in the first month, dropping toward 1 or fewer by 3 to 4 months.
- A gradual decline, not an immediate drop to zero, is the normal pattern for most puppies.
- Accidents that are not trending down after several weeks usually mean the schedule needs tightening.