House training
What should I do in the first week with a new puppy for potty training?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Start the schedule from hour one: take the puppy straight to the chosen outdoor spot after the car ride home, then every 45 to 60 minutes while awake, and after every meal, nap and play session. Treat every accident indoors as information about a gap in the schedule rather than a puppy who is being difficult.
The first hour sets the tone
A puppy who arrives home stressed from a car ride, a new house and new people is also more likely to need to go, so a trip outside within the first 10 minutes, before the tour of the house even begins, often produces the first success and first reward of many to come.
Expect a rocky week, and plan for it
Most puppies have several accidents in the first week even with a solid schedule, simply because their bladder control has not caught up yet and the household is still learning the puppy's specific signals. Keep a supply of enzymatic cleaner on hand from day one, since cleaning accidents properly is as much a part of week one as the outdoor trips themselves.
Key takeaways
- Take a new puppy outside within the first 10 minutes of arriving home, before the house tour.
- Expect several accidents in the first week regardless of how careful the schedule is.
- Enzymatic cleaner from day one prevents accidents from turning into repeat indoor spots.