POTTY TRAINING

From Nine Acres to Your Backyard

Your little’s potty training journey begins before they ever leave Nine Acres. While they are still here, puppies are introduced to a designated potty area using alfalfa pellets, helping them begin learning that there is a specific place and surface meant for potty time.

That doesn’t mean your eight-week-old puppy is going home fully potty trained, they’re still babies with tiny bladders and a brand-new home to learn. What they are going home with is a foundation you can build on.

The goal is to take what they’ve already learned here and help them understand one simple thing: “This is where we potty at my new house.”

Mama Tara Tip: Consistency beats perfection every single time. Your puppy isn’t going to unpack their little suitcase, locate the back door, and ask where you’d like them to pee. We have to show them.

HOW WE START AT NINE ACRES

Potty training begins while my littles are still together in the nursery. Once they’re developmentally ready, I introduce a designated potty area with alfalfa pellets and begin encouraging them to potty there instead of in their sleeping and play areas.

Puppies naturally begin developing a preference for keeping their sleeping area clean, so giving them a clearly different potty surface helps build on that instinct. As they grow, I stay consistent with the location and setup so they have plenty of opportunities to practice.

By the time your little goes home, they’re familiar with the smell and texture of alfalfa pellets and understand that the pellet area is where they’re supposed to potty. Some will be rock stars at it. Others may occasionally decide that rules are merely suggestions. They are Bostons, after all.

Why alfalfa? One reason I like using it is because it gives us a natural, grass-like scent and texture that can help make the transition from the indoor puppy area to pottying outdoors easier.

Mama Tara Tip: Your puppy has already started learning the concept. You don’t have to start from scratch; you just have to show them where their new potty spot is and stay consistent.

TRANSITIONING TO YOUR HOME

When you get home, your puppy needs to learn where their potty spot is at your house. Take them there as soon as you arrive and use that same area consistently.

If you’d like to continue using the system they already know, place a small amount of alfalfa pellets in the area where you want your puppy to potty. The familiar smell and texture can help them make the connection between what they learned at Nine Acres and their new potty area.

Take your little out frequently, especially:

  • First thing in the morning

  • Immediately after waking from a nap

  • Shortly after eating or drinking

  • After playtime or a case of the zoomies

  • Before going into the crate

  • Immediately after coming out of the crate

  • Right before bedtime

When they potty in the right place, praise them immediately. Keep it simple and positive. As your puppy consistently begins using the outdoor area, you can gradually reduce your reliance on the pellets.

Accidents are going to happen. If you catch your puppy starting to potty inside, calmly interrupt and take them to their potty area. If you find an accident afterward, simply clean it thoroughly. Punishing a puppy after the fact doesn’t teach them where they should have gone.

Mama Tara Tip: When in doubt, take them out. The more opportunities you give your little to get it RIGHT, the faster they’ll understand what you’re asking of them.

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

Potty training takes time. At eight weeks old, your little is still very young and does not have the bladder control of an adult dog. Even a puppy who understands where they’re supposed to potty may not always be able to hold it long enough to get there.

During the day, frequent potty opportunities and close supervision are your best friends. If your puppy suddenly stops playing, starts sniffing, circling, wandering away, or seems restless, take them out. You’ll quickly start recognizing your own puppy’s little “I have to go” signals.

As they grow, their ability to hold their bladder will improve and the time between potty trips will naturally increase. Don’t rush it or compare your puppy to someone else’s. Some catch on incredibly quickly, while others need a little more time and repetition.

Progress isn’t ruined by an accident. Look at the overall pattern. Fewer accidents, longer stretches between trips, and your puppy beginning to seek out the door or potty area are all signs that things are clicking.

Mama Tara Tip: Potty training is mostly training us to pay attention. If your little disappears around the corner and suddenly gets suspiciously quiet... go investigate.

A LITTLE NOTE FROM MAMA TARA

Your little is leaving Nine Acres with a head start, but you’re the one who will help turn that foundation into a reliable routine at home. Be consistent, be patient, and celebrate the wins, even the little ones.

There will be accidents. There may even be days when you wonder if your puppy has forgotten everything they ever learned. They haven’t. Keep showing them what you expect and give them plenty of opportunities to get it right.

Before long, you’ll realize you haven’t cleaned up an accident in days and that’s when you know all that repetition is paying off.

You’ve got this. And so does your little.

— Mama Tara