Have a friend pop in to give them a comfort break. For a 10-week-old puppy, make sure this is at least every 3 hours. Take your pup to the potty training spot (by this time they should be busting), and praise and reward when they go. Play with your pup and then settle them back down into the crate.
You'll have more peace of mind knowing that your puppy is safe, comfortable, and not chewing your couch to pieces while you're away. Putting your puppy in their playpen is a great idea if you work from home, as it gives them a safe area to relax or play while you get some work done.
Puppies need to urinate frequently, so it's important not to let them sleep for too long at night without taking a break to go outside. If your puppy is sleeping through the night without waking up to pee, you may need to wake them up every few hours to prevent accidents.
Most puppies will be able to hold their urine through the night by the time they are 4 months old.
Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without needing a bathroom break. If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don't make a big deal of it; otherwise, they will think it is time to play and won't want to go back to sleep.
Create a Safe Confinement Area
Crate training is a great way to keep older puppies safely sequestered while you're at work. (Tip: You can help your puppy build positive associations with the crate by leaving the door open and putting tasty chew treats inside.)
In the beginning, we suggest covering a wider area with 3-4 potty pads until your puppy learns how to target the pad more precisely. Important note: Although you can leave potty pads in your puppy's playpen to absorb any accidents they may have, this on its own won't potty train your puppy.
Once your dog reaches three months old, they can usually hold it for an hour for each month they've been alive. After six months, dogs can usually hold it for up to six hours. However, even adult dogs shouldn't be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a chance for a bathroom break.
Truth: the first three days are the hardest
But then it gets a lot easier. My best advice: power through the first three days. Hunker down. Potty train with all your might and with total fidelity, and don't give up.
Most kids, by age 6, will be able to get through an entire night's sleep without having an accident. If your child isn't making progress, stop the potty training process and try again in another two or three months.
House training your puppy is about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. The goal is to instill good habits and build a loving bond with your pet. It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year.
Limiting access to water can help prevent accidents, but if you'll be gone for more than just a few hours at a time, it's a good idea to make sure your dog has water. You can get a drip-free water bottle for your dog's crate that works similarly to a hamster bottle.
Some pads boast added attractants designed to simulate the smell of grass, ammonia, and pheromones. These can be a double-edged sword: some dogs may be so enamored that they'll play or sleep with the pad while others are completely unaffected.
If you want or need to use potty pads: Place them in one location of the house. This location should stay static over time and not move around the house. If possible, the potty pad should be on wood/tile and not on carpet.
Most puppies need the bathroom when they wake up in the morning, after eating, after playing, and after napping. So, take your puppy to the potty pad every time one of these events occurs. Take your puppy to the potty pad anytime they haven't been for an hour or two.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
By the time your puppy is about 4 months old, they should be able to start sleeping through the night without needing the toilet. (Although small breeds take longer as their bladders are smaller.) If your puppy wakes up in the night needing the toilet, keep calm and don't give them too much attention.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours.
Puppies have accidents sometimes, but hopefully, your puppy won't have an accident inside their crate. If your puppy does have an accident, above all do not punish them for it. Stay calm, take them outside immediately to see if they still need to go, and then thoroughly clean up the accident.