Labrador Retriever Puppies

First and Foremost: Be Patient!

Remember, your puppy is a baby and will need time to master acceptable potty procedures.Young puppies don't have full control of their bladders and bowels and sometimes, like children, they simply can't hold it any longer when they realize they have to go. It's up to you to try to keep the puppy off rugs and carpet until he/she is trained, and to teach the puppy the acceptable places to relieve him/herself.

Be Consistent
Consistency is key when training your puppy. You'll avoid a lot of confusion for the puppy and make the whole process a lot easier on you and your pup if you can keep a schedule and have your puppy go in the same place each time you take him/her out.

Pointers:

Always crate or confine your puppy when you can't supervise him/her and have all other family members do the same. Most times, a puppy will not "go" where he/she sleeps, so your puppy will try to hold it until you let him/her out.
Keep feedings on a schedule so your puppy's potty schedule will fall into a pattern and you can be ready for when he/she needs to go outside.
Puppies need a lot of water, especially if fed dry dog food, so make sure he/she has adequate water throughout the day and then remove his/her water 2 hours before bed time.
Take your puppy out often: After meals, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, after naps, after play sessions and when you hear him/her stirring in the middle of the night.
To train your puppy to only use a certain area in the yard, walk him/her on a leash to that spot every time you take a potty break. You can have the puppy go while still on the leash which can be helpful later if you ever travel with your dog.

Accidents
All puppies will have a few accidents, after all, they are learning. Don't yell at your puppy or rub his/her nose in the accident as he/she will not understand why you are doing it. If you catch your puppy mid-accident, firmly say "NO" and pick him/her up and bring him/her to the potty area outside. You'll then need to thoroughly clean the accident area with a carpet cleaning solution from a pet store to remove all urine and feces odors because if your puppy later smells waste odors, he may think he's found the toilet.

If your puppy is still having regular accidents at four months old or older, consult your veterinarian as there may be an underlying medical issue that can interfere with housebreaking.

For more helpful tips on potty training your puppy click here .