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Last updated: October 22, 2026. Key takeaways At 8 weeks, a puppy still has very little bladder control. Plan on a trip outside every one to two hours, and expect accidents. Take your puppy out after waking, after meals, after play and before bed, and reward right away. Most puppies have full bladder control by about 4 to 6 months, so patience matters more than speed. If accidents become frequent or suddenly start after a good stretch, check with your vet. It may not be a training problem. Bringing home a puppy at around eight weeks is exciting, and it is also when the potty training starts. This guide has been rewritten with current advice from veterinary and rescue organizations. We removed the unsourced percentage claims that were in earlier versions of this article. Photo: “Miniature poodle puppy 6 weeks, outdoors, in sun, on grass” by Wolfmann, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miniature_poodle_puppy_6_weeks,_outdoors,_in_sun,_on...

Last updated: October 22, 2026. Key takeaways Potty training works best on a predictable routine: the same spot, regular meals, frequent trips and instant rewards. Take your puppy out after waking, after meals and after play. Watch for sniffing, circling and heading to the door. Never punish accidents. Interrupt calmly, take your puppy outside and clean the spot with an enzyme cleaner. Most puppies need a few weeks to months to learn, and full bladder control often arrives at four to six months. Teaching a puppy where to go is the first big job of puppy parenthood. This guide has been updated with advice from veterinary and rescue organizations. We removed the percentage statistics that earlier versions of this article quoted without sources. Photo: “Commentary, My crash course in puppy parenting” by Spc. Paige Behringer, U.S. Army, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Commentary,_My_crash_course_in_puppy_parenting_150129-A-HL390-004.jpg). Quick...