In my article, How to Potty Train Any Dog, I discuss the basic and nearly universal process to housetraining dogs of all breeds, sizes, and age.

Don’t expect a tap on the shoulder. Some dogs give obvious signs that they need to go out, but many dogs give only subtle signals and sometimes they give none at all.

Often people wonder why their dogs don’t clearly signal when they need to go out. Perhaps out dogs are wondering why we don’t let them out, when in their own minds they are clearly begging us to open the door.

If dogs could type, they’d probably be writing a manual with instructions from training slow to get it humans. Until they pull that off, take your pup out even more than you think is necessary and you’ll be well on your way to having a housetrained dog.

They Just Ate or Drank Something

Dogs and especially puppies in particular have shorter digestive tracts than we do. And just like in humans, adding new food and water to the system tends to get the system moving. It’s very normal for dogs to have to go within a half hour after having a meal or taking a big drink, so timing it out to take your new dog out after meals is imperative during housetraining.

This is distinctly true for puppies, who have to eat more per pound of body weight than adult dogs do, all while having the teeniest tiniest bladders and bowels. It’s a good idea to take puppies outside for a chance to potty shortly after mealtime; I usually wait five minutes from the moment they’re done eating or drinking, and then give them at least ten minutes outside.

They’re Very Excited

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: excitement breaks training. And it’s not necessarilly their “fault,” either. Just like dogs tend to forget themselves and often their training under other exciting circumstances like seeing another dog across the street or the clattering of their dog bowls, they can also forget about potty training.

And then there’s “excitement pee-ers” who just lose control over their bladders in the midst of tippy-tappy-ing around in excitement.

If your dog is in the middle of being a little too excited for comfort, try to take them outside to let that energy out so that they can turn that into a success rather than a failure.

It also helps to work dogs through impulse control and self-management of their own stress and excitement, but that is not exactly the kind of thing that you can train in a single session. Nor is it a reasonable expectation if you happen to be potty training a puppy, as they will not have proper control of their bladder until at least 20 weeks old.

Excitement management and impulse control is a great longer-term training project that is wonderful for any dog but will definitely help with getting an excitement-pee-er to control their bladder better. In the meantime, either reduce the exciting stimuli or get your pup outside!

It’s Time to Go to Bed

Right when it’s time to go to bed, take your dog out for a final chance to go in the yard. While this may not be a time that your dog is specifically likely to go in the house, giving them a chance to go potty right before bed will decrease the likelihood of an accident in the crate or a puddle on your floor in the morning.

Since your dog is about to spend several hours in their crate or their other designated space, give them a good chance to relieve themselves before kenneling up.

They’ve Just Woken Up

First thing in the morning, right out of the crate, is potty time, always. While you may have set your dog up for success by taking them out last thing at night, and while your dog might be a champion at holding it overnight, letting them linger in the house after not going for seven to nine hours is just asking for an accident!

Right out of the kennel, before starting coffee, doing yoga, or even going to the bathroom yourself, take your dog to go potty and reward them with the approach detailed in How to Potty Train Any Dog.

They Just Came Out of Their Crate

Even when not overnight, if your dog has been in their crate for a fewhours, it’s a good idea to make a potty break out of that. Even crate times that seem short, like a 1-hour trip to the grocery store, should get a potty break when the dog is released.

While most dogs are fine holding it for several hours overnight, that may not always be the case during the day. Dogs, like all other animals including humans, have digestive systems that are just more active during the day, while the animal is active.

So, if your dog is awake, even if they’re resting or dozing in and out, they should be getting potty breaks right after coming out of the crate.

They Were Just Exercising or Playing

Physical activity, including play, gets things “moving.” You’ll most likely notice when you take your dog to the yard or park, that after a game of fetch or tug, they’ll typically wander off and do their business before getting back to it.

Animals will eliminate when they are more metabolically active, which is why more potty breaks are necessary during the day compared to overnight. It’s also why dogs will suddenly feel the need to “go” after playing, running, or doing some sort of sport for enough time.

If you’ve been playing with your puppy in the house, make sure a potty break comes right after. And if you’re playing with your dog outside, have a reward ready for when they take that break.

They’ve Lost Attention in What They Were Doing

If your dog was playing in one area and suddenly wanders to another area (especially if sniffing the floor) take your dog outside ASAP. If your dog was chewing on something or engrossed in some other task for any significant amount of time and suddenly gets up, looking like they’re trying to find something else to do, get your dog outside ASAP.

A sudden disinterest in something a dog was just engrossed in, especially if followed by wandering or sniffing around, is a sign that your dog needs to go and is actively seeking out a good spot to do it.

They Are in Their Potty Spot

Most dogs that first come home without housetraining will have a preferred spot to do their business inside the house. Make note of this spot, and make sure to take your dog out if they go over to that spot, especially if they are lingering there.

What’s more, any time you see your dog start to walk with their legs in a wider stance or even move into a full squat, needless to say that is also a time to get your dog outside ASAP.

Anytime They’re Sniffing the Floor

Sniffing the floor is not always a pre-elimination behavior. Sometimes it is just a curious dog exploring a fairly new environment.

However, unless your dog is fully housetrained and super reliable, let’s not take any chances.

If you see your dog sniffing about with their nose down to the floor, interrupt the sniffing and usher them outside for a quick potty break.

They’re Fixated on the Door

Especially as your progress in your housetraining journey, your dog is going to start understanding that outside is for potty, and with that it’s common for dogs to associate the door with getting to go potty successfully.

Even if your dog is not yet at a point where they will be obvious in their desire to go outside to relieve themselves, a dog might still glance at or even stare at the door if they are starting to feel like they need to eliminate.

If you see your dog looking at the door they usually take to go potty, go ahead and give them the benefit of the doubt, and take a quick trip outside.

They’re “Asking”

As your dog gets better at holding it and builds the habit of eliminating outside, their signals will be more obvious. Rather than a quick glance at the door, it’s more likely for a dog who “gets it” to pace, whine, or look directly at you to ask to go outside.

Even in dogs who aren’t as far along in the training, take them outside if you see any of these behaviors, as it’s always better to play it safe when the alternative is risking having to clean up a smelly mess.