Before we get into how to house train a puppy, let’s cover how a puppy would be looked after if we weren’t here. During the first weeks of the puppy’s life, the mother cleans up all the feces and urine produced by her offspring. She instinctively knows how to house train a puppy and continues to do this until the puppies have been weaned.

If your pup has come from a breeder, it’s likely the breeder knows how to house train a puppy, but is unlikely to have started any puppy training programs as the puppies will no doubt soon be going to new homes. If the breeder has provided a “nest” in which the mother and babies can rest and sleep, and an adjoining pen where they can play, most of the feces will be deposited outside the nest. No mentally fit dog would dream of soiling its bed, because that is contrary to its nature.

Exceptions to this are puppies which grow up at a breeder’s who has little room, does not clean up enough of the feces and urine, does now know about house training a puppy, or where there is a combination of all factors. The animals then become so used to soiled surroundings that in the end it is normal to them.

It is often very difficult to house train a puppy that has come from an environment like this because normally, dogs are “clean” by nature. When you start learning how to house train a puppy, the only thing you have to teach your pup is that not only their basket but the rest of the house too must be treated as their nest.

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