The Right Way to Potty Train Your Rescue Dog
updated: October 23, 2025
Were you aware that one of the primary causes for dogs being surrendered in shelters is their lack of proper potty training? It's truly disheartening to consider that these situations could have been avoided if only the original guardians had devoted more time to properly training this task. The truth is potty training a dog requires consistency and patience - it's not something that can be rushed. Read on for some helpful tips to set your rescue dog up for success and keep your home from being used as an indoor toilet.
Reasons Rescue Dogs Struggle with Potty Training
Developmental Brain: Puppies and adolescent dogs often don't understand their body's signals until it's too late.
Mixed Messages: Older dogs may be confused if they previously used pee pads indoors or spent too much time in a crate (leading to comfort with soiling their space).
The Human Factor: Accidents happen when guardians:
o Miss their pet's subtle potty signals.
o Fail to use an enzymatic cleaner for proper cleanup.
o Stop accompanying the dog outside before they are fully house-trained
Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Potty Training
Rule #1 Prevent Accidents
Supervise Closely: Give your untrained dog your full attention; put away your phone.
Limit Access: If you can't supervise, confine the dog using an x-pen or baby gate.
Be Accountable: Remember, an accident is a failure of both the dog and their handler.
If the end goal is to have your dog do their business on their own, go with them until they are fully house trained.
Rule #2 Reward Success, Every Time
Accompany Your Dog: Go outside with them until they are fully house-trained.
Reward Immediately: Give your dog with a high-value treat the moment they finish eliminating outside.
Be Consistent: No matter the weather or your energy level, you must go outside with your dog.
You are responsible for helping your dog succeed with potty training. Avoid leaving your dog alone for extended periods beyond their capacity. When initiating potty training, limit their alone time to no more than 3 hours, mimicking the needs of an 8-week-old puppy. Duration can be extended but only gradually. If you can’t give regular breaks in the beginning, enlist the help of a dog walker or a friendly neighbor.
Potty Break Schedule: When to Go Out
Don’t forget! If your dog is anything like this Bulldog, that’s enjoyed their outside time, they will need a potty break shortly after drinking their entire water bowl.
Scheduled Breaks: Take your dog out at these predictable times:
First thing in the morning.
Last thing before bed.
Shortly after meals.
Immediately after waking up from naps.
Immediately after play sessions.
Whenever they come out of their crate.
On-Demand Breaks: Take your dog out right away if you notice:
Sniffing and circling the floor.
Sitting by an exterior door.
Intense staring at you.
Essential Tips for Potty Training Your Dog Effectively
Accelerate your rescue dog’s potty-training progress with these 6 pro tips.
Restrict Freedom: Don’t give your pup free run of the house until they are house-trained. If you can't keep an eye on them, confine them to a designated area.
Use a Leash: When taking your dog outside for a potty break, use a leash to minimize distractions and help them stay focused.
Ditch the Potty Pads: If your goal is to have your dog potty outside, avoid using disposable pads. This product confuses your dog and delays the training process.
Positive Reinforcement, Not Punishment: Forget about the outdated methods of rubbing their nose in accidents or using physical force. Being too harsh will only make your dog afraid to go in front of you.
Be Consistent: As tempting is it to just open the door and let them go, especially as your dog starts to get the hang of it, until your dog is house-trained (14 days, zero incidents), continue to accompany them outside and reward the moment they finish.
Proper Clean-Up: Use an enzymatic cleaner to effectively neutralize a soiled area. No amount of bleach or other solution will sufficiently offset the scent that remains, and your dog may be tempted to revisit the spot.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Rescue Dog?
No one can tell you how long it will take to potty train your rescue dog. Potty training is a team effort that requires understanding and consistency. Your rescue dog must understand eliminating inside isn’t appropriate, and you need to set them up for success by keeping to a schedule and understanding their tell signs.
If you have trouble remembering when it's time to take your dog out; let technology help. Set an alarm on your phone to ensure you never miss a potty break again.
Additionally, it’s likely your perception doesn’t match up with reality, so start a journal. Compared to your memory the journal will tell the real story. Instead of feeling like your dog had 100 accidents this week, you’ll now be able to see their progress week to week.
Remember, comparing your dog’s progress to another is pointless. Each dog learns at their own pace, and what comes naturally to one may take more time for another.
Is Potty Bell Training Right for Your Dog?
While some dogs have very clear signs indicating they need to go out other dogs are more subtle. Whether you miss your dog’s SOS signal like pawing at the door because you are in the middle of a zoom call, or you dog’s sign is to stare at you as if you were a Jedi mind reader consider bell training your dog.
Bell training your dog is easy, and it provides you with an audible interrupter so you can help them get it right. Just remember, if you choose this method, you must take your dog out every time they ring the bell.
When Pee Pads Are a Practical Solution for Potty Training
This Beagle has an owner with limited mobility. The pee pad has provided the dog with a dedicated spot to go potty.
If you want your dog to do their business outside, it's best to avoid using pee pads or indoor grass. However, there are situations where these products are appropriate.
If you're an elderly person, have limited mobility, or live in an unsafe area, these products could be ideal. Although expensive, these products provide a designated spot for your dog to go, are convenient and are easy to cleanup.
Make Potty Training Your Rescue Dog a Cinch
Potty training your rescue dog can take some time to perfect but by following these tips you’ll both persevere. Maintaining consistency is key when teaching your pet where to go potty. Take things one day at a time and use a journal to uncover patterns. Always practice positive reinforcement to make learning easier and faster for your newest furry, family member.
If you need more help training your rescue dog, we can help with in-home lessons or online training.
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Rescue Dog Potty Training FAQ
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There are three main reasons this happens: stress, lack of prior training, and a new environment. Your dog might be too anxious to hold it, may have never been taught that inside is off-limits, or hasn't yet learned your home's routine and signals. If your new dog is having frequent accidents start from scratch with house-training.
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Expect house training success to come over weeks, not days. Consistency in your routine is the single most important factor for successful potty training.
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Stick to a fixed schedule for feeding and potty breaks every day—even on weekends—and use an alarm to keep yourself accountable. Critical times to take your dog out are: first thing in the morning, after meals, after play , sudden wandering away from the main area you are in, and right before bed.
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Never punish or scold your dog for a potty accident. If you catch them in the act, interrupt them with a quick, neutral sound (like "Uh-oh!"), then immediately hustle them outside. If they finish going outside, reward them with a high-value treat. If you find an accident after the fact, clean it up thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner and resolve to increase your supervision.
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Yes! The goal is to prevent accidents entirely so your dog can only build successful habits outside. The rule is simple: until your dog is 100% potty trained, they should be either:
1. Actively Supervised: On a short leash, tethered to you, or within your direct line of sight.
2. Confined: During the day baby gate or an X-pen (exercise pen) are better choices; I recommend limiting a crate to overnight hours only.
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