Originally published 2019-09-27. Article reviewed on October 4, 2026. Original publication: 2019-09-27.
Offer a bathroom break soon after waking, meals, drinking and play, as well as regularly through the day. Learn your puppy's signals and routine instead of relying on a universal number of minutes.
Go with the puppy to a safe, suitable bathroom area. Reward promptly after it finishes, then allow appropriate play. If it does not go, return to close supervision and try again shortly. Use a crate only when the puppy is comfortable with it.
Do not restrict needed water to make accidents easier to predict. The former three-to-four-hour water cutoff and claims about different foods' digestion speeds have been removed. Ask your veterinarian about unusual thirst, pain, frequent accidents or an individual feeding and drinking plan.