If you’re wondering how to potty train a beagle puppy, then firstly, congratulations on your new pup!
Beagles are great dogs. They’re clever, affectionate, and 101 other kinds of wonderful. But you know what else they are?
Stubborn.
A beagle can learn, sure. But only if it’s on their own terms.
Trying to get a beagle to do anything they don’t want to do is an upwards struggle.
Ever wondered why you never see a beagle win an obedience competition? After a few weeks with your beagle pup, you won’t be wondering anymore.
It’s that stubborn single-mindedness that makes potty training a beagle pup a very different proposition to potty training any other breed.
That, and those astonishing noses, of course.
While all dogs are blessed with an amazing sense of smell, a beagle’s nose is something else. These powerful, mighty noses can sniff out even the faintest whisper of a scent.
How is that relevant, I hear you ask?
Because puppies always return to the scene of the crime. If they have an accident in a particular spot, they’ll keep going back to it.
Basically, they figure they’ve been there once, so why not go there again?
In their heads, that little spot has become their bathroom. And trying to remove the smell of urine from a carpet to the point a beagle can’t detect it anymore involves plenty of elbow grease, an incredibly powerful enzyme-based cleaner, and quite a few tears.
But before you run away crying, don’t despair. While potty training a beagle puppy isn’t a walk in the park, it’s by no means impossible.
With patience, perseverance, and plenty of positivity, it’s more than achievable. You just need the right strategy.
Speaking of the right strategy, let me introduce you to a training course that may just change your life… or at least make the next few weeks of training far, far easier.
Dan Abdelnoor’s Potty Training Made Easy course is exactly that. Its potty training made easy.
It’s going to guide you through the entire potty-training experience from start to finish. It’ll teach you what to do, what not to do, and how to ensure the most effective results.
Anyway, check out the video link below to take a look…
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When to Start Potty Training
If your breeder tells you your 6-week-old pup is paper trained, don’t believe them.
Sure, your pup might occasionally ‘go’ on the designated paper. But it’s likely to be more by coincidence than anything else.
Don’t assume that any pup below the age of 8 weeks old is housetrained, or even close to it. When you get them home, you’ll need to start implementing your own housetraining routine on the assumption that your pup is learning from scratch.
As to the best age for a pup to start the training, 12 – 16 weeks is optimal.
At that age, their brains are like sponges. Ready and waiting to soak up any new life skills and knowledge you care to impart.
They should also have enough control over their bodily functions to ‘hold it’ for defined periods of time.
If you choose to start training any earlier than this, it’s wise to have a quick chat with your vet in the first instance.
Also, be mindful of keeping your puppy away from any areas accessible to other dogs or wildlife until all their vaccinations are complete.
Deciding How to Potty Train a Beagle Puppy
When it comes time to start potty training your beagle pup, you’ll have plenty of options. You’ll probably have plenty of people telling you the right and the wrong way to do it, too.
Ultimately, what works for one person isn’t going to work for another. We’ve all got different schedules, different lives, and different attitudes.
Pick a method that works for you. It doesn’t have to be the same method as your best friend used.
It doesn’t even have to be the one your friendly dog trainer recommends.
It just needs to be one that works for your needs and your pup’s needs.
Some of the options to consider include…
Puppy Pad Training
Puppy pad training is a popular option for new puppy owners, and for good reason.
It’s convenient, it’s easy, it reduces mess, and it can introduce your puppy to the idea of going to the bathroom in a specific area.
But for all that, this isn’t a long-term solution.
Encouraging your pup to go to the bathroom indoors isn’t the goal of potty training, even if it is in an approved, pre-selected area.
As soon as your pup learns to associate the pad with areas where it’s acceptable to go to the toilet, it’s time to move onto the next stage of training by moving the pad outdoors.
Crate Training
Crates can be an incredibly useful tool when it comes to potty training.
As dogs are always disinclined to soil where they sleep, creating a designated area for them to spend their rest time will encourage them to exercise greater control.
There are, however, certain factors you need to bear in mind when it comes to crate training.
For a start, you’re going to want to make sure the crate is an appropriate size. It should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and stretch out in. But not so big as to allow them to pee or poop in.
Secondly, create positive associations with the crate.
Ideally, you want your pup to see their crate as their little sanctuary, a safe refuge where they can rest and relax without being disturbed.
Make it cozy, add some soft bedding (waterproof and chew-proof fabrics are wise at this age), throw some safe chew toys in, and feed them treats in there.
Never use the crate as the puppy equivalent of a ‘naughty step.’ Also, avoid leaving them in their crate for long stretches of time.
Do either, and your pup will soon lose any interest whatsoever in spending time in there.
Vigilance
For owners who spend most of their day at home, constant supervision works as an alternate method to crate training.
As keeping a watchful eye on a pup can be difficult when they’re running around like a nuclear-powered football, it’s helpful to tether your dog to you with a long leash.
Ideally, the leash should be around 6 feet long to allow your pup enough freedom to move around and play as normal.
Always use a comfortable harness rather than a collar to prevent injury to your pup’s neck as they move around.
By keeping your puppy within a few feet of you at all times, you’ll be better able to spot the first warning signs of an upcoming evacuation and take the necessary steps in time.
Watch Video: FREE Step-By-Step Video Course Reveals How To Quickly Potty Train ANY Puppy… Even If You’ve Tried And Failed Before!
How to Potty Train a Beagle Puppy
Ready to start potty training your pup? Then let’s go.
Build a Routine
A puppy has certain toileting needs that you’re going to need to cater to. Fortunately, their habits are predictable enough for you to build up a routine simply enough.
If a pup has been ‘holding it’ for a long stretch, it stands to reason they’re going to need to go.
So take them out first thing in the morning and as soon as they wake up from a nap.
If you’re leaving your pup for an extended period, always take them out beforehand to minimize the risk of an accident while you’re gone.
A bathroom break last thing at night will also reduce the risk of any midnight runs to the yard.
Take them out after every meal, or when you know they’ve had a good drink.
Pups tend to drink most when they wake up or after a play session. As puppies have immature digestions, food tends to ‘work’ their digestions much faster than it would an adult dog.
Typically speaking, they’ll need to pee 15 minutes after a meal and poop within 30 minutes.
Create a Designated Area
Opening the door and being thankful that your dog is going outside isn’t enough. To be successful at potty training, it’s wise to choose a designated area for your pup to do their business.
Choose a pre-approved spot for your beagle to go in the yard. It should be easily accessible regardless of the weather. You might also want to keep it away from any play areas used by your family.
Remember, consistency is key here. So once you choose a spot, go there each and every time your pup needs the bathroom.
If you do it somedays but forget the rest, your puppy will just get confused.
Restrict their Freedom
Giving your pup the freedom of the house might be nice, but inadvertently, you might be setting them up for potty training failure.
If you tell a kid that drawing on the walls in the living room isn’t acceptable, they’ll understand that drawing on the walls anywhere in the house isn’t ok.
A puppy’s brain doesn’t work like that.
You might have succeeded in teaching them not to go to the bathroom in the kitchen, but they won’t understand that going to the bathroom in the bedroom is off-limits too.
While you’re potty training, restrict your pup to just one or two rooms of the house.
And once they learn not to go to the toilet in those rooms, start opening up the rest of the house bit by bit, applying the same training techniques as you used previously in each new room.
Watch Out for the Signs
You’re not going to be able to stop each and every accident, but the more you do, the better. Keep an eagle eye on your pup at all times. If you notice any warning signs such as…
- Sniffing around
- Circling
- Hunching their back
- Looking restless
- Heading in the direction of a spot they’ve previously gone to the toilet in
…Jump in and take them straight to the approved toileting area.
Frequency is Key
Pups don’t gain full control of their bladders until they’re around 4 to 6 months old. Even then, accidents can happen.
Even when your potty training seems to be working, don’t forget to keep those trips to the yard frequent.
During the early stages of training, aim to take them out every 30 minutes, and as the training progresses, you can increase this to once every hour.
When you head outdoors, keep them leashed to minimize the risk of them getting distracted. If they smell something appealing, they’re likely to rush off after it and forget all about using the bathroom until they’re back indoors.
Appeal to Their Bellies
Beagles might be stubborn, but there’s one thing that’s certain to make them sit up and take notice – food.
Beagles are ruled by their stomachs almost as much as they are by their noses.
Use it to your advantage.
Each time you head outside, make sure your pocket is well stocked with small, high reward treats.
Walk your pup over to the designated toileting area. Once they’ve finished doing their business, reward them with gentle praise and one of those tasty tidbits.
Once they learn that going to the bathroom outside gets them a reward, they’ll soon stop seeing your living room rug as the ideal toilet.
Watch Video: FREE Step-By-Step Video Course Reveals How To Quickly Potty Train ANY Puppy… Even If You’ve Tried And Failed Before!
Keep it Positive
Accidents happen. That’s a fact. And while it can be frustrating, don’t take that frustration out on your puppy.
If you find a mess or catch your pup midway through the act, avoid scolding, shouting, or punishing them in any way.
If you do, it won’t stop them from using your house as a toilet – it’ll just make them more secretive about where they go.
It can even stop them from wanting to go to the toilet in front of you at all. Even when you’re outside.
Instead, simply use an excited tone of voice and encourage them to follow you outside so they can finish up in the designated area.
Once they’re done, praise them and give them a little treat to show how proud you are of them.
Get Some Help
If you haven’t potty trained a puppy before, don’t think you’re automatically going to know what to do. No one does. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn.
Before you start your potty-training routine, take some time out to watch the Potty Training Made Easy course from Dan Abdelnoor.
It’ll help put you on the right footing from day one, minimizing the risk of frustration and eliminating the chance of failure.
Watch it, learn it, do it… it’ll make the next few weeks far, far less challenging than they’d be otherwise.
Final Thoughts
A word of warning. Potty training your beagle pup can take time. You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and discover your dog has suddenly developed bladder control overnight.
Pups don’t gain full control of their functions until they’re around 4- 6 months old. Some dogs can take even longer.
But hold tight. With patience, positivity, and plenty of perseverance, you WILL get there.
