How to Potty Train Your Beagle Puppy: Tips and Tricks From Owners
Potty training your Beagle puppy may not be the most glamorous topic, but it’s an important part of being a pet owner. Potty training is essential for keeping your home clean and tidy, but more importantly, it sets your pup up for success in the long run. By teaching your Beagle where to go potty, you’re preventing accidents inside the house and teaching them good habits. Plus, it makes your life a whole lot easier!
A study in 2019 showed that only 67% of small dogs and 95% of large dogs were completely house-trained in the USA, so, let’s buck that trend, get to it and make sure your Beagle is on the path to potty training success!
The Basics of Potty Training Your Beagle
Before you start, it’s a good idea to get to grips with the basics of potty training your beagle, it’s not as simple as just putting them outside and letting them go! It all starts with ensuring your puppy is at the right age and you have all the tools and resources you need.
What’s the ideal age to start potty training a Beagle puppy?
The ideal age to start potty training your Beagle puppy is as soon as they start showing signs of being able to hold their bladder. You don’t want them leaving their little puddles all over the place, do you
Usually, Beagle puppies can start potty training around 8-12 weeks of age. But every puppy is different. Some pups might catch on quicker than others. So, keep an eye out for those subtle signals your little pooch is giving you.
How long does it take to potty train a Beagle puppy?
Well, like with the ideal age, the answer is not set in stone, as every Beagle puppy is unique and will have their own learning pace.
On average, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to fully potty train a Beagle puppy. But fear not, as consistency and patience are key in this endeavour.
Consistency & Patience is Key
Consistency and patience are absolutely crucial when potty training a Beagle, and this is for 2 main reasons:
- Beagles thrive on routine and repetition
- By establishing a consistent routine for your pup, they will quickly learn when it’s time to go potty and where it’s appropriate to do so. For example, if you always take your Beagle out first thing in the morning and after meals, they will learn to associate those times with going potty outside.
- Beagle’s will respond to your feelings and actions
- It can be easy to become frustrated, your little Beagle may have accidents or take longer to catch on than you expected, but it’s important to remain calm and positive. Punishing or scolding your pup will only create fear and anxiety, which can lead to further accidents.
Tips for reading your puppy’s signals
Ah, the secret language of puppies! It can be challenging to understand what your friend is trying to communicate, but fear not. Here are some tips for reading your Beagle puppy’s signals:
- Pay attention to body language
- Dogs communicate a lot through body language. Look for signs like sniffing around, circling, or whining, as these may indicate that your Beagle puppy needs to go potty.
- Watch for restlessness:
- Puppies often become restless when they need to go potty. If your Beagle pup is suddenly pacing or acting agitated, it may be a sign that they need to go outside.
- Listen for vocal cues:
- Some Beagle puppies may whine or bark when they need to go potty. Pay attention to these sounds and try to determine if they’re asking to go outside.
- Observe their routines:
- Most Beagle puppies have a regular routine when it comes to potty breaks. Try to establish a schedule and look for signs that your pup needs to go out around those times.
How to create a Potty Training Schedule
Creating a potty training schedule for your Beagle puppy can be a game-changer in your training efforts. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Determine your Beagle’s potty needs:
- Puppies need to go potty more frequently than adult dogs, so you’ll need to take your Beagle out often. On average, a Beagle puppy needs to go potty every 1-2 hours during the day.
- Establish a routine:
- Try to take your Beagle puppy out at the same times each day,, but such as first thing in the morning, after meals, and before bedtime. This will help them learn when it’s time to go potty and where it’s appropriate to do so. We live in an apartment and take Bella out 4 times a day, but as a puppy they need to be taken out more frequently.
- Be consistent:
- Consistency is key when it comes to potty training. Stick to your schedule as closely as possible, and always take your Beagle puppy out to the same spot to potty.
- Use positive reinforcement:
- We spoke about how using positive reinforcement is my preferred method when trying to teach your beagle commands and it’s my favourite method for potty training too.When your Beagle puppy goes potty outside, be sure to praise them and give them a treat. This will reinforce the positive behaviour and encourage them to keep it up.
- Adjust the schedule as needed:
- As your Beagle puppy grows and becomes more reliable, you can start to adjust the potty training schedule. Gradually increase the time between potty breaks and start to phase out treats.
Ultimately, creating a potty training schedule that works for you will boil down to first of all, consistency, ensuring you stick to the schedule as closely as possible, teaching them to go near the same spot. It’s also key to use positive reinforcement, rather than using aggression or getting frustrated, we found that our beagle Bella can be rather sensitive, and responded well to positive reinforcement, as she was keen to please.
Tips for Successful Potty Training
Potty training is probably the most challenging part of training a beagle, alongside the teething stage (peeing or chewing, which is worse?) and it’s important to have all the knowledge at your disposal for when you reach this stage. What can be frustrating, and I’ve seen this with many beagle pups, is that the path to a fully potty trained pup is not linear, and you’ll have to learn how to handle setbacks and accidents.
How to handle accidents and setbacks
Accidents and setbacks are a normal part of potty training a beagle puppy, so it’s important to know how to handle them in a positive and constructive way.
If your puppy has an accident inside, don’t scold or punish them. This can actually make the problem worse by making them scared or anxious about going potty in front of you. Instead, simply clean up the mess and move on. Use a pet-safe cleaner to get rid of any lingering odours, as the scent of urine or faeces can encourage your puppy to go potty in the same spot again.
If you notice that your puppy is having more accidents than usual, it could be a sign that they need to go outside more frequently. Be sure to take them outside on a consistent schedule and monitor their behaviour to see if they show any signs that they need to go potty, such as sniffing or circling.
Tips for effective communication with your puppy
Effective communication is key to building a strong bond with your beagle puppy and helping them learn and understand what’s expected of them when potty training, here’s some of my top tips.
Use a positive tone: When you’re talking to your puppy, use a friendly and upbeat tone of voice. This can help them feel more relaxed and engaged, and can make learning more fun for them.
Use consistent commands: Be consistent with the commands you use for different actions, such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” This can help your puppy learn what’s expected of them and can make it easier for you to communicate with them.
Use body language: Beagles are clever dogs, your body language can be just as important as your verbal communication. For example, using a hand gesture or pointing can help your puppy understand what you want them to do.
Avoid punishment: Punishing your puppy can actually make it harder for them to understand what you want from them.
Be patient: Learning to communicate effectively with your puppy takes time and patience. Be patient with them, and keep working on building your communication skills together.
Remember, effective communication is a two-way street. Be sure to pay attention to your puppy’s body language and signals, and respond appropriately to their needs and behaviours.
Common Potty Training Mistakes to Avoid
I think the most common mistake any new puppy owner makes is expecting too much too quickly, not every dog is the same and many will take longer than others to be fully trained. It’s important to keep consistent, remain patient and keep trying with your dog, and eventually, they’ll get there.
Final Thoughts
To summarise:
- Potty training your Beagle puppy is important for a clean home and setting them up for success.
- The ideal age to start potty training is around 8-12 weeks, but every puppy is different.
- It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to fully potty train a Beagle puppy.
- Consistency and patience are key to success.
- Beagles thrive on routine and repetition and will respond to your feelings and actions.
- Tips for reading your puppy’s signals include paying attention to body language, restlessness, vocal cues, and observing routines.
- Creating a potty training schedule involves determining potty needs, establishing a routine, being consistent, using positive reinforcement, and adjusting the schedule as needed.
With all that said, potty training is never going to be an easy task with a beagle puppy, however, with these top tips, you can be well on your way to success!