Small dogs need the same potty training as larger breeds, but on a tighter schedule

Small dogs are not harder to potty train than big dogs—they just need to go out more often. A small dog's bladder holds less urine, so it fills faster. Where a large dog might hold it for four hours, a small dog often cannot go longer than two to three hours, especially as a puppy. The training method is identical: take your dog out frequently, reward them when they go in the right place, and confine them when you cannot watch them. The main difference is the frequency of trips and the patience required to stick to a schedule.

Small dogs also have a reputation for being harder to housetrain because owners often let accidents slide or skip outdoor breaks. A Chihuahua or Pomeranian has less room for error than a German Shepherd, so consistency matters more. If you treat potty training as a non-negotiable routine rather than something to get around to, a small dog will learn just as reliably as any other dog.

Key Takeaways

  • Small dogs need outdoor breaks every two to three hours as puppies and every four to six hours as adults, more often than larger breeds.
  • Take your dog out first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, after play, and before bedtime—these are the times they are most likely to need to go.
  • Reward your dog when ready after they finish going outside, with praise or a small treat, so they connect the outdoor location with the reward.
  • Confine your dog to a crate or small room when you cannot supervise them, because dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area.
  • Accidents will happen; clean them with an enzymatic cleaner so your dog does not smell their own urine and return to the same spot.

Establish a predictable outdoor schedule

Small dogs thrive on routine because their bladders are small and their need to go is frequent and predictable. Take your dog outside at the same times every day: first thing when you wake up, thirty minutes to an hour after each meal, after naps, after play sessions, and right before bed. Puppies under four months old may need to go out every one to two hours during the day. As your dog gets older, the intervals lengthen, but the routine stays the same.

Write down the times you take your dog out and note whether they went. After a week or two, you will see a pattern. Most small dogs need to urinate within thirty minutes of eating, so if you feed your dog at 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m., take them out at 7:30, 12:30, and 5:30. This removes guesswork and makes it easier to catch your dog before an accident happens indoors.

If your schedule is unpredictable, ask a family member, neighbor, or dog walker to take your dog out during the day. A dog left alone for eight hours will have an accident, not because they are stubborn but because their bladder is full. Consistency is what teaches the dog where to go, and consistency requires getting them outside on time.

Reward your dog when ready after they go outside

The moment your dog finishes urinating or defecating outside, give them praise and a reward. Say "Good potty!" in an upbeat voice and offer a small treat—a piece of chicken, a training treat, or a few kibbles from their regular food. The reward must come within seconds, while your dog still remembers what they just did. If you wait until you are back inside, your dog will not connect the outdoor bathroom trip with the reward.

Use the same phrase every time—"Good potty!" or "Go potty!"—so your dog learns to associate that words with the action. After a few weeks, your dog will begin to go on command. Some owners also use a bell hung on the door; the dog learns to ring it when they need to go out. This works well for small dogs because they can reach a bell hung at nose height.

Do not punish your dog for accidents indoors. Punishment teaches fear, not bladder control. Your dog cannot hold it longer than their physiology allows, and scolding them after the fact only makes them afraid of you and more likely to hide when they need to go.

Use a crate or confined space when you cannot supervise

Dogs naturally avoid soiling the place where they sleep. A crate that is just large enough for your dog to stand, turn around, and lie down will encourage them to hold it rather than go in their sleeping area. When you cannot watch your dog—while you are at work, sleeping, or in another room—put them in the crate. This is not punishment; it is a management tool that prevents accidents and speeds up training.

The crate should be small enough that your dog cannot go to one corner and sleep in another. A crate that is too large gives your dog room to potty in one spot and sleep in another, which defeats the purpose. For a Chihuahua or toy breed, a small wire crate or plastic airline crate works well. Make the crate comfortable with a soft bed or blanket.

Do not leave your dog in the crate for longer than they can hold it. A general rule is one hour per month of age, up to about eight hours for an adult dog. A three-month-old puppy can hold it for about three hours, so if you work a nine-hour day, you will need someone to let your dog out midday. If you leave your dog in the crate too long, they will have no choice but to go inside, which teaches them that the crate is a bathroom, not a bedroom.

Clean accidents with an enzymatic cleaner

When your dog has an accident indoors, clean the spot with an enzymatic cleaner, not regular household cleaner. Enzymatic cleaners break down the uric acid in urine, removing the scent completely. Regular cleaners mask the smell to human noses but leave the scent marker that tells your dog "this is a bathroom." If your dog smells their own urine in a spot, they will return to that spot to go again.

Soak the area with the enzymatic cleaner, let it sit for the time recommended on the bottle (usually ten to fifteen minutes), and then blot it up. Do this for every accident, even if the spot looks clean. Common enzymatic cleaners include Nature's Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, and Rockin' Green. These are sold at most pet stores and online.

Do not use ammonia-based cleaners. Urine contains ammonia, so ammonia cleaners smell like urine to your dog and can actually encourage them to go in that spot again.

Adjust your approach if your small dog is older or resistant

Adult small dogs sometimes arrive in a new home with no potty training history. The process is the same as with puppies, but it may take longer. An adult dog has had months or years to develop habits, so retraining takes patience. Stick to the same schedule, reward system, and crate confinement for at least four to six weeks before you assume the dog cannot learn.

Some small dogs are stubborn about going outside in bad weather. If your dog refuses to go out in rain or snow, start by taking them out for just a few minutes, reward them heavily if they go, and gradually extend the time. Do not let your dog back inside until they have gone, or they will learn that refusing to go gets them back to the comfort of the house.

If your dog has a medical issue—urinary tract infection, diabetes, or incontinence—potty training will not work until the medical problem is treated. Talk to your veterinarian if your dog is having frequent accidents, straining to go, or going in unusual amounts. Once the medical issue is resolved, resume the training routine.

Know when to call a veterinarian

Most small dogs housetrain within a few weeks to a few months with consistent effort. If your dog is older than six months and still having frequent accidents despite a solid routine, a veterinary visit is worth the cost. Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and incontinence are common in small dogs and cause accidents that training alone cannot fix.

Also talk to your veterinarian if your dog suddenly starts having accidents after being housetrained for months or years. This is often a sign of a medical problem, not a behavior problem. Your vet can run a urinalysis and physical exam to rule out infection, stones, or other issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to potty train a small dog?

Most small dogs housetrain within four to six weeks if you follow a consistent schedule and reward system. Some dogs learn faster, and some take three to four months. Consistency matters more than speed—a dog trained slowly with a reliable routine will be more reliable than a dog rushed through training.

Can I use puppy pads instead of taking my dog outside?

Puppy pads teach your dog that it is okay to go to the bathroom indoors, which makes outdoor training harder later. If you must use pads because you work long hours, place them in a designated spot and gradually move them closer to the door and outside. Most trainers recommend skipping pads and using a crate plus frequent outdoor breaks instead.

What if my small dog goes outside but then has an accident indoors an hour later?

Your dog may not have fully emptied their bladder the first time, or they may need to go more often than you thought. Try taking them out again thirty minutes after the first trip, or increase the frequency of outdoor breaks. Also check that your dog is not drinking too much water; some small dogs drink excessively if they are bored or anxious.

Is it normal for small dogs to be harder to potty train than big dogs?

Small dogs are not inherently harder to train, but their smaller bladders mean less margin for error. If you miss a scheduled break, a small dog will have an accident faster than a large dog. The training method is the same; the schedule just needs to be tighter and more consistent.

What should I do if my dog refuses to go outside in cold weather?

Some small dogs are sensitive to cold. Try a dog coat or sweater to make them more comfortable, and keep outdoor trips short at first. Reward heavily when they do go. If your dog still refuses, talk to your vet to rule out pain or medical issues. Never force your dog to stay outside until they go if they are genuinely distressed by the cold.