Introduction
Having a dog in an apartment can be challenging when it comes to potty training. Unlike a house with a yard, there’s no designated outdoor space for your dog to relieve themselves. This means you’ll need to put some thought into where and how your dog will pee and poop inside your apartment.
While most apartment dwellers aim to potty train their dog to go outside, accidents do happen. Peeing and pooping inside can damage carpets, floors, and create unpleasant odors. It’s also unhygienic and can spread bacteria throughout the home.
The key is identifying an appropriate indoor potty spot and training your dog to use it. With time and consistency, you can teach your dog good habits while keeping your apartment clean and undamaged.
Designate a Potty Area
When living in an apartment with a dog, it’s important to designate a specific potty area inside your home. This helps train your dog to go in a consistent spot and prevents accidents around your home.
Some good options for indoor potty areas include:
- Pee pads – These absorbent pads provide a designated spot for your dog to relieve themselves. They contain attractants that encourage your dog to use them. Pee pads are an affordable and convenient option, but do require cleanup and frequent replacement.
- Fake grass pads – These look and feel like real grass, giving dogs the sensation of going potty outdoors. The grass rests on a tray containing a liquid-absorbing pad. Fake grass pads like Frisco Training & Real Grass Dog Potty are easy to clean but can be pricey.
- Litter boxes – These can contain pellets, artificial grass, or soil/sand mixtures. Litter boxes for dogs work similarly to cat litter boxes. Models with grids, like the IRIS PET Training Pad Holder, help keep the area clean.
Designate a space for your dog’s potty area away from high-traffic zones. Place it on an easy-to-clean floor surface. The spot should be accessible at all times for your dog.
Potty Train Your Dog
Potty training your dog in an apartment requires positive reinforcement through treats, praise, playtime, and more when they go in their designated potty spot. Create a consistent schedule for taking your dog to their potty area to relieve themselves. Take your dog to the same spot each time and use a command like “Go potty!” to signal that it’s time. When your dog goes in the right area, immediately reward them with excited praise, a treat, their favorite toy, and/or some playtime.
According to this source, having a regular routine is key for potty training success in an apartment. The American Kennel Club also recommends keeping training positive and rewarding your dog when they go in the right spot.
Take Them Outside Frequently
Living in an apartment with your dog comes with some unique challenges for potty training. Since you don’t have direct backyard access, you’ll need to take your dog outside frequently for potty breaks.
A good rule of thumb for apartment dogs is to take them out every few hours (3-4 times daily). This allows them regular opportunities to relieve themselves. It’s also a good idea to take them out:
- Right after meals or drinking water. Eating and drinking will stimulate the need to pee and poop.
- First thing in the morning. Your dog will likely need to go after waking up from a full night’s sleep.
Taking your dog out this often, especially when they’re young, will help reinforce that outside is the right place to go potty. Be sure to praise and reward them whenever they eliminate outside. With consistency, they’ll learn that potty time happens outside the apartment.
Avoid Carpets and Rugs
It’s best to avoid carpets and rugs if possible when living in an apartment with a dog. Carpets and rugs tend to absorb urine and odors, making them difficult to clean thoroughly.
Instead, opt for surfaces like hardwood or tile that are easier to clean. Hardwood or tile can simply be mopped when accidents happen. The smooth, nonporous material prevents urine from seeping in or lingering.
If you must have rugs, choose ones that can be thrown in the washing machine periodically. Vinyl kitchen mats also wipe clean easily. Limit rugs to non-essential areas so they can be removed when needed.
Having hardwood or tile floors makes cleaning up after your dog much simpler in an apartment setting. Accidents will happen, but with the right flooring choice, you can lift stains and neutralize odors more effectively.
Clean Up Accidents
Clean up your dog’s accidents as soon as possible to avoid the urine soaking into floors or carpets. Enzymatic cleaners work best to completely break down and eliminate urine odors.
For floor accidents, soak up as much urine as possible with paper towels. Then spray or apply an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle or Simple Solution and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Use more paper towels to soak up the cleaner, then rinse the area with clean water and allow to fully dry.[1]
For carpets, blot and press with layers of paper towels to absorb as much urine as possible. Spray the enzymatic cleaner generously over the area and let soak in for 10-15 minutes. Then blot and soak up the cleaner with fresh paper towels. You may need to repeat this process several times for full odor removal.
After cleaning, open windows or run fans to help air out and dry the area fully. Lingering moisture can allow odors to remain. Thorough drying and ventilation ensures accidents are cleaned up properly.
Limit Water Before Bed
Picking up your dog’s water dish a few hours before bedtime can help prevent accidents overnight. According to this article, restricting water intake 30-60 minutes before bed prevents your dog from drinking excessively right before sleep. However, as noted in this source, you still need to take your dog out promptly before bed even with limited water intake.
While restricting water before bed can be helpful for housetraining, don’t withhold water for prolonged periods as dogs need access to fresh water throughout the day. Allow your dog to drink freely until 2-3 hours before bedtime. Just be sure to let them out right before bed and first thing in the morning.
Crate Train Your Dog
Crate training is highly recommended for dogs living in apartments. A crate provides a consistent, confined area where your dog can stay when you are unable to supervise them directly. Crates are not cruel if introduced properly; dogs naturally seek out dens for security and many grow to view their crate as a safe space. The key is to make sure your dog has positive associations with the crate and gradually get them accustomed to spending time inside.
Crates can help with house training by inhibiting your dog from having accidents inside while you are away. Dogs generally avoid soiling in their sleeping area if possible. However, crates should never be used for excessively long periods of time. Puppies under 6 months old cannot be crated for more than 2-3 hours at most. Adult dogs should not be crated for over 8-10 hours daily, and will need potty breaks in between.
Make the crate comfortable with a bed, blanket, and toys. Start crate training early and use treats to reward your puppy for entering voluntarily. Feed them in the crate and leave the door open so they can come and go. Very gradually build up the duration of time you keep the door closed. If your puppy cries, wait for a pause before letting them out or it will reinforce the behavior. Take them on a potty walk as soon as you open the door. With patience and consistency, your dog will get comfortable spending time in their crate. For more detailed crate training advice, check out this guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/comments/9qzqtl/help_how_to_crate_train_in_an_apartment_puppy/
Consider a Dog Walker
For days when you’re gone for long hours at work or other commitments, consider hiring a dog walker to take your dog out midday. This provides a potty break as well as mental stimulation and exercise. According to Doggie Bliss, dog walking promotes health and exercise. At-home dogs can get restless and bored, leading to problem behaviors, so a walk is physically and mentally beneficial.
As noted on WagWalking, dog walking services are ideal for pet owners in apartments who work long hours away. Walks can be as short as 15 minutes and provide a much-needed break. According to Trusted House Sitters, additional benefits of dog walking include improved sleep and socialization.
Be Patient and Consistent
Potty training a puppy takes time, consistency, and patience. Puppies do not have full bladder control until 4-6 months old, so accidents will happen no matter how vigilant you are. Do not punish your puppy for accidents – that will only teach them to hide when peeing indoors. Stay calm and be prepared for messes as part of the process.
The most effective potty training method is positive reinforcement. When your puppy potties in the right spot, immediately praise them enthusiastically and give a treat. This will help reinforce where you want them to go. Clean up accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to avoid residue smells that attract the puppy back.
Take your puppy to their potty spot first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, and before bedtime. Supervise closely and watch for signs they need to go, like circling or sniffing. If no success in 5-10 minutes, go back inside and try again later. With consistency, your puppy will learn to potty at the right times and places.
Potty training requires regular schedules and patterns. Be patient – your puppy will get there with time! Celebrate small successes along the way to keep motivation high for both you and pup.