It would be great if puppies came to us knowing all there was to know.  Unfortunately, they don’t, but even worse, they grow very quickly, from puppy to adult in less than a year in most cases, so that you have to start training them as soon as you get them. 

One of the things your new puppy doesn’t already know is where to go to the bathroom.  This article details how new owners can housetrain their puppy with a minimum of fuss and muss. 

Dogs are creatures of habit.  Giving them a routine makes them comfortable.  It also makes housetraining easier to learn when things are done in the same way and at the same time every day.   

Puppies need to go to the bathroom more often when they are young.  They still need time to grow into their bodies.   

So, how do you know how often to take puppy to the potty?  About every couple of hours to start with, and then gradually, about 4 to 6 times a day as an adult dog. 

How much they go will depend on a lot of factors, including how much water they drink, whether or not you give them  wet or dry food, and whether or not the food is one of the high-quality, ‘low-residue ones’ which will produce less poop.