Crate & Potty Training: Setting your Pup up for Success!

Bringing your new Teddy Puppy home is an exciting milestone — here’s how to start strong!

Bringing home a new puppy is one of life’s happiest moments — full of excitement, snuggles, and new routines. It’s also a time when your puppy is learning how to live in your world, and that takes patience, structure, and realistic expectations.

Potty Training Basics

There’s no single “right” way to potty train — the best approach is one that fits your home, routine, and lifestyle. I’ll share the two most common methods and what has worked best for us at Teddy Puppies.

First and foremost, remember: potty training is a journey. Mistakes will happen — it’s part of the learning process. The goal isn’t perfection overnight, but progress and trust.

Our puppies are typically potty trained by four months, but some may still have occasional accidents until six months. You’ll quickly learn your puppy’s individual cues and rhythms.

Start in Easy-to-Clean Areas

Before your puppy is potty trained, do not allow them unsupervised access to carpeted or hard-to-clean areas. Dogs are extremely smell-oriented — their sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than ours. If a puppy has an accident on the carpet, even if you can’t smell it, they can — and that lingering scent tells them,

“This is my bathroom spot!”

Once that pattern starts, it’s much harder to break. I use this scent orientation to my advantage. The positive side is that they want to go to the bathroom where it already smells like pee/poop. You can wipe some of their pee/poop where you want them to go to the bathroom, in the grass, litter box (if you are using one), or bury it under some woodchips where you want them to go to the bathroom outside. This scent training method is the best way to teach them the appropriate place where they want to go. Take them there right after crate time or after eating to set them up for success.

In the early weeks:

• Stick to hard floors that can be cleaned easily (tile, vinyl, sealed wood).

• Roll up rugs and store them temporarily.

• Use baby gates or pens to keep your puppy in designated zones.

• Avoid expensive furniture or heirloom areas that are difficult to sanitize.

If an accident happens, clean it with an enzyme-based urine remover that fully breaks down the scent. Regular cleaners won’t fool a puppy’s nose!

Potty Training Schedule

An 8-week-old puppy can hold their bladder for about 3 hours maximum during the day. Set an alarm to remind you to take them out on schedule.

Always go to the same potty spot and use a verbal cue like “Go potty.” Give lots of verbal praise and a small treat immediately after they go outside — make it a big deal so they associate it with success!

If they have an accident:

• Say a firm, calm “No” (no yelling).

• Take them directly to their potty spot.

• Clean the accident thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner.

You can also use a potty attractant spray in the area you want them to use — whether that’s a woodchip patch, grass, pee pad, or litter box.

Some owners teach their puppies to ring a bell when they need to go out. Our Teddy Puppies are already familiar with doggy doors, which can make the process even faster.

Watch for These Potty Cues

• Circling or pacing

• Sniffing the ground intently

• Walking slowly with a slightly hunched back

• Suddenly stopping play and becoming still

Once you see these signs, get them outside right away!

📱 Track Progress

Potty training becomes much easier when you track your puppy’s patterns. Try the free Doggy Time app to log accidents, potty breaks, and meals. You’ll quickly notice their rhythms and be able to anticipate when they need to go out.

Nighttime & Sleep Training

Your puppy’s first night away from their litter can be emotional. Crying or whining is completely normal — they’re adjusting to a new environment.

Snuggle Puppies with a built-in heartbeat or heat pack can help your new puppy self-soothe. You’ll also receive a blanket from our home, which smells familiar and provides comfort.

Before bedtime:

• Make sure all potty needs are met.

• Offer a frozen peanut butter cow hoof to associate the crate with positive experiences.

• Feed the last meal at least 3 hours before bed and include a play session to tire them out and get all the potty needs moved through their system before bedtime.

If your puppy cries after several hours (around 3–4 hours in), it may be a genuine potty request — take them out calmly, then return them to the crate without extra playtime.

Crate Training: The Do’s and Don’ts

Crate training creates structure, aids in house training, and gives your puppy a calm “den” to retreat to. Puppies are naturally less likely to soil the area where they sleep.

✅ DO:

• Choose a crate where your puppy can stand and turn around comfortably, but not large enough to potty in one corner and sleep in another.

• Use a divider to resize as they grow.

• Cover the crate with a blanket to make it feel safe and cozy.

• Use a sound machine, calming music, or a fan so they aren't disturbed as they rest.

• Practice short daily crate sessions (25–30 minutes alone time) even if you’re home.

• Place the crate far away from the hustle and bustle of the household activity (like in a finished basement).

  
  

🚫 DON’T:

• Don’t use the crate for punishment.

• Don’t let your puppy out while they’re barking or whining.

This last point is crucial — if you go in when your puppy is barking, they learn that barking gets them what they want. The next time, they’ll bark longer and louder.

Instead:

• Wait for a few seconds of silence before letting them out.

• Reward calm behavior — not noise.

• Use a pet camera if you’re anxious and want to peek without entering the room.

Once puppies realize barking doesn’t get results, the habit fades quickly.

Routine & Structure = Success

Consistency builds trust and confidence. Stick to a predictable routine:

Time	Activity
Morning	Potty → Breakfast → Play → Crate Nap
Midday	Potty → Play → Short Training → Crate
Afternoon	Potty → Play/Walk → Crate Nap
Evening	Dinner → Play → Calm Time → Crate
Bedtime	Quick Potty → Crate for the night

By building a rhythm, your puppy knows what to expect — and that reduces anxiety, accidents, and barking.

Setting Up a Puppy Playpen with a Litter Box

A playpen with a litter box keeps your puppy safe, clean, and confident while learning potty routines.

If you prefer to give your puppy more space than a crate — especially during the day or while you’re out for short periods — a playpen area with a litter box is a wonderful solution. This setup helps your puppy stay clean, builds independence, and keeps accidents contained.

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to create a safe and functional playpen setup for your Teddy Puppy:

1. A Secure Playpen

Look for a sturdy pen that’s easy to assemble, clean, and move around. There are many options linked here that might meet your needs--that fit your space and aesthetic.

Tip: Metal pens last longest and can connect to a crate or wall. Plastic pens are lighter and easier to move.

2. A Puppy Litter Box or Potty Area

This gives your puppy a designated potty spot inside their pen for times when they can’t yet hold it for long stretches.

You have two main options that you can check out here.

• Pellet litter box:

  • Use pelletized litter (like pine pellets from Tractor supply) inside a low-sided plastic box or a “dog litter box.”

  • Great for odor control and easy cleanup, but can cause extra dust.

  • Grate-style potty tray:

  • Use with disposable pads underneath to catch urine.

  • Keeps paws dry and prevents shredding.

    
    

3. Absorbent or Waterproof Flooring

To protect your floors and make cleanup easier, place a waterproof mat or washable rug under the pen.

• Great options: Ruggable washable mats or waterproof whelping mats like this.

  
  

4. Soft Bedding and Toys

Make one side of the playpen your puppy’s “relaxation zone.”

• Add a cozy bed or crate, a blanket from home, and safe chew toys.

• Keep the bedding and potty areas separate to encourage cleanliness.

  
  

5. Food & Water Station

Place your puppy’s food and water bowls away from the litter box — ideally on the opposite side of the pen.

• Use non-tip bowls or clip-on bowls that attach to the pen to prevent spills.

How to Introduce the Litter Box

1. Make sure your litterbox smells like their own pee/poop. Pre-soil it a little so they understand what to do there.

2. Bring your puppy to the litter box right after eating, drinking, playing, or waking up.

3. Say your potty cue (like “Go potty”) while they sniff around.

4. When they use it successfully, praise and reward them right away!

5. If they have an accident outside the box, don’t punish — simply wipe it up, place the paper towel or rag inside the litter box, and bring your puppy there next time so they associate the scent correctly.

When to Transition Away from the Litter Box

Once your puppy can reliably hold their bladder for the length of time you are away during the day and stay dry overnight, you can begin phasing out the litter box and moving toward full outdoor potty training.

Remove the litter box gradually — start by keeping it closer to the door, then eventually take it outside to help them associate the same surface and smell with outdoor potty time.

Using a playpen with a litter box gives your puppy freedom and structure — the best of both worlds. It prevents stress for both you and your pup, keeps your home clean, and helps them build good potty habits faster.

At Teddy Puppies, we use this setup every day for our litters, and it’s one of the easiest ways to transition from puppy life at our home to happy life in yours.

A playpen gives your puppy freedom, structure, and a clean start to potty training success.

Expanding Their Space Gradually

Start housetraining one room at a time. Keep their world small in the beginning — it’s easier for them to succeed when there’s less ground to cover.

Once your puppy has kept an area clean for at least a week and reliably signals when they need to go out, you can expand their territory.

Add one new room at a time, continuing to supervise closely. If accidents start again, go back to the smaller space and try again. Most Teddy Puppies earn more freedom gradually through their first 6–12 months. It’s normal to wait until around one year old before completely trusting them unsupervised in the home and that varies greatly on the specific dog and how puppy-proofed the home environment is.

Continued Training

We recommend enrolling in some form of official training — whether it’s in-person classes, online lessons, or a board-and-train program. It’s much easier to prevent bad habits than to untrain them later.

Remember: dogs don’t generalize well. Each new environment (your living room, backyard, friend’s house) feels like a new classroom, and you’ll need to gently reinforce the same behaviors there too.

Potty training and crate training take time, but they’re absolutely worth it. You’re building a foundation of trust, structure, and communication that will last a lifetime.

By keeping your puppy in supervised, easy-to-clean areas, using consistent schedules, and maintaining calm leadership, you’ll set your Teddy Puppy up to be a happy, confident, well-mannered companion.

A little patience and structure now leads to years of happy companionship later.

Teddy Puppies Crate Size Guide

Puppy Size	Adult Weight Range	Recommended Crate Dimensions (L × W × H)	Crate Size Label	Notes & Tips
Petite Doodle	15–20 lbs	24" × 18" × 19"	Small (24")	Ideal for smaller doodles under 20 lbs.
Miniature Doodle	20–30 lbs	30" × 19" × 21"	Medium (30")	A divider helps you start smaller.
Medium Doodle	30–45 lbs	36" × 23" × 25"	Large (36")	Use a crate with a divider panel.

I like this crate because it comes with a divider to expand the crate as he/she grows, so you don’t need to purchase multiple crate sizes as they grow through their first year. I've found that most pups feel more secure having their crate covered with a blanket, so it's like a little den.

Crate Training & The Barking Phase

A cozy crate becomes a puppy’s safe den — with patience and consistency.

Crate training is one of the most valuable skills you can teach your puppy. It helps with house training, structure, safety, and sleep routines, and it gives your puppy a personal space where they can feel secure and calm.

But here’s the hard truth most new puppy parents don’t expect: Almost every puppy will bark or whine in the crate at first. This is completely normal — it’s how they express confusion and ask, “Why can’t I be with you right now?”

Why You Shouldn’t Go In When They’re Barking

It’s very tempting to go check on your puppy when they start whining or barking — especially when you’re worried they might be scared or need to potty. But here’s the key principle:

If you go to your puppy while they’re barking or whining, you’re teaching them that barking gets your attention.

The next time you put them in the crate, they’ll bark longer and louder, thinking,

“I just have to keep going until Mom or Dad comes back!”

This is how many puppies accidentally train their humans — instead of the other way around.

When you ignore the barking, you’re helping your puppy learn that:

• Barking doesn’t make things happen.

• Calm, quiet behavior is what earns attention or freedom.

• The crate isn’t a punishment — it’s simply part of their routine.

It might take a few days (or a week or two for more vocal pups), but once your puppy learns that barking doesn’t work, they stop.

A Helpful Trick for Peace of Mind

If you ever feel unsure about what’s happening when your puppy is in the crate — for example, whether they’re anxious or just testing boundaries — try using a pet camera.

You can peek in without opening the door or making your presence known. This lets you:

• Check that your puppy is safe and settling down.

• Ease your own worries without reinforcing barking.

• See patterns in when your puppy gets restless (so you can adjust potty or exercise timing).

Sometimes, you’ll find that the barking only lasts a few minutes before your puppy curls up and falls asleep!

Your goal is to make the crate or playpen a part of everyday life, not just a “time-out” space. You can feed your puppy meals in the crate, give high-value chews there, or let them nap with a soft blanket and a safe toy inside.

Tip: Use a cue word like “Kennel” or “Crate time!” in a cheerful voice, and reward calm entry with a small treat or high-value toy.

A Few Final Notes

• Don’t use the crate for punishment. It should always be a positive space.

• Always potty your puppy before crating to avoid discomfort.

• Gradually increase crate time so your puppy can build tolerance without frustration.

• White noise, music, or a fan can help block environmental sounds that trigger barking.

And most importantly, remember that your puppy isn’t being stubborn — they’re learning how the world works. Your calm, consistent response teaches them that peace and patience pay off every time.

With consistency, your puppy learns that the crate is a safe, peaceful place to rest.

If you are looking for puppy training help, check out Baxter and Bella's Online Puppy School. You get 20% off with code TEDDYPUPPIES. If you want to learn more about in-person trainers we recommend, click here!