Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

These dog breeds are the easiest to potty-train

By

Potty training dogs is the first big hurdle for new puppy parents, who often want to know how long the process will take. Training experts say there’s no easy answer to that question. It can take anywhere from several weeks to several months, depending on the individual dog, the training method, and the commitment on the part of family members. Smaller dogs typically take longer to train than larger breeds. There are many reasons for this, including that smaller dogs have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms, meaning they require more trips to the wee-wee pad or the yard. Owners need to be even more diligent in supervising small dogs to avoid accidents that can prolong housebreaking. Here are some dogs that are easy to potty-train.

Large breeds

Labrador retrievers

There’s a reason that Labradors have topped the American Kennel Club’s list of the most popular dogs in the U.S. for the past 30 years. Originally bred as bird dogs, Labs are friendly, active, and outgoing. They make terrific companions and enjoy being included in all family activities. These dogs are people-pleasers and quick learners, making housebreaking easy as long as owners are consistent with the training, say American Kennel Club (AKC) experts.

Black Labrador retriever puppy laying on rug.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bernese mountain dogs

Sweet and affectionate, Bernese mountain dogs were bred in Switzerland to move cattle, guard the farmyard against predators, and serve as companions to family members at the end of a hard day’s work. They are playful and get along great with children and other dogs, making them a wonderful choice for families. Because they are intelligent and eager to please, this breed is typically easy to train. They are sensitive dogs whose “feelings are easily hurt,” according to AKC experts. They don’t respond well to harsh corrections, so the focus should be on rewarding and praising for good behavior.

Recommended Videos

Medium breeds

Collies

According to the Collie Club of America (CCA), this breed hails from Scotland, where they were bred as herding dogs. Their popularity grew during the 1860s when Queen Victoria visited the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with the breed. Collies are intelligent, friendly, loving, and playful. They are also easy to train and naturally clean, which makes them one of the easiest breeds to housebreak, say CCA experts.

Shiba inus

This ancient Japanese breed was originally bred as a hunting dog and today is the most popular companion dog in Japan. According to the AKC, this breed first came to the U.S. in the 1950s and is gaining in popularity. They are high-spirited, alert, independent, and confident dogs described by breed experts as more like cats than canines. They can be challenging to train, but this doesn’t extend to housebreaking. According to the AKC, shiba inus are “practically born housebroken,” with a 4-week-old puppy trying to get as far away from his sleeping area as possible to do his business. At 5 weeks old, a shiba inu puppy can make it through the night without needing to eliminate.

Small breeds

Malteses

Gentle, playful, and charming, this toy breed is also intelligent and outgoing, making them a popular choice for pet parents looking for a small dog. According to the American Maltese Association (AMA), these dogs are happy to play, walk, or curl up on a warm lap for a snooze. They live to please, which makes potty training easier. Crating between pee breaks or when the dog is unsupervised helps avoid accidents around the house, according to AMA experts.

Happy Maltese dog out for a walk.
RitaE / Pixabay

Havaneses

According to the Havanese Club of America, the Havanese is the national dog of Cuba and the country’s only native breed. These cute dogs are outgoing, funny, and affectionate and get along well with children and other pets, making them popular family companions. Experts at the AKC describe the Havanese as highly intelligent people pleasers who are easily trained with positive motivation.

Patience is key when it comes to succeeding at potty-training a puppy. Pet parents need to understand that accidents are part of the process, and getting angry at a puppy when it happens scares and confuses the dog and slows down the process. Faithfully follow basic house-training guidelines, and your dog will eventually get it right, and you can relax knowing your best friend will alert you when he needs to go outside.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Vera Lawlor
Vera Lawlor
Contributor
Vera was the pet columnist for 201 Family magazine and has contributed pet and animal welfare articles to Bone-A-Fide Mutts…
Beagle 101: Key things to know before getting one as a pet
What makes beagle dogs so special
Little girl playing with a beagle

Beagles are lovable dogs who melt hearts with their soulful eyes and long, silky ears. They conjure up images of a pack of hounds out on a hunt, a playmate hanging out with a kid, a hiking companion, or even a cuddle buddy at the end of an adventurous day. The beagle dog breed is certainly all of these wonderful things and more.

It’s believed that the ancestors of the people-loving beagle were small hunting dogs that English gentlemen used to track hares in the 1500s. Today, two varieties of beagles are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC): the 13-inch beagle and the 15-inch beagle. The smaller dogs are under 13 inches in height, while the larger ones can measure over 13 and at or under 15 inches. Both have short coats and come in a variety of colors, with the most common being the tri-colored black, white, and tan. The other colors of the beagle dog breed are white and red, and the less common lemon and white. However, there is so much more to this dog than its looks.

Read more
What are the 7 breed groups and where does my dog fit in?
The American Kennel Club dog groups and the breeds that fit in them
A group of dogs sits on the sidewalk during their walk

We know dogs came to us from wild canines (likely wolves) and probably domesticated themselves rather than the other way around. In the process, different types of pups came about, possibly splitting into groups more than 5,000 years ago! To categorize all these beasties, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has a list of recognized breeds, each of which fits into one of the seven groups. We'll walk you through the breed groups so you can determine where your pooch fits best.
How do you classify dogs?

Dogs came from wolves and still share 99% of their DNA with their foreparents. Within the scientific world, dogs share a genus Canis with wolves, coyotes, and jackals. However, we generally don't recommend mixing these animals since our pets have become something totally unique.

Read more
Which dog has the best sense of smell? See if you can guess correctly
Bloodhound tracking in forest

Whether their heads are held high sniffing in the wind or buried under something mysteriously stinky on your morning walk, there’s no doubt a dog’s sense of smell is a key part of the way he navigates his world. It's actually important to let your dog sniff as you stroll along, as it can help his brain generate new pathways in learning.

In fact, a dog’s sense of smell is so powerful that it can be trained to detect food allergies, certain forms of cancer, and even bedbugs! Law enforcement agencies use dogs to track criminals, narcotics, and explosives, while search-and-rescue organizations use dogs to find missing persons.

Read more