The puppies are doing amazing at using their litter boxes. They hardly ever miss! But we’re also taking them outside to practice going out to potty so their owners have a head start on housebreaking.

Here’s a good visual chart on when your new puppy might need to go out to potty.

We’re also practicing takes little trips in and out of the house in the soft carrier. This will get them used to a smaller carrier for those puppies that might be flying home or flying later in life with their owners.

I like to give them cheese treats when they’re in the carrier to make it a nice memory.

For ease of reward, and since I’m working with a bunch of young pups, I use this type of cheese for a quick trip. It’s obviously, not the healthiest for humans or puppies, but we’re using small amounts infrequently.

And we’re practicing crate time. They have a crate to sleep in at night, but I do leave it open so they can use the litter box should they need to at night. So we feed meals in crates so they also get used to being in there with the door closed for short periods of time.

First we started with them all eating together in one crate (when they were smaller). Then we go to three together in one crate.

Then we switch to two in each crate. And lastly, we’ll practice them each in their own crate.

Practice, practice, practice!