My puppy pees on the pad but won't poop. How do I train them?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed
My puppy will pee on a puppy pad but won't poop. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 29th, 2016
[Housetraining](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/) a puppy can be frustrating, but with a little patience and consistency, it can be accomplished. Puppies will typically need to use the bathroom about 10-15 minutes after eating/drinking, waking up or playing. You can use these times to reinforce [training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/housetraining) by bringing the puppy to your designated potty area (such as outside or a puppy pad) and giving them a chance to go. It may take up to 10-20 minutes before your puppy settles enough to actually go. Expect accidents and [mistakes](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-housetraining-mistakes). Be sure to praise and treat if the puppy goes in the right spot. If you catch puppy going in a spot other than the recommended area, do not punish him or her, simply pick the puppy up and move them to the right spot, then praise and reward profusely once they finish there.
60Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 11th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This is likely behavioral and will correct over time. One product that I recommend for people is something called Fresh Patch, which is a patch of grass delivered to your house every month. I've had great success getting puppies to use the patch of grass and find that they become potty trained rather quickly. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on September 8th, 2017
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Eli is still very young so it will just take a bit more time. Since he is already urinating on the pad you are half way there! Try putting some of his poop onto the pad to show Eli that it's an ok place to relieve himself. Fence Eli into the area using furniture or baby gates while you're gone. Frequently take Eli to the pad. For puppies, you should take them there every 30 minutes. I hope this is what you need to get Eli pad trained! Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on February 27th, 2018
Housetraining a puppy is not as easy as you may think, and there are many things that can affect how easily a puppy is housetrained. I am attaching a link to a handout below with very detailed information about housetraining. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2421 And this is an article on housetraining pitfalls. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2461 Since you didn't give me the specifics of your training, I will offer the following advice for Bindi. Be sure to give a lot of positive reinforcement when she does actually go outside (which may be praise or treats). Do not allow her to run around the house after going outside and not urinating. Crate train her and put her in the crate if you go outside and she does not urinate until you take her outside and she does urinate. An alternative to this is to keep her on a leash when you come inside and she has not urinated outside. This way you can make a quick scolding noise like "No!" while she is urinating and quickly take her outside to finish urinating. There is no point in scolding unless you catch her in the act of urinating, so it usually requires a puppy to be on leash. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on November 25th, 2017
Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to hear about Piper. The steps are basically the same for training puppies and adult dogs. Please refer to this link for some good tips- https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-tips-to-potty-train-your-dog-young-and-old/ Basically, it's all about consistency and knowing when the time is right to take the puppy outside. Young puppies will take some time to train. They need time to mature and understand what you are expecting of them. So, here are the times to focus on and please understand they will have accidents during the training program. Take them out when they wake up from a nap or long sleep, Right after playing or during playing when they lose focus and start wandering around looking for somewhere to go, Right after they eat or drink, or whenever they appear to be searching for a bathroom spot. If they do NOT go to the bathroom outside bring them back inside and place them in their crate with a toy or something to occupy them. Try to take them out again in 15 minutes or so. If they are not crate trained, keep them on a leash right by your side so they cannot wander away and eliminate in the house. Take them out to the same spot in the yard each time. Do Not Play with them during these times, this will only confuse them. Take them out to potty and nothing else at these times. Play times should be separate from these times. Reward them verbally and sometimes with food when they eliminate outside in the designated area. Always leave one or two bowel movements in the area so they get used to going in the designated area. Use the same door each time when going out to potty. It's all about consistency in the beginning. If they have an accident in the house, scoop them up and get them outside, Do Not Make a Big Deal out of it even though it's trying your nerves. Never allow the puppy to witness you cleaning up the mess either. Try to do it when they are not looking. This process takes consistency and repetition. Good luck with Piper. Remember consistency, repetition and positive rewards
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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