Today I’ll break down how to potty train a Husky puppy into 5 easy hacks! You’ll also find helpful tips and hints tucked within to make the potty training process smoother and quicker, as well as what to do about pottying accidents.
All of the information presented today was gathered from expert sources that will be revealed as we go so you know it’s the most accurate and up-to-date. All of this valuable information will be presented in an easy-to-follow format right here, in one convenient place.
Today You’ll Discover:
- Your Husky’s Capacity for Being Trained
- When Potty Training Should Begin
- 5 Easy Hacks for Potty Training a Husky
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Re Potty Training Huskies
- The Benefits of Rewards Rather than Punishment
- What to Do if Your Husky Keeps Peeing in the House
- Why Male Dogs (& Some Females) Spray & What You Can Do
That seems like a lot to go over, doesn’t it? Take heart! We’ll break it down into bite-sized pieces and by the end, you will be armed with everything you must know to successfully potty train your Husky puppy. Today we begin with the absolute most FAQ…
Are Huskies Hard to Potty Train?
The news is good, my friends! You’ve selected an intelligent dog breed! Not only will you be able to potty train your Husky puppy with relative ease, but you’ll also be able to train him (or her) in much more complex ways!
Training your puppy for anything relies on consistency and praise. Your smart Husky will adapt to your routine, so do establish one! Remember, all training is ongoing, progressive, and life-long. Do be sure, though, that you pay attention to your dog’s natural processes as you establish this routine.
All dogs are unique when it comes to their potty habits. Some dogs have bowels that are triggered as soon as they begin eating and some dogs won’t move their bowels until about 4 hours after they’ve eaten. Observing your dog’s digestive cycle will help make potty training easy! I should
FUN FACT: Observing your Husky is helpful in more areas than potty training! Did you know that dogs primarily communicate through body language? I assure you your furry best friend is watching your body language, learning his (or hers!) just makes sense, doesn’t it? On top of knowing when your dog is needing to go outside for a potty break, you’ll be able to ascertain at a glance if your Husky is feeling anxious, playful, or even aggressive!
At What Age Should a Puppy be Potty Trained?
Your puppy will ideally be about twelve weeks old when you bring him (or her) home. Regardless of age though, potty training should begin the day after your Husky arrives. Leave the first day for getting to know each other, learning where the food and water bowls are, and adjusting to the new sleeping area.
You’ll start to see potty habits being established within the first week of owning your Husky, but you should know it can take from 4-6 months for a puppy to be completely potty-trained (or housebroken).
Did You Know? The word “Husky” comes from the word “Esky”, a shortened version of “Eskimo”.
5 Hacks for Potty Training a Husky
#1 Understand Your Dog’s Needs and Routine: We’ve already discovered how important it is to observe your dog’s habits. It’s so important, learning your dog’s preferences for relieving himself (or herself) will help eliminate accidents and guarantee your Husky’s successful potty training.
To discover how long after eating your dog will need to poop, begin by taking him (or her) out directly after a meal, and repeat every half hour until your dog poops. Take note of the average time it takes after eating and try your best to coordinate your dog’s pooping habits with your schedule.
When it comes to peeing, it won’t be as easy to guess how often your dog will need to go. Of course, the younger the Husky, the more often it will need to pee. It won’t take long for you to learn how long your dog can hold his (or her) urine. A general rule of thumb is that Huskies up to the first year of age won’t be able to hold urine for more than 3 hours at a stretch. If you work an 8-hour shift, you’ll have to come up with an alternate plan like a dog-walker or “pee pad” training. We’ll do over the information about pee pads a little further along in the article.
You can expect an adult Husky to refrain from relieving themselves for about 8 hours at a stretch. If you work an 8-hour shift, don’t forget to include travel time and any after-work errands you may need to run when determining if you will need an alternate plan for pottying.
#2 Establish Perimeters: Whenever possible, get your dog to the area you’ve designated for pottying. Now don’t get me wrong! It’s excellent and highly recommended that you take your dog to as many places as possible. Dogs enjoy variety and new experiences just as much as we do! What I mean is to have the regular “go-to” place for everyday routine pottying.
Be sure you have a secure leash and harness or collar for outdoor potty time. Better yet, use a harness and collar TOGETHER! Nothing is more important than safety. And don’t forget to pick up a package of waste bags if they’re required where you live. If you’re traveling with your dog, take some along for sure!
#3 Establish a Routine: Life can get hectic and I understand that it’s not always possible to keep an exact routine, but your dog will benefit from having a simple routine that doesn’t fluctuate more than when unavoidable. Remember, the Husky is a smart breed! A disruption in routine can cause your dog to suffer from anxiety, nervousness, or even fear!
#4 Be Consistent: This is a follow-up step to establishing a routine. Your dog will come to expect to be taken outside to relieve himself (or herself) at certain times of the day. The closer you stick to these times, the less apt your Husky is to have an accident inside.
#5 Reward Productive Results: If you’ve visited the Big Dog Den more than once, you know I’m a strong advocate of praise over punishment.
Did You Know? Your Husky will come to understand from 160-260 words! Some they’ll know after only 4 or 5 repetitions! Keep in mind that long sentences could be lost on your dog, so I suggest conveying your message in sentences that are 3 words long or shorter.
For example, rather than saying “You’re on a ‘time out’ for being naughty!” simply saying “Time out!” as you remove the dog from a situation where he (or she) undesirable behavior will be much more effective.
Husky Potty Training: Rewards vs Punishment
We just discovered that your dog is always reward-driven, but did you know the sweetest reward you can give is praise and affection? You stand at the center of your Husky’s universe and pleasing you is his (or her) number one goal! Always, always, ALWAYS, find opportunities to lavish both, praise and affection on your dog. It will strengthen the bond you share and help your dog aspire to keep pleasing you. For this reason, punishment is something you should give careful consideration to.
This applies to any reasons punishment may be considered, but to stay on topic, I’m talking specifically about punishment as it pertains to potty-training your Husky. Hitting your dog for having an accident may terrify the dog into stopping the behavior, but it will not nourish the bond and authority you desire.
Putting a dog outside for having an accident in the house really doesn’t achieve a goal, because the pottying has already occurred. Rather, just say something like “Potty Outside!” as you clean up the puddle, and affirm the phrase on every trip outdoors. Whatever words you use, keep them short and simple and repeat them for every potty excursion.
Did You Know? Adult Huskies can hold urine for up to about 8 hours, but younger dogs can only manage for about 3 hours.
Should You Use “Pee Pads” for Your Husky?
Knowing what we know about how long a Husky can hold their bladder, there may be times when the dog has no choice but to relieve itself outside of the normal perimeters. additionally, you may have a physical barrier to taking your dog outside for pottying every time it’s necessary. For these times, a “pee pad” might prove to be helpful.
These pads have an absorbent top layer and a waterproof bottom layer to protect your floor and carpeting.
It’s Good to Know… If you enjoy a boating lifestyle, you’ll want to utilize pee-pads if your dog will be on board with you for 3 hours or more without being ashore. You can learn all you need to know about boating with your Husky right here in the Big Dog Den by clicking on this link.
How to Stop a Husky From Peeing in the House
Accidents are fairly common during the house-training process. It’s essential that you thoroughly clean the areas where the accident occurred. If the dog can still smell the urine after it’s dried, he (or she) may believe the scent is an indicator of where to pee again. Buy a special enzymatic cleaner formulated to remove all the odor.
Additionally, try increasing the frequency with which your dog is allowed outdoor time.
Why Male Dogs “Spray” & What You Can Do
Did You Know? Female dogs can spray, too!
It’s most inconvenient to have a dog of any sex or breed that sprays! Not only is it detrimental to furniture, rugs, and even walls…. it stinks!
There are 3 reasons your Husky is Spraying in the House:
- “Marking” the Territory: This trait is hereditary: passed down through centuries from times when all dogs lived in packs, rather than on our favorite armchairs! This spraying was a warning to the enemy and comfort to the pack members.
- Anxiety: Does it surprise you to learn that your Husky is susceptible to anxiety, stress, loneliness, and even boredom? It’s true! Spraying can manifest as a symptom of any of these issues.
- Illness or Infection: There are certain low-grade illnesses and infections that promote incontinence. Some dog owners have mistaken the incontinence for a spraying issue and weren’t aware of an illness or infection until it was discovered in a routine veterinary exam or became a medical emergency.
I hope today’s article answered all your questions about potty training your Husky puppy! The more we know about our four-legged furry companions, the more enjoyable the experience will be as we journey through time with them. Here at the Big Dog Den, we are constantly expanding our library of big dog knowledge. Stop in again soon and don’t forget to utilize the search bar on the site!
*This article was reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
