These strong willed little dogs usually have a totally different agenda than you, and are not always ready to accept your view of how life at home should be, which can make potty training your JRT very frustrating.

However, the following Jack Russell Housebreaking tips will make potty training much less problematic.

The ease with which you’ll be able to start house training a Jack Russell puppy will depend upon the age of your puppy when you bring him home. Most puppies are weaned and ready to start life with a new family at around 8 to 10 weeks of age.

At this stage, your puppy will still have a weak bladder and wont be able to control himself – especially during the night.  Be prepared to take your puppy outside or to a designated area for relieving himself every few hours.

Remember though that until your Jack Russell is at least 6 months old there will be times when he wont always be able to hold on.  That does not mean you should wait until 6 months to start housebreaking, the earlier you start the better. It just means that you need to be mentally prepared for a less-than-perfect training process until he gets a little older.

Select an Indoor Confinement Area

Even before you bring your puppy home, designate a place where he’ll be kept at night.  I use a crate for potty training puppies.  A crate is the best tool to use for the housebreaking process, especially for training an active Jack Russell puppy.  The crate will serve as your puppy’s bedroom, at least until he’s fully house trained.



Make Lots of Potty Trips

Critical to housebreaking your Jack Russell is the proximity of your puppy’s crate to your own bed or bedroom.  You’ll need to hear your puppy crying when it’s time for him to go potty.  Expect to be aroused from your sleep at least a couple of times during the night.

Use Training Pads

Newspaper if fine, but if you use training pads the process of housebreaking your Jack Russell will be easier for you, especially if you live in an apartment. They are also good if you have adopted your puppy at a time of the year when the weather is not the best for going outside.

Puppies, and older dogs too for that matter, are not too keen on going out in the rain or cold snow to relieve themselves so training pads are a very handy alternative. Remember, the faster you can get your puppy to the training pad before he has to go, the sooner he will be house trained.

Spotting Patterns During Housebreaking

There are certain times of the day when a puppy needs to relieve himself. Your puppy will need to go potty when:

1)      He first wakes up
2)      After rough housing or intense playing
3)      Waking up from a nap
4)      Drinking a lot of water
5)      Right before bed time

Housebreaking a puppy also requires that you be alert to the signals he gives when needing to go potty. Always go to him if you suddenly hear him whimpering or whining, and if he is walking in circles and sniffing the ground take him outside, or place him on his pad quickly and calmly.

Catching Him in the Act

During your housebreaking efforts catching your puppy in the actual act of peeing on your floor is a good training opportunity to help you get the message across. When you do, firmly say, “No!”  Your puppy will be startled and stop in the middle of his peeing. Then, quickly pick him up and take him outside or to his training pad.

If you don’t want to buy a pad several sheets of newspaper will soak everything up. Your puppy will still have some peeing to do, as you’ve stopped him right in the middle. That’s okay, he will continue, but don’t talk to him or distract him till he does. Just stay quietly nearby to make sure he finishes, then praise and give him a treat.

Never Punish Him

Never punish your puppy for peeing on the floor.  He is going to have accidents so do be patient. If you yell, punish him or make a big fuss, he will only learn to be afraid to go potty in front of you.  Use a neutralizing cleaner – non-ammonia based, like Nature’s Miracle to clean the area thoroughly.

Remember dogs have a very keen sense of smell. They have millions more olfactory receptors in their noses than humans do. Leave even the slightest hint of urine behind and your puppy will probably return to the same spot the next time he needs to relieve himself.

Patience, Praise and Consistency

Remember to be patient and praise your puppy whenever he does anything right. I can’t say enough about consistency though when it comes to training.  While the rules for housebreaking any breed of dog are pretty much the same, consistency is the key for Jack Russell housebreaking.