Puppy Potty + Crate Training Schedule by Age (8–16 Weeks): Week-by-Week Plan

Published December 17, 2025 Words 1645 Read time 9 min

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but the first few weeks can feel like a full-time job. The good news: a simple plan makes potty training and crate training much easier. This puppy potty training schedule and crate training schedule is built for the ages when most puppies move in (8–16 weeks). It tells you how often to take your puppy out, how to use the crate for naps and nights, and how to slowly grow your puppy’s “hold it” time without creating stress.

Every puppy is a little different. Smaller puppies usually need more breaks, and active play can make a puppy need to pee sooner. Use the schedule as a starting point, then adjust based on your puppy’s success. If your puppy is having frequent accidents, go out more often for a few days and build back up.

Before you start: set up success at home

Pick one potty spot and stick with it

Choose a small area outside where you want your puppy to go. Take them to the same spot every time, stand still, and give them a chance to sniff. Consistency helps your puppy understand the job faster.

If your puppy is not fully vaccinated yet, ask your veterinarian what outdoor areas are safe. Many owners use a private yard or a low-traffic spot to reduce exposure to germs while training is in progress.

Create a simple, safe “puppy zone”

In the first month, most accidents happen because puppies have too much freedom. Use a crate plus a small puppy-safe area (like a playpen or gated room). Your puppy is either:

Outside going potty,
With you and supervised, or
Resting in the crate or puppy zone.

Crate basics that prevent accidents

A crate works best when it feels like a cozy bedroom, not a punishment. Use a crate that is just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down. If it is too large, some puppies will potty in one corner and sleep in the other.

Keep the crate comfortable and safe. Remove your puppy’s collar before crating, offer fresh water during normal awake time, and use the crate for short, planned rests instead of long, random confinement.

The potty training rules that work for every week

Use “event-based” potty trips

Even the best schedule can fail if you skip the moments when puppies almost always need to go. Take your puppy out:

Right after waking up (morning and naps)
Right after eating or drinking
After playtime or training
After being in the crate
Before going back into the crate
Before bedtime

Keep each potty trip short and calm

Go to the potty spot, wait quietly, and give your puppy 5–10 minutes. If nothing happens, bring them back inside and supervise closely. Try again in 10–15 minutes. This prevents your puppy from learning that “potty time” is a long outdoor play session.

Reward the right behavior fast

The reward should happen within a few seconds of your puppy finishing. Quiet praise plus a small treat works well. The timing matters more than the size of the reward.

Add a simple potty cue

As your puppy starts to understand, add a consistent cue phrase right as they begin to go (for example, “go potty”). Over time, the cue can help your puppy go faster on rainy days, before car rides, or right before bedtime.

Learn the early warning signs

Most puppies show clues before they go. Watch for:

Suddenly sniffing the floor
Circling
Wandering away from you
Heading toward the door
Stopping play and looking distracted

Crate training basics for 8–16 week old puppies

Make the crate a good place

Start with the door open. Toss a treat in, let your puppy walk in and out, and repeat. Feed meals near the crate, then inside the crate if your puppy is comfortable. Add a safe chew or food puzzle during short crate sessions so your puppy has something to do.

Use the crate for naps, not just nighttime

Puppies need a lot of sleep. Planned naps prevent “overtired zoomies,” biting, and accidents. A young puppy often does best with a nap after 45–90 minutes awake.

Keep crate time matched to bladder time

A crate helps with potty training because most puppies avoid soiling their sleeping area. But it only works if you take your puppy out before they are desperate. If your puppy cries and you suspect they need to potty, take them out on a boring potty trip, then right back to the crate.

Nighttime setup

For the first few weeks, place the crate close to your bed. This helps your puppy settle and helps you hear when they wake up and need to go out. Night potty trips should be quiet, short, and boring: out to potty, reward, back to bed.

Puppy potty + crate training schedule by week (8–16 weeks)

Use the “how often” line as your default. Then add extra trips after the big events (waking, eating, playing). If your puppy has two accidents in one day, tighten the schedule the next day.

8 weeks old

Potty when awake: every 30–45 minutes, plus after every event.
Crate naps: 30–60 minutes at a time, with a potty break right before and right after.
Overnight: expect 1–2 potty trips. Many puppies need a break every 2–3 hours.

9 weeks old

Potty when awake: every 45–60 minutes.
Crate naps: 45–75 minutes at a time.
Overnight: many puppies still need a break every 2.5–3.5 hours.

10 weeks old

Potty when awake: about every 60 minutes.
Crate naps: 60–90 minutes at a time.
Overnight: often 3–4 hours between breaks, but some still need more often.

11 weeks old

Potty when awake: every 60–75 minutes.
Crate naps: 60–120 minutes at a time.
Overnight: often 3–4 hours between breaks.

12 weeks old

Potty when awake: every 75–90 minutes.
Crate naps: 90–120 minutes at a time.
Overnight: some puppies can stretch to 4–5 hours; some still need one break.

13 weeks old

Potty when awake: about every 90 minutes.
Crate naps: about 2 hours at a time for many puppies.
Overnight: often 4–6 hours; one quick break may still be normal.

14 weeks old

Potty when awake: every 90–120 minutes.
Crate naps: 2–3 hours at a time.
Overnight: often 5–6 hours, depending on bedtime routine and puppy size.

15 weeks old

Potty when awake: about every 2 hours, plus after events.
Crate naps: 2–3 hours at a time.
Overnight: often 5–7 hours; some puppies sleep through.

16 weeks old

Potty when awake: every 2–3 hours, plus after events and excitement.
Crate naps: up to 3 hours for many puppies (less if your puppy is struggling).
Overnight: many puppies can sleep 6–8 hours, but plan for a break if your puppy wakes up.

A sample daily routine you can copy and adjust

This template works for most 8–16 week puppies. Shift the times to match your life, but keep the order. The pattern is what matters.

Morning block

Wake up, straight outside to potty.
Short play or a quick training session.
Breakfast, then potty again 5–15 minutes later.
Calm time, then a crate nap.

Midday block

Potty immediately after the nap.
Supervised play in your puppy zone.
Lunch (if you are feeding three meals), then potty again.
Another crate nap.

Afternoon and evening block

Potty after each nap, after play, and after dinner.
One calm walk in your yard or a short leash practice session (not a long exercise session).
Quiet chew time in the crate while you cook, shower, or work.

Bedtime block

Make evenings predictable: potty, calm time, potty again.
Offer water regularly during the day. For bedtime, keep the last big drink earlier so the final potty trip is easier.
One final potty trip right before the crate for the night.
If your puppy wakes and cries, take them out for a boring potty trip, then back to bed.

How to handle accidents without slowing progress

If you catch your puppy in the act

Stay calm. Interrupt with a gentle sound, pick your puppy up, and go straight to the potty spot. If they finish outside, reward. If not, try again in 10–15 minutes and watch closely.

If you find an accident later

Do not punish. Your puppy will not connect punishment to the earlier accident. Clean it well, tighten supervision, and add more potty trips for a day or two.

Clean like it matters

Use a cleaner made to remove pet odors. If any smell remains, your puppy may return to that spot.

Troubleshooting common crate and potty problems

My puppy cries in the crate

First, assume the basics: potty, hunger, thirst, and comfort. If those needs are met, keep crate training slow and positive. Do short crate sessions during the day with a chew, and build time in small steps. A covered crate can help some puppies settle, but make sure there is good airflow.

My puppy pees in the crate

This usually means one of three things: the crate is too large, your puppy stayed in too long, or your puppy had a full bladder before going in. Make the crate smaller, take an extra potty trip right before crating, and shorten the session for a week.

We were doing great and then we had setbacks

Setbacks are normal during growth spurts, schedule changes, and exciting new situations. Go back to the last “easy” schedule for 3–5 days, then build up again. Consistency beats speed.

I work away from home

Young puppies cannot stay crated all workday. Use a safe puppy zone with a crate plus an exercise pen, and arrange for a midday potty break. If you cannot get a break, consider a temporary helper. The goal is to prevent repeated accidents that become habits.

When and how to give your puppy more freedom

Use the “earn it” rule

Freedom is a reward. Your puppy earns more space by staying accident-free with your current routine.

Add one small room at a time.
Keep supervision high in new spaces.
Use the crate or puppy zone when you cannot watch.

Signs your schedule is working

Your puppy goes quickly when you reach the potty spot.
Accidents are rare and usually happen when the schedule is skipped.
Your puppy can settle for naps in the crate with less fuss.

With a clear routine, most puppies make big progress between 8 and 16 weeks. Focus on repetition, quick rewards, and a calm crate routine. If you stay consistent for a few weeks, your puppy will start to understand where to go, how to rest, and how to relax when it is time for a nap or bedtime.

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