Easiest Dogs to Potty Train: 15 Breeds Ranked by Housebreaking Speed

Some dogs figure out housebreaking in a week. Others turn it into a months-long war of attrition against your sanity and your flooring. The difference usually comes down to three things: intelligence, natural cleanliness instinct, and bladder control relative to body size.

U.S. dog owners spent $5 billion on professional training and behavior modification in 2024 alone (PetWorks, 2024). Potty training is the first and most urgent test for every new owner. This guide ranks 15 breeds by how fast they typically learn, based on breed characteristics, trainer consensus, and owner reports.

TL;DR: Most puppies can be reliably housetrained between 4-6 months, but breed matters enormously. The Shiba Inu tops this list at 1-2 weeks thanks to a hardwired cleanliness instinct, while small breeds like Chihuahuas can take 8-12 weeks due to smaller bladders. Consistent schedule, crate training, and immediate rewards work regardless of breed.

What Makes a Dog Easy to Potty Train?

With 68 million U.S. households owning dogs in 2025 (APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 2025), housebreaking is the single most common training challenge new owners face. Three factors determine how quickly a dog picks up the routine:

Intelligence and trainability. Dogs that learn commands quickly — Border Collies, Poodles, German Shepherds — also learn potty routines quickly. They connect “going outside” with “getting praised” in fewer repetitions. But does a smart dog always mean an easy housebreak? Not necessarily. Intelligence without motivation (looking at you, Huskies) can actually slow things down.

Natural cleanliness instinct. Some breeds are hardwired to avoid soiling their living space. Shibas are famous for this. They’ll hold it until they burst rather than eliminate where they sleep, which makes crate training absurdly effective.

Bladder size relative to body weight. Larger dogs can physically hold it longer. A Great Dane puppy at 12 weeks can hold its bladder longer than a fully grown Chihuahua. This is why small breeds have a reputation for being harder to train — it’s partially a plumbing issue, not a brain issue. Puppies can generally hold their bladder about one hour per month of age during the day.

The 15 Easiest Breeds to Potty Train

1. Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is arguably the easiest dog to housebreak on the planet. Many Shiba breeders report puppies that are essentially born housebroken — they instinctively eliminate away from their sleeping area from the earliest weeks of life.

This isn’t training. It’s hardwired behavior. Shibas are fastidiously clean dogs that treat their living space like a Japanese garden. Most Shiba puppies are fully housetrained within 1-2 weeks of arriving home, and accidents after that are genuinely rare.

Typical housebreaking time: 1-2 weeks Why they’re fast: Extreme cleanliness instinct — they won’t soil their space even as very young puppies

2. German Shepherd

German Shepherds combine high intelligence with a strong desire to follow routines. They learn the potty schedule like they learn everything else: quickly, thoroughly, and with the intensity of a dog bred to work all day.

Shepherds respond best to structured, consistent routines. Take them out at the same times daily, praise enthusiastically when they go in the right spot, and they’ll have it figured out within a few weeks. Their large bladders also help — even as puppies, they can hold it longer than most breeds.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-3 weeks Why they’re fast: High intelligence + strong routine orientation + large bladder capacity

3. Labrador Retriever

Labs are people-pleasers to their core, and that eagerness to make you happy translates directly into fast potty training. When a Lab gets praised for going outside, it registers deeply. They want that reaction again.

Labs also tend to develop obvious “tell” behaviors — circling, sniffing the ground, walking toward the door — that make it easy for owners to recognize when they need to go out. Once you learn their signals, accidents drop fast.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-4 weeks Why they’re fast: Extreme eagerness to please + obvious pre-potty signals + good bladder control

4. Border Collie

The world’s most intelligent dog breed according to Stanley Coren’s ranking. Border Collies learn potty training the way they learn everything: at a pace that makes their owners feel like they’re falling behind.

The one complication is that Border Collies need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. A bored Border Collie may have accidents not because it doesn’t know better, but because it’s stressed or under-stimulated. Keep their minds and bodies busy, and housebreaking is a non-issue.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-3 weeks Why they’re fast: Highest canine intelligence + fast pattern recognition

5. Standard Poodle

Poodles of all sizes are exceptionally intelligent, but the Standard Poodle has an edge in potty training because of its larger bladder. Standard Poodles are naturally clean dogs that dislike soiling their environment — a trait that makes crate training particularly effective.

They respond best to positive, upbeat training sessions. Poodles can be sensitive to harsh corrections, so keep the praise flowing and the tone enthusiastic.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-3 weeks Why they’re fast: High intelligence + natural cleanliness + larger bladder (Standard size)

6. Australian Shepherd

Aussies are neat, smart, and crate-training naturals. They instinctively avoid soiling where they sleep, which means a properly sized crate turns housebreaking into an almost automatic process.

Like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds need ample exercise and stimulation. A tired Aussie is a well-behaved Aussie, and that includes potty habits.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-4 weeks Why they’re fast: High trainability + strong den instinct + good bladder control

7. Bernese Mountain Dog

Gentle giants that aim to please. Bernese Mountain Dogs are intelligent, calm, and genuinely upset when they have accidents — which means they self-correct quickly. Their large size also means excellent bladder capacity from a young age.

The only caveat: Bernese Mountain Dogs grow slowly. Their mental maturity sometimes lags behind their physical size, so occasional lapses can happen even after they seem fully trained. Stay consistent through months 4-6, and you’ll be fine.

Typical housebreaking time: 3-4 weeks Why they’re fast: Eager to please + large bladder + gentle temperament that responds well to encouragement

8. Golden Retriever

Similar to Labs in their people-pleasing nature, Goldens are reliable housebreakers. They tend to pick up the routine within a few weeks and stick with it. Goldens also develop clear signals when they need to go — many learn to sit by the door or bring their leash unprompted.

Typical housebreaking time: 3-4 weeks Why they’re fast: Strong desire to please + good bladder control + tendency to develop door-signaling behavior

9. Miniature Schnauzer

Schnauzers are alert, intelligent, and instinctively keep their sleeping area clean. The Miniature Schnauzer picks up potty training quickly for a small breed — their terrier intelligence helps them connect the dots faster than many toy breeds.

The main challenge is their small bladder. Miniature Schnauzers can’t hold it as long as larger breeds, so you’ll need more frequent potty breaks during training, even though they understand the concept quickly.

Typical housebreaking time: 3-5 weeks Why they’re fast: High intelligence for their size + cleanliness instinct

10. Papillon

The Papillon is a small dog with big-dog intelligence. The American Kennel Club lists the Papillon as one of the top 10 smartest toy breeds, and that brainpower shows in housebreaking. Papillons bond tightly with their owners and are highly motivated by praise, which accelerates training.

They’re one of the few toy breeds that trainers consistently recommend as “easy” to potty train. The small bladder is a factor, but their quick learning compensates.

Typical housebreaking time: 3-5 weeks Why they’re fast: Exceptional intelligence for a toy breed + strong owner bond + high praise motivation

11. Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans are working dogs with sharp minds and an innate desire for structure. They learn routines and stick with them. Once a Doberman understands that outside equals bathroom, the behavior locks in reliably.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-4 weeks Why they’re fast: High intelligence + strong routine adherence + large bladder

12. Maltese

Malteses are intelligent small dogs that can learn bladder control quickly with consistent routines. They respond well to a predictable schedule and positive reinforcement. Unlike some small breeds that seem to forget their training every other week, Malteses tend to maintain good habits once established.

Typical housebreaking time: 4-6 weeks Why they’re fast: Good intelligence for a toy breed + consistent once learned

13. Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers learn potty habits well with kind, patient training. They’re sensitive dogs — harsh corrections backfire — but they respond beautifully to positive reinforcement. Their small-to-medium size means moderate bladder capacity, which puts them in the middle of the pack for training speed.

Typical housebreaking time: 4-6 weeks Why they’re fast: Responsive to positive reinforcement + moderate bladder capacity

14. Vizsla

The Vizsla is a velcro dog that wants to be near you at all times, which means it’s also highly motivated by your approval. This breed picks up potty training quickly because it genuinely dislikes disappointing its owner. Large bladder capacity doesn’t hurt either.

Typical housebreaking time: 2-4 weeks Why they’re fast: Extreme owner attachment + high intelligence + large bladder

15. Havanese

The Havanese rounds out this list as one of the more trainable toy breeds. They’re cheerful, responsive to praise, and pick up routines faster than many other small breeds. Indoor potty pads can work well as a backup for Havanese owners in apartments.

Typical housebreaking time: 4-6 weeks Why they’re fast: Cheerful temperament + responsive to praise + good routine learning

The Universal Housebreaking Method

Regardless of breed, the core potty training method hasn’t fundamentally changed in decades — and that’s because it works. With 41% of Gen Z pet owners now paying for professional training services (UCFS Pet Industry Report, 2024), many new owners overcomplicate what’s really a simple routine. You don’t need a trainer for housebreaking. You need consistency.

Step 1: Establish a Schedule

Take your dog outside at these fixed times:

First thing in the morning (immediately — carry puppies to avoid accidents on the way)
After every meal (within 10-15 minutes of eating)
After naps
After play sessions
Last thing before bed

Puppies under 6 months need a trip every 2-3 hours. The general rule: a puppy can hold its bladder for roughly one hour per month of age, plus one. A 3-month-old puppy can hold it about 4 hours maximum.

Step 2: Use a Crate

Crate training exploits your dog’s natural instinct not to soil where it sleeps. The crate should be just large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down. Too large, and the dog can soil one end and sleep in the other.

Never use the crate as punishment. It should be a comfortable space the dog associates with rest.

Step 3: Reward Immediately

When your dog eliminates outside, praise enthusiastically and give a small treat within 3 seconds. The timing matters — delayed rewards don’t create the same association. Some trainers recommend saying a cue word (“go potty”) while the dog is in the act, so it eventually eliminates on command.

Step 4: Handle Accidents Calmly

If you catch your dog mid-accident, interrupt with a neutral “Oops!” and immediately take it outside. If you find an accident after the fact, clean it up without comment. Dogs don’t connect punishment with something that happened minutes or hours ago.

Clean accident spots with an enzymatic cleaner — regular cleaners don’t neutralize the odor markers that tell your dog “this is a bathroom.”

Breeds That Are Harder to Potty Train

For balance, here are breeds that typically take longer:

Breed	Why It’s Harder
Dachshund	Independent streak + small bladder
Bichon Frise	Small bladder + easily distracted
Jack Russell Terrier	Stubborn + high energy takes focus away
Pug	Can be stubborn about going outside in bad weather
Basset Hound	Scent fixation makes outdoor trips unproductive
Chihuahua	Tiny bladder + can be difficult to motivate

These breeds aren’t untrainable — they just typically take 6-12 weeks instead of 2-4. The same method works; it just requires more patience and more frequent trips outside.

Signs Your Dog Needs to Go

Learn your dog’s pre-potty signals. Most dogs show at least one:

Circling and sniffing the floor
Walking toward the door or scratching at it
Whining or barking while looking at you
Sudden restlessness after a period of calm
Squatting (at this point, you’re about 1 second from an accident)

Some owners train their dogs to ring a bell hung on the doorknob. This works remarkably well — most dogs learn the bell-ring-equals-door-opens association within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to potty train a puppy?

Most puppies from the easier breeds on this list are reliably housetrained within 2-6 weeks. Harder breeds or smaller breeds can take 8-12 weeks due to smaller bladder capacity (Spirit Dog Training, 2025). Full reliability — meaning virtually zero accidents — typically comes around 6 months of age for most breeds.

At what age should I start potty training?

Start when you bring the puppy home. For most puppies, that’s around 8 weeks old. Even at 8 weeks, puppies can start learning the association between going outside and getting praise. They’ll have frequent accidents, but the learning process begins immediately.

Do male or female dogs potty train faster?

No consistent difference exists between sexes for basic housebreaking. Male dogs may develop marking behavior around 6-12 months (lifting a leg on furniture), but that’s a separate issue from potty training. Neutering before marking behavior develops usually prevents it.

Can you potty train an older dog?

Absolutely. Adult dogs from shelters or rescues can learn housebreaking just as well as puppies — and often faster because they have fully developed bladders. Use the same method: schedule, crate, reward, and patience. Most adult dogs are housetrained within 1-2 weeks.

Are small dogs really harder to potty train?

Partly. Small dogs have smaller bladders, so they need more frequent bathroom breaks. They also produce smaller accidents that owners sometimes don’t notice immediately, which delays correction. But the biggest factor isn’t the dog’s size — it’s that owners of small breeds are more likely to be inconsistent with training because the consequences (small accidents) seem minor.