12 Easiest Small Dogs to Potty Train

Housebreaking a dog can be a frustrating and daunting experience. For many pet owners, this always seems to be a cycle of taking one step forward and two backwards.

Without patience and understanding, it is easy to give up altogether.

The most challenging thing with potty training is that some dog breeds are better at it than others.

While it is not a good idea to pick a dog because of the ease of potty training alone, having one that will not drive you crazy during the process is a major plus.

So, which small dogs are easy to potty train?

Well, here is our list of the top 12 easiest small dogs to potty train:  

1. Papillon

With only 4-9 pounds of body weight and affection for everyone, the papillon is a charming lap dog. Not only is he friendly to his owners but strangers as well.

If you live in an apartment, this dog is perfect. He’s tiny, has minimal shedding, and is a great watchdog.

Most importantly, getting him to use the potty is quite easy. Papillons are obedient and eager to please their owners. They also love picking up new habits.

These traits will fasten the potty train process and make it less stressful for you.

2. Maltese

This is yet another breed that makes housebreaking manageable and speedy.

For one, Maltese dogs are clean. This definitely contributes to their desire to eliminate in specific locations on a permanent basis.

They are also very cooperative and focused than other toy spaniels.

Simply pick up a training schedule and stick with it until your pup masters the skill.

This should take a few days or weeks depending on the actual dog and your dedication to training.

3. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are known for being a tad stubborn but they are actually some of the most obedient dogs to the right owners.

Generally, they love to please their owners except for a few unpleasant moments when they go rogue.

The trick is to begin potty training early enough. The recommended age is between two and three months.

At this stage, most Shih Tzus have the capacity to understand the whole idea behind potty training.

As with any other breed, this requires patience and persistence on your part.

4. Miniature Schnauzer

Cuddly, cute, and easy to train – these are some of the reasons the Miniature Schnauzer is a popular breed in many homes.

They are big on obedience, which means their response to your commands is rather impressive.

If you know what to do, you can potty train your pup in less than two weeks. Some actually come from the breeder when they are fully house-trained.

Having said that, no two Miniature Schnauzers respond to housebreaking similarly.

Be open-minded and firm, offer treats, and tackle the task one day at a time.

In no time, your dog will not be leaving messes all over the house.

5. Shiba Inu

When it comes to obedience training, the Shiba Inu dog breed doesn’t do too well. He can come off as stubborn and willful to most people meaning potty training them is a hard nut to crack.

While this may be true, Shiba Inus are neat and tidy. They don’t really enjoy making a mess in their living quarters.

For this reason, they find it easy to adopt a training method if it means they’ll maintain their neatness.

Whether it is a litter box, a pee pad, crate training, or even going outside, this little fox will cooperate quite well.

When you run into a few episodes where your dog doesn’t do as you tell him to, don’t take it personally.

6. Boston Terrier

Terriers, in general, were developed to be ferocious fighters.

Over time, some of the breeds in this family have converted and become gentle and well-mannered pets in the world.

One of them is Boston Terrier. This intelligent dog may show his stubborn side from time to time but he’s obedient for the most part.

Since he can pick up the tone in your voice, you may want to go slow on punishment as it can be counterproductive.

7. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

If you’d love to own this thick-coated tail wager, you will be happy to know that training him to use the potty is an easy undertaking as well.

This is because like other dogs on this list, he is a very intelligent dog who enjoys putting a smile on your face.

The only challenge is muscle control. If you notice that he has a letdown before you arrive at the destination, don’t panic.

Instead, increase the frequency of the bathroom breaks until he can hold his bladder better.

8. Coton de Tulear

Cotons are famous for having the whitest and softest coats among all dog breeds.

Cuddling with this toy breed can go on forever. He also has an expressive face and beautiful eyes that scream “I love you” when he looks at you.

To make the deal even sweeter, this breed can be potty trained with relative ease compared to others.

As long as you start the process as soon as you bring him home and stick to a regular training schedule, you should be done with it in a week or two.

9. Havanese

Havanese dogs are smart, cooperative, and trainable.

Ultimately, house training is a fast and easy process if you do it right.

Many pet owners choose crate training to teach their fur babies to go to the toilet.

Whichever method you use, ensure it is both comfortable and safe for your pup.

This breed is also big on rewards. Don’t refrain from playing a game of fetch or letting him have a treat when he manages to use the potty.

10. Tibetan Spaniel

Bred as guard dogs for Tibetan monasteries, Tibetan Spaniels (or Tibbies) are brave and loyal.

In a family setting, they will find time to create strong bonds with their owners.

They are intelligent and enjoy learning new things quickly. As a result, housebreaking a Tibbie is not only fast but can be enjoyable as well.

For the best results, offer treats to motivate him to work even harder.

11. Toy Poodle

Poodles are smart dogs that really enjoy pleasing their owners.

They are good scorers when it comes to obedience training and have an easy time noticing and adapting to patterns. This really plays out very well during potty training.

If you show your dog when and where to relieve himself, he won’t have a problem going there.

A toy poodle has a smaller bladder which means you will need to commit to taking him outside after meals and as soon as he wakes up.

12. Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is an adorable designer dog developed in the 1960s.

It is not as famous as other toy breeds but it is rapidly becoming a favorite in many families of the world.

He is intelligent and loves to learn new skills. As a result, he is one of the easiest small dogs to potty train.

Positive reinforcement works great with cockapoos.

During potty training, consider giving him treats, his favorite toys, and patting him in the back as a reward for a good job done.

Final Thoughts

There it is: a list of 12 small dogs that are easy to housebreak.

When all is said and done, potty training is a game of consistency, supervision, and repetition.

Even if things get rough, don’t quit. In a couple of weeks or months, you shall reap a great reward for your labor.