Y’all! How come no one told me how much it costs to potty train your dog? And how come no one told me that when you move to a new home, you have to potty train your dog all over again? The last time I moved with Sugar, I realized that potty training should’ve been a part of my budget.
Sugar and I are getting ready to move again. And the first thing she did when we visited our new home was pee right on my floor. Not to say that I was surprised. But still. Potty training wasn’t on my schedule
that day.
So, this blog post we’re breaking down how much it really costs to potty train your dog, especially if you’re doing it all over again after a move.
What is Dog Potty Training and Why Does It Matter?
Potty training is the process of teaching your dog where and when to relieve themselves appropriately. In other words, it’s teaching your dog that your carpet is not her personal toilet and that spot behind the couch is not for him to go pee.
There are 3 common reasons dog moms potty train their dogs:
1. New puppy or rescue dog: Most dogs enter your life without knowing the house rules. Potty
training is step one to a peaceful routine.
2. Moving to a new home: Even well-trained dogs need a refresh when adjusting to new spaces,
scents, and schedules.
3. Behavior regression or medical recovery: Illness, anxiety, or changes in schedule can disrupt
potty habits and require retraining.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Dog?
Most dogs take between 2 weeks to 6 months to become fully house-trained, depending on their age, personality, prior training, and your consistency.
When Sugar was a puppy, it took her a few months and what seemed like a million pieces of newspaper and potty pads to finally get the hang of “going to the potty.” Now, it only takes me about 3 to 4 weeks to train her to get used to her new surroundings when we move.
Training times vary. Here’s a quick breakdown of average potty-training times:
1. Puppies under 12 weeks: Expect a few months of steady progress with lots of supervision.
2. Adult rescues: Could take 2–8 weeks if they’ve had some training before.
3. Regressions or post-move transitions: Typically take 1–3 weeks to re-establish habits.
But don’t be fooled; mistakes happen. And every mistake costs something – whether it’s your time, energy, cleaning supplies, or a rug you didn’t plan to replace.
Potty Training Costs: How to Budget for a Dog
Yes. Potty training your dog is all about the routine. I can’t tell you how many times I set the alarm on my phone to make sure I got Sugar used to a routine.
But potty training also costs money. It costs about $200 to train Sugar. Between potty pads, new potty pad trays, sprays, and other training costs, I learned quickly that I needed to factor the costs into my budget.
The costs to potty train your dog varies. It’s based on your dog and the time you have to help your dog get used to his or her new routine. Estimated cost range:
1. Low budget DIY approach: $75–$150 total
2. Mid-range with occasional help: $200–$500
3. High support with pro trainer + new space prep: $500–$900+
Low Budget/DIY Approach
This works best when your home is stable, your schedule is reliable, and you’re able to reinforce habits daily. It’s also the most cost effective.
Item/Service Cost Range:
- Potty pads or turf trays: $25 to $40
- Enzyme cleaners (to eliminate odors): $10 to $25
- Training treats for reinforcement: $10 to $20
- Printable or app-based training schedules: $0 to $10
- Optional crate (if not already owned): $30 to $60
Total Range: $75 to $150
Mid-Range/Occasional Help
This tier is for dog moms who want a little help establishing the foundation (like schedule creation or feedback on progress). You might not need full-on behavior help, but you value a pro-opinion or accountability.
Item/Service Cost Range:
- Potty pads or turf trays: $25 to $40
- Enzyme cleaners (to eliminate odors): $10 to $25
- Training treats for reinforcement: $10 to $20
- Printable or app-based training schedules: $0 to $10
- Optional crate (if not already owned): $30 to $60
- 1–2 in-home or virtual sessions w/ a trainer focused only on potty training: $75 to $150 each
- Digital potty-training program or tracker app: $10 to $50
- Pee-proof area rugs or washable mats: $40 to $100
- Gate or pen for containment: $30 to $75
Total Range: $200 to $500
High Support/Pro-Trainer + Space Prep
You’re paying for hands-on strategy and environment design. This works best if you’ve recently moved (like you), have limited time to monitor every accident, or have a pup struggling with consistency.
Item/Service Cost Range:
- 3–4 in-home sessions from a certified trainer focused solely on housebreaking: $300 to $600
- Cleaning products + accident replacement gear: $50 to $100
- Long-term crate + second crate/playpen: $100 to $150
- Calming aids for anxiety-induced accidents (CBD, Adaptil diffuser, etc.): $25 to $50
- Smart camera to monitor accidents: $40 to $75
- Full space reconfiguration (e.g. pen setup, gating strategy, crate adjustment, mat zones): Varies
Total Range: $500 to $900+
Dog Mom Math: 3 Ways to Budget for Potty Training
Believe it or not, you can find Dog Mom Math everywhere. Including potty training your dog. Here’s how Dog Mom Math can help you budget your potty-training expenses.
1. Break Big Costs Into Monthly Micro-Budgets: Instead of spending $300 all at once on supplies,
spread your budget over three months. For example, set aside $25/month for pads, $10/month for
cleaners, and $10/month for training treats. This small change makes the total cost more manageable
and less overwhelming.
2. Invest Where It Prevents Future Costs: Paying $20 for a high-quality enzyme cleaner might save you
from spending $150 on a new area rug. Or spending $150 on a pet-friendly area rug to increase the
chances of getting your $250 security deposit back when you move out. Think of every dollar as
protecting your home, sanity, time, and your dog’s routine.
3. Treat Time Like a Line Item: Potty training takes more than supplies, it takes time. If it’s in your
budget, consider outsourcing parts of the process (like a trainer or walker) to free up energy and stay
consistent. Time saved is money preserved and stress avoided.
Budget for Mistakes in Your Potty Training Expenses
Potty training your dog takes patience. When I brought Sugar home, I was commuting to work an hour and 30 minutes one way. So, there was no way I could come home for lunch to let her out. I decided to train her on the potty pads first.
I can’t tell you how many times I thought Sugar was doing great only to find out she was secretly peeing
behind my couch. However, with time, effort, and a whole lot of treats, we found a formula that works.
As your mapping out your potty-training budget, build in a line item for mistakes to avoid the frustration of spending money on something you weren’t planning on. For instance:
1. Purchasing a new brand of stain remover because the one everyone told you to get doesn’t work
for your dog.
2. Underestimating the number of potty pads you’ll need to buy. I must’ve spent $100 on potty pads
alone for the first 2 months.
3. Buying a new brand of dog treats for training because your dog doesn’t like the ones you thought
were so cute in the store. Hence, why I stick to homemade chicken treats and pupcakes for
special occasions.
Budgeting for the unexpected when potty training your dog will help reduce the stress of having to spend money that you hadn’t planned on spending.
Potty Training Conclusion: Counting Down to a New Home
Let the countdown begin. Three weeks from now, Sugar and I will be settled in our new home. Finally! This time I’ve included potty training into my moving budget. Especially, since she already blessed my floor. Thank goodness for Clorox Wipes.
At least I can say that she likes our new home so much that she wanted to mark her territory. This is what we call a silver lining.
To get ready, I’ve already purchased a huge box of potty pads and a lot of Clorox Wipes. I even purchased a pet-friendly stain resistant area rug to avoid too many “ninja pees” and a fresh bottle of stain remover.
My total potty-training expenses so far, $200. I’ve even factored in $50 for some of those potty-training mistakes.
Now, we’d also love to hear from you. How much do you budget for potty training your dog? What potty training tricks have worked?
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