As a part of potty training a puppy, it is best to give your dog basic obedience training. Teach it to respond to simple commands. Of course, it is best to begin while your dog is still just a puppy. But even older dogs can learn. You would want to start potty training a puppy when it is very young, in the early weeks and certainly before it is five years old. This is not to say that a old dog cannot learn but its worth it will not be easy. Perhaps we should give thought to the saying, “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks”.