A simple routine for the first weeks: how often to go out, how to time it around meals and naps, and how to reward it so it sticks.
A young puppy doesn't yet have the bladder control to "hold it" on request — accidents aren't defiance, they're biology. A schedule works around that by getting your puppy outside before they need to go, so they succeed by default instead of by luck.
As a starting point, take a young puppy out every 1-2 hours while awake, plus immediately after waking up, after eating, and after playing — those three moments reliably trigger the urge. As accidents become rare over a few weeks, you can stretch the gaps. The puppy potty schedule by age shows how the gaps change from 8 weeks to 6 months.
Take your puppy to the same outdoor spot each time — the smell itself becomes a cue to go. Say a consistent word like "go potty" as they start, not before. Over time the word alone will prompt the behavior.
Praise and treat within a couple of seconds of them finishing, while still outside. Waiting until you're back inside rewards walking through the door, not going to the bathroom — the timing matters more than the treat. If your puppy pees as soon as you come back in, see why does my puppy pee inside after going outside?.
Between outings, your puppy should either be with you where you can watch for early signs, or in a small confined space like a crate or pen. Unsupervised free roam is where most accidents happen — not because the routine failed, but because there was no routine in that moment.
Most puppies show real progress within 2-3 weeks of a consistent schedule, though full reliability often takes a few months. Occasional accidents during this period are normal and not a sign you're doing it wrong.