1) Stow Your Puppy

Long acknowledged to be the "only" way to house train a puppy, a crate (or travel kennel) is a valuable tool and can become a safe haven for a dog of any age. A crate trained dog can travel anywhere, be contained easily at a veterinarian or a grooming facility if necessary, and always has a "home away from home". Imagine if you could take your own bed with you to any overnight destination! I envy my dogs this comfort zone.

Since most dogs have a natural aversion to soiling their beds, confinement in a crate is the best tool for bladder control. The space in the crate should be just enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lie down. Teaching a young pup to be quiet in the crate is easy. The first rule is, never ever let him out if he is crying and scratching at the door! Freedom is a strong reinforcement, and releasing him when he cries will quickly teach him to emit a volley of escalating noise when he is confined.

Start "quiet training" by confining your dog at a time when you can be awake and alert. Be ready to reinforce his periods of silence, however brief they may be, by using the word "yes" or a click as an event marker, and then giving him some small treat such as frozen bits of hot dog or chicken. The puppy can quickly learn to be silent for longer and longer periods as he begins to understand that this is what's expected.

Small, frequent periods in the crate, permeated with praise and treats, and eventual release when he is quiet, will quickly teach the puppy that a crate stay can be a pleasant thing and doesn't have to be a long period of stressful isolation.

It is good to have a soft bed for the pup, perhaps fleece, and two of his favorite toys; one soft and one hard. A crate becomes his den, his own space. If the door is left open and he goes in of his own accord, other family members should be taught that he needs to be left alone, and the crate can be his refuge.

2) Practice Commercialism

The most common cause of accidents in the house is... You. Most accidents happen because, quite simply, you weren't watching the puppy! A young puppy has to relieve himself A LOT, especially while eating or playing or moving around. If you can't keep an eye on the pup, crate him. It's best to avoid accidents if at all possible, to make it easier on him and give him a chance to succeed.

If the puppy urinates inside, don't make it a big deal. Just clean it up and be more aware next time. If he starts looking around or sniffing a lot, take him out.

One thing I like to do is leave the TV on. When I hear a commercial, it's time to take the puppy out. This insures that the puppy gets outside every fifteen or twenty minutes, whether he seems to need to go or not.

This may seem excessive, but if you put the energy into this, housetraining will take less time in the long run.

3) Stay on Schedule

It's best to feed the pup at the same time each day, so that his system is regulated and you'll know what to expect. Also, remember to not give him water for at least two hours before he goes to bed at night. I expect my puppies to sleep through the entire night. I don't get up in the night and let them out, because I will have no peace as they get older. Instead, I remove water to ensure that they are comfortable, and then I take them out late in the evening and then first thing the next morning.

4) X Marks the Spot

Select a spot outdoors that will be the puppy's "potty spot". Take him there consistently, every time you take him out. He will recognize the area and very soon learn what is expected.

I live on a farm and always teach my dogs to go in tall grass. This has made it nice in so many ways, because they naturally gravitate to tall grass when camping or traveling, and these are usually areas with the least amount of foot traffic.

The "potty spot" if used consistently, will hasten your dog's comprehension of what you expect. Be sure to praise him and treat him for using the spot! Pretty soon you'll notice that, once he arrives at the Potty Spot, he relieves himself immediately. Won't that be nice? There will be no more standing around on those cold early mornings, shivering and pleading, "Go potty! Go POT-TEEEE!" while the neighbors stare at you from across the road.

If you are consistent with these rules, you will quickly have a dog that is pretty reliably housetrained. The key is, though, to be consistent.

For more information on puppy raising, send for my booklet, 25 Ways To Raise a Great Puppy. It's available in booklet form, or downloadable as an ebook.