It's really not as easy as people make it seem. I've had four dogs, and only one have I attempted to house train. And I'll tell you right now, it's not fun.

The first time I tried, I didn't use a crate (big mistake). After that mistake, I read up the right way to do it and it was easy sailing.

These tips are just some simple ways you can house train your dog. They are, in my opinion, probably the best way to go about it and I truely hope that they help you. 

The easiest way to start all of this is when your dog is still a puppy. I'm truely hoping you're reading this if you just bought a new dog, because house training will be alot easier for you. Second, regardless if they're a puppy or not, the steps are still basically the same.

First off, take your dog to a designated area outside in the grass. Be patient, this is the one thing you need to remember, wait while they sniff around. Don't pet or play with them, you don't want to create a connection that this area is a "play area" and not a "bathroom area".

To help associate this spot even further, when you take your dog out, make sure to say something like, "Go pee" or "bathroom time". Make the phrase short and recognizeable. And remember to be patient. You'll be saying, "bathroom time" a lot before your dog knows what to do. 

Praise them after they finish. Give them a toy or a treat, make the connection that going outside to use the bathroom is a good thing. 

Develop a training routine, and stick to it! I personally prefer crate training over other methods. I have tried other ones, not that great. My friends that have also gone through house training, don't recommend anything else.From my perspective, it's the "tried and true" method. So if you're just starting, you should probably give it a shot. 

The schedule I used and you don't have to do this if it doesn't work for you, was this:

7am: Wake up. Take the dog outside for its bathroom break.

7.25: Breakfast (for both you and the dog) 

7.45: Back outside for another bathroom break

7.50 - 8.45: Fun-time! Take the dog out of the crate, and play with it!

8.45: Back outside for another bathroom break.

8.50 - 11: Put the dog back in the crate for a nap. (remember, if you're dog is a puppy, this training should be super-effective) 

11 am: Bathroom break again! Bring them back outside, and remember, be patient!

11.05 - 12.30: Fun Time Again! Play and pet your dog! Keeping them active is a must!

12:30: Lunch time.

12.45: Another bathroom break.

1 - 3.30: Nap time, put them back in the crate.

Puppies and dogs in general are very active and require a good deal of attention. This is the reason why, they probably won't be to excited about going in the crate the first couple of times. They will bark, whine and probably paw at the door a bit, but if you follow the schedule you created and give them plenty of attention and exercise when they're out of the crate, when they go back in they'll be more relaxed and will learn to see the place as somewhere where they can take naps and relax. 

Just Remember! Be Patient! This way works, you just gotta stick with it.

SitStayFetch -This is a great e-book that has TONS of in-depth info on different issues you may confront while training your dog. I bought it, loved it, and highly recommend it. Even if you don't buy it, give it a look see. It is definitly worth the time.

Corgi Training -This is a small article I wrote on my own training experience. There are some more helpful links there on different training issues like digging and barking. I own a Corgi, and shes awesome. If you liked this article, maybe take a look :)

Dog Digging Help -This is a small article I wrote regarding digging, it has some good stuff and links. I suggest reading that if you have a dog that likes to dig.