Puppies of a few weeks of age have little power of retention, physically or mentally. The younger the pup, the less time between impulse and action. He needs to eliminate: He does. Scold him and he’s probably forgotten all about it be the next time he has to relieve himself. Punishing a young puppy has no more effect than it would on a baby in diapers.

But, puppies are innately clean. Watch a litter sleeping in its pen. As soon as each puppy wake up, he uses the area farthest from their bed to eliminate. Puppies won’t dirty their sleeping area unless forced to do so. This instinct is your greatest housetraining aid.

We begin by confining the puppy as he has been in the kennel or the breeder’s home. He knows only this living arrangement. He accepts his new surroundings if he isn’t first allowed the run of the house.

What happens when the puppy isn’t safely confined? There are puddles and messes on the floor. You reprimand the puppy that may, or may not, remember the scolding before he makes another “mistake”.

Keeping the puppy confined is the basic rule of housetraining. Control is promoted by the pup’s instinctive aversion to soiling his living quarters. You must help by anticipating the time he needs to eliminate and taking him to an appropriate place. He learns correct behavior by not having opportunities to make mistakes.

Now is the time to begin to teach our dog a command word and signal to ask to go out. Hang a bell at your door at a height easy for your dog to nose at. Every time you take him outside to do his thing give your command (ex: do it, hurry up, let’s go potty, get busy, etc.) Go outside with him and wait for him. After he has gone, praise him by voice only. Petting him or praising him at the time of his actions can easily distract him and hamper your results.

There will be accidents--no puppy ever grew up without them--but they will be few and far seldom compared to those of the puppy who has learned to “go” anywhere by being free in the house. That freedom comes later, after he is trained.

Commercial wire or plastic crates or pens are available in various sizes, styles and types of construction. Dimensions of the pen depend on the puppy’s size and estimated growth. Housetraining may be accomplished in a few short weeks, or less, but the pen still may be needed as a precaution during the night of when you are away for several hours.

Also, check your puppies diet. Housebreaking can take 2-3 times longer if your dog food is working against you. Check for things such as corn or salt. Corn is a filler product and can cause your dog to eat more and thus have to eliminate more. Salt can make your puppy thirsty. Excessive intake can mean more output than normal. This can be frustrating on your part. You think you are doing everything you can and in reality your dog food can be working against you. Large amounts of canned food may give your dog loose and more frequent stools.

Another thing that can work against you is a previous accident. You may notice that your dog returns to the same or near the same spot. The reason is that your dog puts out a scent when he eliminates and is attracted back to this area. Cleaning the area with regular cleaners or shampoos is rarely effective. Most household cleaning agents are made with ammonia. Your dog is putting out ammonia. You should obtain an enzymatic solution designed to eliminate these odors. This will increase your housebreaking efforts immensely.WE RECOMMEND 'PET ODOR AND STAIN ELIMINATOR' available at our store. Some products are not as effective and may cost you more time and money than necessary!!! Just because they have been around for years doesn't mean they still work as good as they did in the past.

Now that we understand a little more about how to eliminate problems, let’s begin a schedule.

When he wakes up, after he eats, when he has been playing, after he has had a drink or just when he looks suspicious. You know, nose to the floor or circle behavior can signal the need to go out.

During the first stages of housebreaking, take the pup to the same spot each time. Once he has urinated there, the scent remains and stimulates him to use the spot again. Remember to immediately praise your puppy when he does his job.

Always go outside with your puppy even if you have a well-fenced yard. Take him a distance from the house. Select an area away from the house and designate this for his toilet area. Don’t just push him out the door or he will form the habit of relieving himself there. Also, you cannot be sure if he has eliminated unless you go out with him.

The puppy probably will relieve himself soon after he has been taken to the designated spot. Most puppies go through a ritual sniffing and circling. Be patient. Don’t let him become too distracted. Keep him to the business at hand and praise verbally when he finishes his job.

An occasional puppy is slow to learn about eliminated outside. Especially if he has been accustomed to papers or making mistakes in the house. Training takes persistence as well as patience in these cases.

Repeat the going-out-praise routine until he gets the idea or gives in and accepts it.

All this may seem like a lot of trouble, but a couple of weeks of concentration on housetraining works wonders!

Take the puppy to different places and on various surfaces, after he learns that outdoors is the approved location for his chores.