How to house train your puppy

Everyone who has ever owned a puppy knows how not only challenging but often times frustrating potty training your young pup can be.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Designated space
• Kiddie Gate
• Old Newspapers
• Puppy toys
• 1 Gallon bucket
• Clorox
• Old rags
• Treats
• Last BUT not least "PATIENCE"

1. First of all if your puppy is going to be an inside dog, it is very important that you designate a small area in your home that can be blocked off so that the puppy is only allowed in that area where he can eat, sleep, play and potty, all in that area. Of course you will still interact with him and take him outside. You aren't going to just stick him in a corner and leave him.
2. After you have designated a small space in your home you will need to be sure to have that space clear of any cords, furniture, clothing, just mainly anything that the puppy will be tempted to chew on. You don't want to leave things to get torn up and then scold him for doing what puppies do, when you could have taken preventative measures. Cover your assigned area in newspapers, the thicker you cover the easier the clean up will be. The puppy will probably shred the papers, but it's to be expected.
3. Once you have your papers down in the small space, you will want to place a kiddie gate up between the puppy space and your living space. Not only will that limit the space that you will have to clean but also teaches the puppy that there are boundaries.
4. Once you have the space secured and covered with the newspapers, you can set the puppy in his area, be sure to provide some chew toys such as a ball, rope, squeak toys and plenty of raw hides puppies chew on everything because they are teething....do not give your puppy old shoes, or items that you would not want him to chew up later on. Give him something to keep himself busy when he is alone. Also place a bowl of food and one for water, do not limit the food as puppies need a full bowl always.
5. The first mess will probably be water spill, but once the puppy goes potty on the newspaper give him praise and a treat. Then clean the mess by filling your bucket with water and the correct amount of sanitizer according to the manufacturers instructions. After disposing of the dirty paper, you will want to use your rags to clean up under the paper. Clean it until it smells clean to you. You will find yourself cleaning up frequently after your puppy, but give it a couple of days and then you can move to step 6.
6. Now that the puppy has been in his area for a couple of days, you will want to limit the newspapers, instead of covering the entire space cover 1/2, and continue this process until you have one paper left.
7. Once the puppy gets the idea, take his gate down and he will continue to come back to that paper. Everyday you can move the paper closer to the door (guide him to the new potty place after you move it) until finally he sits by the door to go outside. Don't make an obstacle course when moving the paper, try to keep it in the easiest path to the door.
8. Congratulations if you have made it this far, now you just have to open the door for your precious pup or get a doggy door.

Tips & Warnings

• Be consistent
• Lots of praise
• Keep it clean
• Be Patient
• When cleaning, keep the bucket of sanitizer out of reach of your puppy so that he doesn't drink it. Don't leave any rags with cleaner on them in the space with your puppy, you wouldn't want him to get sick or die.