How to House Train a Puppy

House training a puppy is a very time consuming but necessary task. Male dogs are usually harder to train than female dogs, but with work, love and patience, you will be able to train your puppy to let you know when she or he needs to go potty and eliminate accidents in the house.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A crate
• Collar
• Leash
• Puppy
• Patience
• Consistency

1. 
   Proper crate size is important.

   The easiest way to house train a puppy is to use crate training techniques. This is because animals instinctively won't go to the bathroom where they eat and sleep. It's important to get the proper crate size for your puppy. You do not want a crate that is too big or the puppy will feel comfortable doing his business in the furthest corner.

2. While it might be uncomfortable at first, it's important to keep the puppy in the crate during any time you are not actively interacting with him. If the puppy is unsupervised, even for a moment, he can take the opportunity to potty in the house. He will whine and cry to be let out, but in a short time, your puppy will come to think of the crate as his den and it will be his safe and happy place.

3. Take the puppy outside often and to the same spot. Use a leash and collar to keep the puppy with you at all times. Take the puppy outside first thing in the morning, at lunch, right after meals or drinking water, and after training or play time.

4. Potty time is not play time. Stand in one spot while your puppy does his business. If he doesn't go, take him back inside and put him in the crate. Try again in a little while. Never let the puppy off leash to play during potty time. Return him to the crate and then take him out for play time in a little while.

5. As soon as your puppy starts to go, heap praise upon him and use the command you want to use for going to the bathroom. This might be "go potty" or "do your busienss," etc... You want your puppy to associate praise and a command to going to the bathroom outside.

6. After the puppy has finished, give him a treat whether it's a little piece of jerky or a biscuit. Take him back inside and put him in the crate. You can take him out in 10-15 minutes for play time.

7. If you keep the puppy in the crate when you cannot supervise it, you shouldn't have any accidents. But if you do catch the puppy in the act of going inside the house, speak sharply to startle it into stopping and then take the puppy outside to his spot to finish. If you do not catch the puppy, there is no point in scolding it because he won't remember what he did. He will only be afraid of you.

8. Teach your puppy to bark, scratch or ring a bell to let you know when he needs to go outside.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the puppy out in the middle of the night at least once until he's old enough to make it through the night. Puppies have tiny bladders!
• Invest in a good odor remover for accidents.
• Puppies like schedules. Keep track of when the puppy goes and doesn't go when you take him outside.
• Never yell at or hit your puppy. They are just like babies and don't know any better.
• Never leave the puppy alone in the house when he's not inside his crate. The more accidents he has, the harder it is to learn the right way.

Resources

• Bell Training Your Dog