If you’ve been trying to housetrain your puppy, and your puppy is older than six to eight months but is still having accidents in the house, then it’s time to take a look at your training methods. Here are some important tips when it comes to successful puppy potty training.

1. Does your puppy have a crate where you can put him between potty breaks? Is the crate always clean, and is it the right size so that your puppy can turn around but not move from one side to the other?

Dogs hate to soil their dens, unless they’ve been taught to be dirty. If you crate your puppy in the right-sized crate and always keep that crate immaculately clean, your puppy will do his best not to soil it. For this to work, though, you’ll have to give your puppy frequent potty breaks — if you wait too long, he’ll have no choice but to go in his crate, which defeats the purpose.

Swiss Dots Collar

See All Shopping

When you take him out on a break, tell him what you want, saying GO POTTY or using some other phrase consistently. When he does, praise him warmly and play with him. Then put him back in the crate — near you — and do it all over again.

2. Even when your puppy has an accident, take him outside and show him what you want him to do. He still needs this reinforcement about what you want. Then, make sure wherever he goes after this (ideally a crate) is very, very clean.

3. If your puppy has an accident, show him you’re mad. Take him to the accident site, act mad, and bang on the floor with your hand. Never hit your puppy, even with paper — it’s totally unnecessary.

Now that you’ve let him know what you don’t want, take him outside and show him what you do want. It’s tricky thing for baby dogs to figure out that outside is okay, but inside isn’t — especially if the dog’s ever been paper-trained. Rest assured, your puppy isn’t piddling out of spite, but out of confusion. Be sure to forgive him right away — don’t give him the cold shoulder. He really does want to please you.

Now make sure you’ve cleaned the accident site thoroughly, using one of the popular enzyme preparations or a vinegar solution, so he isn’t attracted back there.

4. If your puppy’s making progress, test him by giving him more freedom. Give him a little more run of the house, without throwing open all the doors. If he still does well, he’s getting the message and you can try even more freedom. If he has an accident, go back to crate training — but don’t worry, he’s learning.

5. Help your puppy succeed by keeping him on a tight and intelligent feeding schedule each and every day. If he’s eating all the time, he’s going to have to eliminate all the time — that’s just how it works. Puppies older than three months should usually be fed twice a day. Potty training isn’t going to go any easier if you slip your puppy snacks all day in between feedings. Similarly, it doesn’t help to overfeed your puppy, so that he has trouble digesting.

A lot of new owners find that puppy house training is one of the most frustrating things they face. House training your puppy DOES take a little work, but it doesn’t have to be frustrating. The fact is, potty training your puppy can be a relatively easy experience.

The first thing you need to do when you are potty training your puppy is to find the puppy her own place. It may be a dog crate, or less ideally, a small bathroom. The important thing is that the puppy has a place where she sleeps and spends time. This special place will become the puppies “den,” and dogs don’t like going to the bathroom in their den.

You should make sure she sleeps in her den at night, because it can be very confusing to a puppy when she sleeps in a different place all the time. Every morning, you should take her straight outside. That way, the puppy will learn she needs to go outside to do her business, and the house training will go a lot smoother.

One of the more popular methods of potty training your puppy is called the “crate method.” You get a large crate ,and put the puppy’s pillow and toys in it. You make it as comfortable as possible for the new puppy. This will become her den, and she will not go to the bathroom in it unless she just can’t wait.

That brings us to the question of how often a new puppy should be taken outside. Typically, when you first start house breaking your puppy, she should be taken outside approximately every 45 minutes. Not only does this make sure she gets to go potty regularly, but it also teaches her that she is supposed to do her business outside.

When a puppy has an accident in the house, you need to scold her and take her outside immediately. When the puppy goes to the bathroom outside, you need to praise her and give her lots of love. This will teach the puppy what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.

Here are five important tips to remember when you are trying to house break your puppy…

1. You should always praise your puppy when she does what she is supposed to do.

2. Give your puppy a treat when she goes to the bathroom outside.

3. You should gently scold your puppy if she makes a mistake in the house — but you need to do it immediately. It can cause more harm than good if you scold the puppy later. She won’t understand why she is being scolded. If your scolding is harsh or physical, you may be teaching your puppy to fear you instead of teaching her what you want.

4. Take the puppy outside at least every 45 minutes. You should give her a command to “Go potty!” or something to that effect. The important thing is to choose consistent phrasing. She’ll learn what she needs to do when you give her that command.

5. Thoroughly clean any area where the puppy has made a mistake. The odor will attract her back to the same spot, and she’ll do it again. Non-ammonia products tend to work best.

Patience is very important when you’re house breaking your puppy. There will be accidents; they just can’t be avoided. The key is consistency. Take the puppy out regularly. Praise her when she is good. Scold her when she makes a mistake. Some puppies learn very quickly, and some puppies take a little longer. Breeds vary widely with how quickly they take to house breaking. Either way, you’ll become best friends and you will enjoy a long, happy, accident-free time with your potty trained puppy!

About the Author

Chris W. Sutton, Easy Puppy Training, http://www.ezpuppytraining.com - Want to know how to train your puppy? Visit our Puppy Training website for a free course on “Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training.”

1. Dogs do not understand English until we teach them.

The thing we all love about puppies the most is the way they live for us, the way they focus all they have on us, the way our lives become theirs. in the beginning, they study us to learn our body language, our facial expressions and our language. Until we teach them the English language, it’s all they have. If we say, “Wanna go out?” one day, “Have to go potty?” the next day, and, “Hafta pee?” the third day, if they DO figure out what we want, it is because we have picked up the leash and moved toward the door with a happy face! If you want to speed up his training by three-fold, teach him YOUR language. Pick a command for EACH behavior and stick with it. Tell all in your family to use the same words and commands, and your puppy will amaze you at how much faster he learns.

2. A young puppy’s metabolism is racing along faster than we think.

The younger your puppy is, the faster he is growing, the more food and water he needs to fuel his metabolism, and the more often he has to go potty. Do not punish your puppy when he makes a house-breaking mistake. These are YOUR fault. Your puppy’s age in weeks and his breed size determine how often he must go out. Once an hour is not too often for a large 6-week old puppy, especially if it is summertime. Dogs love the exciting smells outdoors, so there is no excuse to not have him housebroken by 7-8 weeks of age. Right after a nap, after he eats and after grooming are the key times, and he will signal you. If he is happily chewing a toy and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! And every time he goes potty outside, praise him to high heaven! “What a good BOYY!”, “GOOD go potty!” and the like. Dogs love our happy faces, and they will do anything to get it.

3. Dogs live for our facial expressions and body language.

Because of this, the worst punishment you ever need to give your dog is a scowl and to turn away from him. You can see his tail fall down and his face get so sad. He will learn the lesson, I guarantee it. But his attention span is only 3-5 minutes, so do not scorn him any longer. Love him up and give him your happy face again. Physical punishment is never necessary. Use consistent commands and loving praise and he will know what you want of him before you know. He’ll become a master of your body language and facial expressions in no time at all.

Naturally there are many aspects of training your puppy well. Loving kindness works just as well for puppies as it does with children, creating a happy, well-adjusted and obedient dog for life. These three important tips, used consistently with confidence, will start him well on his way.

About the Author

Dy Witt has shown, bred and trained standard poodles for 25 years. Her puppies’ new vets and groomers sent word back that they had never worked on such well-adjusted dogs in their careers. To read free articles, more about her dog and puppy training techniques and her new ebook, visit: http://www.DogTraining15MinsADay.com

Puppy Training

Puppy training can be a trying time. The key to this time is to really remember that all puppy behavior is normal. They like to mouth, jump, bark, dig and piddle wherever they are. They aren’t doing it to annoy you; they’re just doing what they’ve learned so far. It’s our job to patiently train them otherwise.

Think of it as teaching your child to read. You wouldn’t punish your child for not knowing the alphabet if they have never seen it before right? So we don’t need to punish our puppies for things we haven’t taught them. Here, we will talk about normal puppy behavior and ways to encourage them to try something new. Remember – behavior that is followed by something the dog likes will increase! Puppy training should be a lot of fun.

Puppy behavior

Jumping: There are two ways to solve this – first, stand on their leash. Second, teach them to sit. By teaching sit we are removing the desire to jump.

Mouthing: See this full article on puppy mouthing.

Pulling: This one is easy. Just stop walking! If you never go anywhere when the dog pulls, he will quickly learn. Offer a small treat when he is by your side, and talk in a happy voice to encourage him.

The key to training any behavior is to be 100% consistent in your efforts. Often times it will get worse before it gets better, but it will go away if you are consistent.

Puppy dog training

Try enrolling in a puppy kindergarten near you. This will really help with socialization and early puppy dog training. Find a dog trainer near you.

Housebreaking puppies

Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play, chew, drink, eat or sleep. Start by putting them on a leash and tethering them to you. That way you can be aware of them when they start sniffing the ground (usually a cue the puppy needs to go potty). Pick them up and carry them outside.

When they go potty, tell them “good potty” and give a cookie as a reward. Do not let your puppy off leash until they have finished going so they get into the habit of going potty, then playing. Many puppies will want to go outside just to play if you let them off leash first.

What if my puppy has an accident?

He will. Do not punish your puppy though. If you catch your puppy in the act, then clap your hands or pick them up – this will make your puppy stop going. Get him outside FAST and let him finish up out there. Reward him for going outside. Clean up the mess with Natures Miracle, which will remove the odor completely.

Do not rub their nose in it, swat them with a newspaper, or isolate your puppy. It will only teach them to not go in front of you.

If your puppy is going frequently in the house, you are probably not supervising them enough. Watch and learn their cues. If you feel you are watching and your puppy isn’t getting it, you can always have them checked for a urinary tract infection.

If your puppy piddles when you greet them, this could be submissive urination. This would be a problem that is usually cured by ignoring the behavior and letting your puppy calm down before touching them when you first see them.

This article not only applies to puppies, but it is how you should train a dog of any age. If you can’t supervise your dog, please put them in a crate to help curb accidents. Remember, dogs go where they go most!

This can be a trying time, so have patience — and you will get through it.

About the Author

Amy Dunphy CPDT
Owner of the Dog Trainer Search
http://www.dogtrainersearch.com

Dogs are creatures of habit. And once they develop a habit, breaking it can be a long, frustrating process. Your dog needs guidance and encouragement from you to develop a toilet habit you can live with. Animal behaviorists have learned a lot about dogs over the last couple of decades, and there are many tips available that will make housebreaking your dog or puppy a less frustrating task.

When you consider some of the things your dog or puppy is willing to roll in, or put in their mouth, it’s a bit hard to believe they’re picky and specific about their toilet areas. Dogs will go to great lengths to avoid soiling near where they eat and/or sleep. That means any accidents an un-housebroken dog has will be far from its food dish and bed. To a dog, however, “far” can mean about 6-10 feet. This leaves lots of “fair game” space in your home, unless you guide the dog to suitable spots.

Whether your dog is a puppy, or an adult dog new to your home, the process is the same:

Every few hours, take the dog outside to a place you designate as a “bathroom” area.
30 minutes after the dog or puppy eats, do the same.
Stay in this bathroom area, and praise the dog lavishly when they relieve themselves.
If the dog doesn’t use the bathroom when you’ve taken them outside to the appropriate spot, try again 15 minutes later. Continue doing this until they’ve actually used the bathroom spot.
When the dog is inside, watch closely for any signs of needing to “go”. A dog will circle and sniff areas when they’re about to relieve themselves.

How quickly your dog becomes housebroken depends partly on their personality, but mostly on your diligence in taking them outside at the right time. If your puppy is less than four months old, you should plan on getting up during the night to take it outside. Puppies over four months of age can usually “hold it” through the night, but if your dog cries to be let out, it is best to get up and let them tend to the urge. It is vital that you give your dog every chance to succeed during this time. Positive reinforcement of the proper behavior is the fastest way to teach your dog anything.

Accidents happen, and when they do, your response will affect how quickly your dog learns to “go” outside. If you catch your dog in mid-squat, clap your hands or call their name loudly to distract them. Once you have their attention, quietly and calmly take them outside. Be sure to praise your dog or puppy well when they finish relieving themselves outside properly.

If you find a wet spot or droppings on the floor when your dog is not around, simply clean it up. If your dog approaches to investigate what you are doing, ignore them. Don’t talk to or pet the dog at this moment, because it could be interpreted as praise. Above all else, avoid yelling or physically punishing the dog, because they won’t make the connection between their mess, and your anger.

Additional information and resources related to this article can be found at: http://www.mypetanimals.com/articles/200506/housebreaking-your-dog/

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard

This article is provided courtesy of The My Pet Animals Shopping Portal – http://www.mypetanimals.com

10) When trying to settle a puppy into a new home, providing them with a warm hot water bottle and placing a ticking clock in the room where they sleep will help to replicate the body heat and heartbeat of their litter mates and can really help them to relax in their new environment.

9) When taking your puppy to the vet for his first inoculations, health checks etc, it is good practice to sit with your puppy on your lap and not have him on the floor. Apart from being able to comfort and reassure him easier in this position, you must also consider the fact that there may be a number of sick animals in the surgery, and your puppy is vulnerable if he comes into direct contact with them.

Make a very deliberate effort to ensure your puppy’s trips to the vets are as fun as you can make them. Don’t allow your puppy to think you are nervous or concerned; instead make it a game, and even take a toy to amuse the puppy with while they sit on your lap.

8) Always ensure from the earliest possible moment that your puppy is given his or her own, private sleeping place not used by anyone else in the family or another pet. Your puppy will benefit from short periods left alone in his “den,” with you always returning to reward the pup when he’s relaxed and quiet.

7) Try to make sure your puppy is entertained adequately for short but regular intervals during the day. Long periods of being left unstimulated may lead to destructive or disruptive behavior later in life. Little games, like playing “fetch” with the pup’s favorite toy, will have the beneficial affect of stimulating the pup, increasing his or her bond with you and allowing the pup to expend short, sharp bursts of energy.

6) Don’t over-train your puppy. Remember, a one-year old dog is, effectively, the same as a seven-year old person. It is a good rule of thumb to keep reminding yourself “˜would I expect a three, four, five or six-year old child to accomplish some of the tasks I am asking of my pup?’ Manners, house-cleanliness and the very basics (including socialisation) are all you should really seek to instil in your puppy until such a time, as they are mature enough to undergo a more formal training regime. Puppies can deceive you into thinking they are ready for training but will ultimately “rebel” against discipline as they get older. Ensuring you have taught your puppy to respond to his or her name, what is and is not acceptable in terms of house-manners and establishing an uninhibited relationship with your pup is more important than any other discipline in the early stages of any dog’s life.

5) OWWWW! Teach your puppy that biting or nipping is not a pleasant experience for you by reacting as if in pain to their playful nips. Rather than scold the dog, let him or her know that nipping is not a pastime that you wish to engage in. Letting out an over-exaggerated expression of pain will more than likely shock the puppy into ceasing this behaviour. You will be glad you put an end to this behaviour early on instead of confronting a “playful” 2-year-old with a full set of adult teeth!

4) Decide early on what is and is not acceptable in your house. If you don’t want your pup to use the living-room sofa as a raised dog bed when they get older, then don’t encourage him or her to come up for fuss when they’re young just because they look sweetly at you and are small enough to pick up.

3) Jumping up. All puppies love to jump up when greeting anyone. Rather than reprimand the pup, simply ignore the behavior and wait until he or she settles down and stops jumping before lavishing any attention on them. Above all else, don’t encourage the behavior by patting or praising the dog when they are in the “˜jump-position’ or you may run in to problems as the dog gets bigger and views jumping up as an easy way to receive attention.

2) The puppy’s name will be with them for life — make sure they know it by associating it with all things pleasant and fun. In the same way dog’s respond in a very positive way to words such as “walk,” “cookie” or “dinner-time,” they should be given the same association with their own name. Too often the only time the puppy hears his or her name is when they have done something naughty. “Jasper, stop doing that!” “Buster, leave that alone!”

It’s tough, but try to ensure that you NEVER use the puppy’s name in a negative scenario — only positive ones. Instead of “Jasper, leave that alone!,” simply say, “Leave that alone!” or better yet, “No!” And instead of “walk,” “cookie” or “dinner-time,” try “Jasper, biscuits!”, “Jasper, walk!”, “Jasper, dinner-time!” Golden rule. Your puppy should associate his or her own name with all that is pleasant and fun and nothing that is negative. The word “no” is negative, and it’s enough to cover all undesirable behavior.

1) From the moment your puppy comes into your life, teach him that coming to you when called is nothing short of being the best thing in the world. Puppies can’t resist humans who sit down on the floor with legs spread apart so, while they’re easily persuaded to come by this very simple gesture, make the most of it by using their name, sparingly, but making a huge fuss when puppy arrives. Try it at times when pup is pre-occupied with something interesting and make coming back to you the most enjoyable and rewarding experience in the world for him or her. You’ll really see the benefit as the dog gets older.

You’ve picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Then you went from breeder to breeder or humane society to humane society, meeting and greeting pups until you find just the right match.

Now what? He needs a name!

Over the course of its life, you will use your dog’s name more than 35,000 times. So be sure you’re picking a name you can live with and love.

With these seven simple steps, the key to finding the perfect puppy name is at your fingertips!

• Dogs understand short commands. Easy names with two or fewer syllables work well.
• Your puppy’s name shouldn’t sound like any commands. “Stacy” and “stay” are too close for comfort. Such a name will only confuse the issue.
• Remember, you’ll be using your pup’s name in public. “Boner” may be cute among your fellow fraternity members, but it won’t go over well at the veterinarian.
• Make your kids part of the decision process. Kids like it simple, too, so if calling your Champion
• Cavalier King Spaniel “Bootsie” works for them, consider keeping the hoity toity name strictly for AKC purposes.
• You may think it’s an honor to name your pup after you’re favorite Uncle Norbert. Naming your baby after him may keep you in the will, but naming your puppy after him won’t.
• If you’re bringing home an older dog, ideally, stick with the name it already owns. Can’t stand it because “Barney” was the first boy who broke your heart? Then stick with similar sounds when choosing a new dog name. “Barney” morphs into “Farley” easily.

Once you’ve chosen a name, try it out for a day or so. You’ll know right away whether it’s a keeper. If not, there’s always more puppy names on your list!

Take a look around you. Everywhere you are, you’ll find a variety of terrific ideas on what to name your pooch.

At first glance, a couple things will stand out about your new puppy. Enjoy him or her for a day or two and take these into consideration.

Appearance. What’s your dog look like? His color, size, and personal style inspires a variety of name choices. “Stubbs” would be a great name for a dachshund pup. Or you may call a cream colored cock-a-poo “Buffy.”

Personality. Given a couple of days, your new dog’s personality will really shine through. Try “Cuddles” for the sweet little guy who loves to get cozy or “Puddles” for the pooch who can’t seem to find the doggie door.

If you want to go beyond the basics, many famous dog names or foreign dog names can fit the bill. Consider these favorite puppy names when making your decision.

• Celebrity puppy names. Today, pooches have more celebrity following than their famous owners. Chew on “Lola,” a name used by both Hilary Duff and the Osbournes.
• TV dogs. “Scooby” and “Astro” come to mind if you want to honor a famous TV pup.
• Movie dogs. Cool movies and cool dog names seem to go hand in hand. Cool Hand Luke’s “Blue” would be a fitting label for a variety of dogs. Or try “Bodie,” from the weeper Steel Magnolias.
• Comic dogs. “Snoopy” will always be a favorite, but also consider “Daisy” or “Odie.”
• German dog names. For starters, try out “Fritz” or “Kaiser.”
• Irish dog names. “Finn” fits well for any pup, as does “Murphy,” which just happens to mean “hound of the sea.”
• French puppy names. “Pierre” and “Gigi” are top contenders for any dog, especially those with a little oo-la-la in their genes.

The choices are endless. However, with these simple tips and some thought, before long, you’ll have found the perfect puppy name!

Want to find a puppy name? The author, Jennifer McVey, uses her free time searching for common and not-so-common names for your canine friends. As webmistress of http://www.favorite-puppy-names.com, she delivers a comprehensive dogs name list along with great naming tips to help make the puppy naming process easy and fun!

Puppies need almost constant supervision and guidance. They actively explore the world around them, which puts them at risk for injury or poisoning. Puppies, like all dogs, use their mouths to learn about items that interest them. If they mouth an object and like the taste or texture, they will continue to chew on it. If that object is a roach trap or electrical cord, your puppy’s curiosity might prove fatal.

If you can’t supervise your pup at all times, use baby gates or other barriers to create a large, confined space for her to play in. Try to choose a spot that people spend a lot of time in. The more time spent with family members, the more quickly and deeply your puppy will bond with them. Give her something soft to lie on, a few toys to play with, and a bowl of clean water.

People often ask pet experts when is the best time to begin training a puppy. Most experts agree that training should begin the moment your puppy enters your home. They aren’t talking about learning to heel or sit and stay for long periods of time, but the fact that the first thing you must train your puppy to understand is that you are the boss. Usually, dog trainers refer to this as making yourself the “leader of the pack.” Dogs are pack animals by nature, and therefore instinctively look to a leader for approval. If you don’t make it clear that you are the leader, your pup may try to take that role. You don’t have to be aggressive to assert your dominance. Small, subtle acts communicate your leadership more successfully than loud roughness. In fact, handling your puppy harshly will only make her afraid and diminish her ability to bond with you.

One of the first behaviors you can teach your puppy at a very young age — depending on her breed — is to sit. Place one hand on her chest, and the other on her rump. As you give the command to “sit,” push down on her rump and up on her chest to guide her into a sitting position. Give her lots of verbal praise in a high-pitched voice, and perhaps a treat. Now, every time you feed her, make her sit before you put her bowl down. Trainers refer to this as the “nothing in life is free” technique. Your pup learns quickly that you control the food, and that she must please you in order to eat. This establishes your leadership in her eyes.

Different breeds take to training at different ages. Some of the working dogs, bred to identify subtle cues from humans, will pick up training sooner. Regardless, be patient and don’t expect your dog to learn many “grown up tricks” when he’s still only six months old.

The key to raising the best dog ever is compassion, patience, and love. Give your puppy plenty of those things, and you’ll reap the rewards for many years to come.