Oh, isn’t she just the cutest thing you have ever seen? That brand new little puppy you received as a Christmas present is the best gift you’ve ever received. You’re so excited, and you just can’t wait to…Wait a minute! What’s that smell? You’ve got to be kidding me! And so it begins.

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.”