House Training

Schedule: Know your puppy's and stick to it

It is important to know how long your puppy can hold their bladder. Generally, the formula for bladder control is: puppy's age in months + 1 = number of hours they can hold it. For example, a four month-old puppy (4+1) can hold their bladder for five hours at the very most. Never force your puppy to make mistakes because they can't hold their bladder any longer!
Take your puppy to the toilet area every 1 to 3 hours depending on their age: The younger the puppy the more frequent trips to toilet area. Set your watch to sound or buy an egg timer to help you remember.
If your puppy must be confined for longer than he can hold his bladder he must be in a larger confinement area, like a bathroom or x-pen because he needs an indoor toilet such as some sod in a tray or newspapers. If you force him to eliminate in his crate it will take you much longer to housetrain him because it compromises the puppy's instinct to not eliminate where he sleeps.

By supervising your puppy at all times, you can watch for behavioral cues that he needs to go out side: circling, sniffing the ground, swatting/leg lifting.
Close doors and set up baby gates so your puppy cannot wander out of sight.
If you cannot watch your puppy, he should be put in his crate with a stuffed Kong or bone to occupy him.
Another good way to keep your puppy with you is to put him on his leash and tie his leash to your belt.

Choose a cue word such as "go pee," "do your stuff," "go to the bathroom" and every time your puppy eliminates say the cue. Soon the cue will be associated with toileting and your puppy will eliminate on command!

Always go with your puppy to the toilet area. Reward him with soft praise as he is going and give three treats to your puppy right after he is done. IMPORTANT: The treats must be given right away, so your puppy associates the treats with eliminating outside.
Do not wait at the door and give your puppy treats when he enters - you will train your puppy to wait at the door and then eliminate inside!

When you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating in the house: make a loud noise like a handclap and or an AH-AH! to interrupt 'the flow,' quickly guide your puppy outside (do not carry him, he might learn that all he has to do to get carried out side is to eliminate!) and praise and reward when he fishes up outside. IMPORTANT: Please note, never scold your puppy when you catch him or he won't want to eliminate in font of you. In fact, this will teach him to hide when he eliminates.

When you find an accident in the house and you didn't see your puppy eliminate put your puppy in his crate and clean up the mess, do not let him see you clean it up.
DO NOT SCOLD YOUR PUPPY! He will not know why you are punishing him and you will only confuse and upset him. You should roll up a piece of newspaper and give yourself a smack for not watching your puppy!

Despite popular belief puppies do not instinctively know where it is appropriate to eliminate. It is your responsibility to teach them. The best way to do this is to reward what you want and prevent mistakes with supervision!