• Establish a routine early. Start the day you bring your puppy home. Take him or her outside at designated times to the area of your yard that you have designated as a "potty area."


• Choose one housebreaking method and STICK WITH IT! Constantly switching methods will confuse your puppy and make housebreaking more difficult.
• Never allow your puppy free roam of the house until he or she is completely and reliably housebroken. If you are not able to watch your puppy, put him or her in a crate, x-pen, or other confined area (be sure to "puppy-proof" the area first). Doing so will not only protect your carpet, but it will also keep your puppy safe.


• Only correct accidents if you catch the puppy in the act. Do so by saying "AH" or "NO" in a stern voice and take the puppy outside. Never yell at or hit your puppy for having an accident. About 99% of the accidents puppies have are the result of human error. Rubbing the puppy's nose in it and yelling at or hitting him or her will only teach the puppy anger and aggression. It will not teach him or her not to eliminate in the house, but not to get caught eliminating in the house. The puppy will quickly develop a fear of going in front of you, so he or she will go to other areas of the house (closets, behind furniture, etc.) to eliminate, and when you take your puppy for a walk, he or she will not eliminate as long as you are standing there for fear that it will be scolded.


• If you come upon an accident later, clean it up without comment. Pick it up with a paper towel and place it in the area where you want your puppy to eliminate. This will leave a scent that your puppy will learn to associate with eliminating in that area.


• Clean the area where your puppy had an accident with an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle (available at most pet stores or through mail order catalogs). An enzymatic cleaner will break down the urine so that no odor is left.


• Provide regular access to the area in which you want your puppy to eliminate. Young puppies are not able to "hold it" for long periods of time. It is best to take your puppy out first thing in the morning, about 10-15 minutes after eating, immediately after playing or when the puppy gets excited, right before bedtime, and every 45 minutes in between. Yes, that means trips outside to potty in the middle of the night and early hours of the morning, so be prepared.


• Watch your puppy for signs that he or she needs to go out. This could mean sniffing, circling, or restlessness. Learn these behaviors and take the puppy outside immediately when he or she begins to exhibit them.


• When you take your puppy outside, do bring him or her back in the house until he or she has finished going potty. This could mean walking the puppy for several minutes in the freezing cold or pouring rain, so be prepared for that as well.
• Give your puppy lots of treats and praise when he or she eliminates in the designated area. It's a good idea to always carry treats in your pockets so that you can reward the puppy immediately. Do not wait until you come back in the house to reward the puppy, as he or she will learn to associate the reward with coming in the house, not going potty outside.


• Never allow your puppy free access to food and water. Establish a feeding schedule to meet your puppy's individual needs. After all, what goes in on schedule will come out on schedule.


• When you take your puppy outside, don't bring him or her inside immediately after he or she has gone potty. As long as the weather is nice, stay outside and play for a few minutes. Playtime can be just as rewarding as a food treat.


• It is also helpful to train your puppy to potty on command. It is not very difficult. As soon as the puppy starts to eliminate, give a command such as "Go Potty" or "Hurry Up". This will be helpful on those cold, rainy nights when your dog decides he/she must sniff every blade of grass in the yard before finding the perfect place to go.
• Most importantly, you must be patient. Housebreaking a puppy is not something that can be accomplished overnight, and most puppies do not have control of their bladders until they are six months old. It is unrealistic to assume that an eight week old puppy should be able to "hold it" all night or while you work all day.

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