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Unless you want to train your puppy to eliminate in your home, do not put newspapers on the floor and direct him to them. You are unknowingly teaching your puppy that it is okay to relieve himself
in the house. This is not what you want, so don't confuse the pup.
Before you can begin to house train a dog, you must observe the times the dog, especially a puppy, is eating. Puppies don't hold their food for very long, and will usually relieve themselves
within 15 minutes of eating. If you are leaving food available for your puppy to eat 24 hours a day, then you may encounter some problems training your dog. "If you control the food, you control the
dog."
From birth until the first pieces of solid food were presented to the puppies, feeding time was dependent on the puppy's mother. If she didn't want to lie down and nurse them, she didn't. When she
felt it was time to eat, she would feed them. Food was not available to them around the clock. It was regulated. The reason she regulated this food was because young puppies cannot relieve themselves
and must be stimulated. So, Mom would regulate the amount of food and the time they received it in order to prevent the puppies from being overfed. Then, during and directly after eating, she would
lick each of the pups, stimulating them to relieve themselves. This ritual of eating and relieving continues on after weaning. Puppies will eat and look for a place to relieve themselves, until they
learn to hold their bowel and bladder functions.
A puppy will require being fed 2-3 times a day. At feeding time, allow the puppy 15-20 minutes to eat and drink as much as it desires, then pick up the food. If the puppy has played through its
feeding time, then so be it. Pick up the food, and offer it at the next feeding time. You should not give your puppy any other food or treats while you are house training. When the next feeding time
comes, he will concentrate on getting something to eat. If he doesn't eat, don't get excited. By the third feeding, he will be more than happy to eat. Be sure that he gets water, even if you have to
take him to the bowl to drink. This is controlling the food. As you continue along with this program, you will see how it helps to control the dog.
After your puppy has finished eating and drinking give the verbal command "Outside", and take him outside. Stay outside with the puppy until he has completed both functions. This may take 10 - 20
minutes, but don't leave him or engage in any play activity until he has relieved himself. Don't put him out the door by himself and expect him to do what you want. Putting him out alone is going to
create a degree of stress about being in a place where he is all alone, and he will not concentrate on relieving himself, but will utilize all his efforts in regaining access to your presence.
When he finds a spot and begins to eliminate, give a verbal command such as "Hurry up", "Go Potty" or "Take a Break" while he is eliminating. As soon as he is finished, you must praise him
verbally and physically. Don't just stand in a corner and tell him he did good. Go to him. Don't charge at him, but walk to him. Pat, stroke, and tell him what a good puppy he is while repeating the
command. For example, pet him and say, "Hurry up, Good boy, Good Hurry up." Hearing your voice of pleasure and being touched will instill in the dog what you want him to do. He is learning that it
pleases you when he goes outside to do his business. Using the command words during the elimination period will teach your dog to go on command. You will appreciate this command and its response on
those rainy days or when you are in a hurry.
Now that the elimination process is completed, allow the puppy time to play and explore for an additional 10-15 minutes. Do not pick him up and take him back inside as soon as he is finished
eliminating. Taking the puppy inside immediately after he is finished will serve to discourage him going out to eliminate. Then, when he is placed outside, he will begin to hold his bowel movements
so that he has time to play while outside and eliminate when he is taken back inside. Give the pup some time to play when he is finished with his bathroom duties. This will assure him that he is
allowed to play, and that being outside to eliminate is not a punishment. When he has expended some of that energy, take him inside. Most puppies and dogs learn this exercise in 7-10 days. Be
patient, and don't try to rush him. This is an important function, and you can't fool mother nature.
If you have a particular spot in your yard where you would like your pup to go to relieve himself, then try the following. Purchase a bottle of sudsy household ammonia and pour it in the area you
desire. Allow it to seep into the soil, and then expose him to that area. The dog will be attracted to the smell of the ammonia and will begin using it as his own elimination area.
Accidents in the house
If your puppy has an accident in the house, don't rub his nose in it or spank him. I could never figure out what was accomplished by rubbing a dog's nose in its mess. He knows what it is, and he
already knows what it smells like, so what are you telling this dog? Absolutely nothing! You are only confusing the dog by doing this.
What you should do is command "Outside", pick up the puppy, place him outside, and then clean up the mess. Do not let the puppy see you cleaning up his mess. If he is allowed to watch you clean up
what he did, he will think you liked it and soon do it again in the same spot. Clean up the mess with a "Non-Ammonia" based product. Ammonia is in urine and feces, and the pup will think that another
dog was there and marked the same spot where he eliminated, and, so, he will be attracted back to that spot.
If you catch your puppy in the act, you should calmly say "Outside," pick him up, and take him out. Even if he is in the middle of doing it, you should just pick him up and take him out. Don't get
up yelling at him. He is doing what is natural, and your yelling at him will cause him to think elimination in front of you is wrong. In your eyes, he did do something wrong, but to him it is a
natural function. Your yelling at the dog while he is eliminating could cause the pup to think that he must not let you see him eliminate, and he will begin hiding to relieve himself so that he isn't
reprimanded. This problem can be harder to correct than simple house training.
Pick him up and place him outside. Follow the above guide as if it were a normal routine. Keep in mind that you interrupted him, and it may take a little longer for him to get going again. Just be
patient. It will pay off in the end.
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