When you bring a new dog or puppy home, you should move to establish a routine right away. The faster you get things on track, the fewer mistakes you’ll have to clean up. Although there are different strategies and ways of housetraining a puppy or dog, the following instructions are a good way to teach your dog to eliminate outdoors.

Housetraining Step By Step
The amount of time you need to housetrain your dog may vary. By applying schedules, establishing boundaries for where elimination is acceptable, setting verbal commands, praising and crate training, you should see progress over time. If you do not see progress, consult your veterinarian, a qualified dog trainer or a behaviorist.

• Ideally, housetraining should be done in conjunction with crate training. Read about Crate Training.
• Establish an elimination spot outside. That takes the guesswork out of the trip.
• When you think your dog is due to eliminate, or if your dog exhibits signs like sniffing an area or (once better trained) whining or going to the door, clip a leash to his collar and take him to the spot.
• Pick a phrase like "Go potty" or "Go outside," then say it calmly whenever your pup is going. Praise your dog and give him a piece of kibble after he is finished. Over time, he will come to link those words with those actions and you’ll have a dog that goes on command.
• During the housetraining period, keep your dog in sight as much as possible. If he should start to eliminate in front of you, interrupt him and take him outdoors quickly. Praise him for completing the job outside.
• Through repetition, your dog will learn that there is one place where elimination is appropriate, and when he needs to go he will alert you.
• Maintain a regular feeding and elimination schedule. Make it a routine to take your dog outside to eliminate about 15 to 30 minutes after he has eaten.
• During this period, your dog should be in his crate or supervised at all times. Puppies and young dogs eliminate shortly after they eat.

When Your Dog Makes a Mistake
Every dog will make mistakes when first being housetrained. Review these mistakes and see if you can spot a cause. Mistakes can be a sign that your puppy or dog does not know what is acceptable, and so you, as teacher, must find the source of confusion and fix it.

• The younger the puppy is, the more often he will need to eliminate. A 2-month-old puppy may need to relieve himself every couple of hours. He cannot physically hold it in for 8 hours. As he grows older and as his digestive system matures, the period between eliminations will increase.
• Too much freedom too quickly is the most common error. Even if some puppies can understand the concept of eliminating outside in a few weeks or even a few days, you will have to reinforce this behavior for months before your puppy is 100% reliable. If your dog has an accident or two, it is likely that you are not providing enough supervision.
• Providing a crate that is too big for your dog encourages him to eliminate in one end and sleep in the other.
• Don't hit your dog.  Dogs do not understand being hit or grabbed. A dog is unable to connect punishment with a past mistake and will believe you are angry for no reason, possibly leading to fear and confusion.
• Changing your dog’s diet can cause digestive upset that might result in accidents. Late night feedings without the opportunity to eliminate can also lead to accidents.
• Even well-trained dogs may have accidents. Clean the area with a pet odor neutralizer so your dog won't be tempted to repeat the mistake. Avoid using ammonia-based products because they smell like urine to dogs.
• If your well-trained dog starts having accidents, it may be due to the fact that you do not provide him with enough opportunities to go outside and relieve himself. You may also not be paying enough attention to his signals or it may be possible that your dog is experiencing some health issues. Be sure to consult your veterinarian if the problem persists.
•  Watch for territorial marking – spraying urine on objects. Spaying or neutering may help stop this behavior. There are also specially-made diapers for dogs that can help teach him to stop marking. Remember to supervise your dog at all times and stop him if he starts marking, then clean the area thoroughly.

Litter Training: A Housetraining Alternative
There are different approaches to housetraining. One innovative approach for smaller dogs involves dog litter, such as Purina® secondnature® brand dog litter. Using litter, a puppy or dog (up to 35 pounds) can easily be trained to eliminate in one spot indoors, reducing the need for trips outside in the middle of the night or messes that are found when you get home from work. It also is a good option for apartment dwellers. Training information is available with the purchase of secondnature®. Visit www.doglitter.com for more information.