The golden rules of house-training include setting up a daily routine and praising your dog for a job well done! Please read the following steps, and then check our sample schedule, which follows.

Remember to be patient: house-training is not a process that happens overnight. Give your dog some time to adjust to the new settings and his new daily routine. Keep in mind that puppies under 5 months of age cannot physically hold their bladders for more than 5-8 hours. (Females less than males). Do not expect your dog to "hold it" if he is not allowed to go out regularly.

Establish a daily routine of going outside after feeding, after naps, after long playtimes, or excessive water consumption, as soon as you get home, at bedtime and first thing in the morning. Yard areas choose one area of the yard to be used as the dog's area and use this area all the time. Always clean up after your dog this eliminates the chance your puppy will step in it, or think of tasting it!(Yuk)

When your dog does eliminate at the right time and in the right spot, give her a great deal of praise! By encouraging your pet with praise she will want to repeat that act over and over again for you. Praising always helps to reinforce the action. Consistent praising will help make the house-training process go faster!

Keep a watchful eye on your dog for signs that he wants to eliminate. These signs include sniffing, circling, and squatting. If the dog starts doing these things, take him outside to his spot right away.

Using a special phrase such as "go outside" or "hurry up" will reinforce the house-training process for your dog. Use the command when you take him out and then give praise after he is done. If you do this every time, your dog will "hurry up" right away when he goes outside!

If you catch your pet in the act indoors, do not spank him! This adds to the confusion and will set you back in your training. Instead, give a voice correction, such as "No!” or "Bad!" and then immediately rush him outside to his spot. Use vinegar or Detol to clean up any indoor messes to remove all odours. Make sure that you remove all of the odour because an elimination reflex can be set off when the dog smells that spot and he might repeat the act. It is important not to allow a puppy on a carpeted area because if he does have an accident there, it's next to impossible to remove all the smell.

If you take your dog outside and she does not do anything, then stand around and wait. If after about ten minutes the dog still has not done anything, try walking her around the yard or playing with her, activity will increase bowl movement. Never leave a puppy outside unattended. You can watch from inside if you can see her, no matter where she goes. Don't expect her to stay in her potty area if you're not with her. If she does do something, go out and praise her. If she does not do anything, return her to the house but continue to go out every five or ten minutes until she completes the job.

8-Confinement

When you cannot watch your dog in the house, or while you are out of the house, make sure that the dog is kept confined to a kennel crate (see the information sheet on crate-training) or to a special room so that he does not have the opportunity to soil the entire house. Every time he comes out of the crate or room, take him outside immediately. If you are using a special room to keep your puppy in while you are out, use newspapers to cover the floor so that clean up is easy. Gradually make the newspaper area smaller so that soon only one small space is papered. After 3 months of age, train the puppy outdoors only.

At night, make sure that you remove all water about two hours before bedtime. Take your dog outside before bed and then put her in the crate or the papered room. Make sure that you take her outside first thing in the morning.

Water can be controlled the evening water intake in the first few months, except if it's a hot(summer)night. If you play/walk with the pup at night make sure he can have access to water to refresh himself. It is dangerous to restrict your dog's water supply to discourage urination! So it must not be done for the entire day. Especially in warm weather, this practice could be deadly.

Outside pens cannot be used to house-train. If you have an outside kennel for the puppy remember that pups get lonely and can become boredom barkers! It's much better to keep him in the house and house break him/her first. Make sure you're around when you first start to use the kennel. This way you can control any beginnings of a bad habit.Also make sure you keep it clean!

First thing in the morning or when the puppy wakes up take your dog out to the same spot. Give your pup a cup of food and water for breakfast.Take your dog out after eating, and once again before you leave the house.

Confine your dog to her crate or to a special pampered room when you are out.

If possible, go home at lunch to let your dog out to her spot.If you can't ask a neighbour or hire a dog walker to come over. Take your dog out to her spot immediately when you get home. If possible, it is best to do this at the same time each day. Feed the puppy and go out again.

When you come home from work take the puppy "outside". Feed your dog her dinner, and then go outside again.

The last and fourth cup of food and water is given at 9pm this helps the pup sleep the night. Always take your puppy outside to the spot after playtime, after a nap, and always just before bedtime.

Remember: Have lots of patience, stick to an established routine, and always give lots of praise for a job well done.