Often one of the most frustrating issues we have to deal with when we get a new puppy is housebreaking or potty training. If we could just get through that stage, our life would be so much easier.
This is also one of the first routines we engage in with our dogs which builds the foundation for all future training. If we let our frustrations turn into anger and then yell at he dog or even hit him, it will affect our future efforts in training our pet in other areas. If we stay calm and rely on consistency and patience, we will find it easier to teach our dog other important behaviors.
Now, with those key words - consistency and patience - ringing in your ears, let me give you 7 tips for successful potty training.
1. Keep your puppy in a controlled area.
Unless your puppy is with you in the house, you need to confine him to a controlled area or a crate. The area should be small and contain a place for the pet to rest. A dog instinctively does not like to soil his personal area, so if you follow this, along with the other suggestions here, it will make your life easier.
2. Maintain a strict schedule.
Your dog needs the structure of a schedule and it will prove to be a major piece of the puzzle in housebreaking him. Get him up and take him outside the first thing in the morning - the same time each morning. The puppy does not know the difference between a weekday or a Sunday. Then, after the first potty in the morning, if he is very young, he needs to be taken out about every 2-4 hours, depending on his age.
When you put food down for him, if he does not eat it right away, take it up after 20 minutes. Do not give him snacks during the day.
In addition to this schedule, or coordinated with it, you should take the dog out:
· After feeding him
· When he gets up from a nap
· Immediately after a play-time
3. Clean up mistakes.
If he "goes" in the house, clean it up immediately. You mist get rid of the smell or he will think that is the place to go again next time. There are plenty of stain and odor removers on the market, both for soft fabrics like furniture and for floors or carpet. Never clean up with an ammonia product. It will be an invitation to your puppy to pee there.
4. Command and reward.
When you take him out it is best to go to the same place every time. Create a command for potty. You could just say "potty." However, I heard renowned dog trainer Brian Kilcommons teach the command "Hurry Up" for the potty command and thought that was a little more sophisticated. That's what I use. It doesn't matter what you say as long as you are consistent the dog will recognize and associate that word with that task. When he has done his thing, praise him. I prefer not to use a treat for this, but rather just reward with praise.
5. Deal with mistakes calmly - use them as training.
When you catch him "going" in the house it presents a great time for training, if you handle it right. Don't yell or get upset. The objective is to instill in him the idea of what you want him to do. He wants to please you and he will do the right thing if he knows what it is. When you catch him, make a loud "uh-uh-uh" to stop him (that's better than saying "mo") or even clap if necessary to get him to stop. Rush to him, scoop him up, and take him outside. There give him the potty command and praise him if he does it.
6. Be sure the whole family is on the same page.
The whole family has to be consistent, using the same methods. If you are not there to implement the schedule, someone else needs to do it. They need to use the same commands and procedures. They all need to understand to remain calm and in control, yet to act decisively when the need arises. It needs to become the pattern that the training of this puppy is a family affair, though one person may have the primary responsibility for it.
7. Be watchful. The light will come on.
Out of sight is trouble. When you are with him in the house, if he likes to run off, keep a leash on him to control him. Watch him. When you see him try to potty inside, it is a golden training opportunity. There will come a magic moment when the light comes on and he will "get it." Then you will find it is no longer an issue. You will have won!
Always remember, if your puppy potties in the house, it was YOUR fault, not his. If you are going to scold or punish anyone, it should be you. If you will consistently follow the schedule and the procedures, mistakes will be rare. And they are only that, mistakes. He is a baby and he is learning. Stay calm, stay consistent, and stay patient. This part of your life will soon be over and you will have developed a wonderful rapport with your dog that will last the rest of his life.

Glenn Fox is first of all a dog lover, and then a student of dog psy-chology and training. For well over 30 years he has studied what the foremost dog trainers say and do and refined it and applied it to his pets. His website http://ffdogtraining.com/free.html offers free resources and more dog training tips.