HOUSE/TOILET TRAINING

To begin with you will require the following:
a) a crate only large enough for the puppy to lie down comfortably stretched out 
b) a schedule for going outside
c) treats for whenever you go outside with the dog 
d) good observing skills to prevent accidents 
e) patience

​

A) Crate
Crate the puppy whenever you’re away or can’t actively supervise, i.e. when you're busy around the house, sleeping etc. This will help your puppy hold on so that you can have a success outside later.  If you find the puppy is soiling his crate, the crate is probably too large if the puppy can use one end as bed and the other as toilet. 

B) Schedule
Provide your puppy with a set schedule for eating and for going outside. If you are away for longer than 3-4 hours, have someone come to the house to take them out. Ideally, try to ensure someone is at home during the housetraining period. A typical puppy toileting schedule looks like this:
 
First thing in the morning and whenever the puppy wakes from a nap. 
After each meal. This is often when puppies will have a bowel movement. You will discover your own puppy's pattern. 
Depending on the puppy’s age, every 30 to 90 minutes. Take the puppy outside to the same spot each time so they begin to associate the area with its purpose. Don’t interact with your puppy. If nothing happens after five minutes, bring them back into the house and crate him for 20-30 minutes. Then try again. If they have a success outside, praise and reward them with a tasty treat, followed by some free time in the kitchen or small area, or better still, a nice walk. This acts as an added bonus for performing... it gives them a 'life-reward', something they enjoy doing.
A very young puppy (6-8 weeks) may need to go out once during the night. If so, try not to interact with your puppy and make the garden visit purposeful by taking them out on their lead. It will help re-inforce that it is not playtime!

  
C) Treats 
Every time your puppy toilets outside, give them lots of enthusiastic praise and a treat. If the praise makes them stop in the middle of 'going', save it until just after they finish.

D) Good Observing Skills 
Puppies give signals prior to eliminating. It’s essential that you learn what these are so you can prevent mistakes. Common behaviours include circling, restlessness and sniffing. Whenever you see these, take your puppy out! Have treats and lead ready near the door (and your shoes!)

E) Patience
Don't lose your cool. Most puppies will have accidents, especially in the early days.  If you try to make sure your puppy is only loose in the kitchen when they're empty, mistakes are less likely to happen. Supervise so can take them out as soon as you see the signals.
If you see them start to eliminate inside, urgently say 'outside' or 'out' and then get the puppy there as quickly as possible. Stay outside for the 5-minute period and praise and treat if they finish eliminating. If not, bring them back inside and either supervise or crate them for another try later. Never punish as this may inhibit the puppy from eliminating in your presence.
If your puppy has an accident in the house or in the crate and you didn't see it happen, it is futile and detrimental to punish them after the event. They simply won't understand what the punishment is for. They are babies remember and they will soon learn to go outside with your patience and guidance. Simply clean up the spot and then apply a commercial odour neutraliser. Then make sure you supervise more closely in future and/or add another outing to your schedule. 
Dogs are naturally clean animals, given a choice, they will urinate and defecate away from their sleeping and eating areas. However, it is not obvious to dogs that carpets and floors are inappropriate places to 'go'. They need to be taught.
 
The key to housetraining is getting lots or praise and reward when they get it right. The more they get it right and be rewarded, the more the behaviour is likely to be repeated.
 
HOUSETRAINING PROCEDURE 
 
• Decide where the doggie bathroom is going to be  
• Go there regularly, first thing in the morning, last thing before bed, shortly after meals, when they come out of their crate, after play or in the case of a young puppy, every hour or so 
• Go out with your puppy so you can cheer and reward at the right moment  
• Cheer and reward at the right moment  
• Confine to one room, don't give an untrained puppy access to more than the kitchen or a small, easily cleaned area. The more space they have, the more likely they will fail.
• Supervise whenever they're uncrated, especially if you think they need to go. If you must take your eyes off them, even for a minute, crate them, then return promptly for another garden visit.
• Interrupt mistakes. Catch them as soon as they start to go, not afterwards. After interrupting them, hustle them outside to the doggie bathroom area,  praise if they finish outside. Then clean up the indoor mess without looking 'annoyed'! 
• Never punish, whether they made the mistake one hour or ten seconds ago, you are too late. It is unfair and abusive to punish late 
 

TRAINING REGRESSIONS
Illness can cause a trained dog to regress as can a change in routine. A sudden diet change often causes diarrhoea that the dog can’t control. Moving home -  Many dogs do not generalise their housetraining to all indoor locations so this plus the stress of adapting to a new home may cause a trained dog to make mistakes in new surroundings. New owners must supervise closely to interrupt on time, and provide extra opportunities, with rewards, for newly adopted dogs to use their new bathroom areas.

Seasonal changes - Sometimes, this can alter the way your puppy feels about going outside. When the nights draw in and it gets darker, your puppy may need an extra boost in their confidence that it's still safe to go outside in the dark. Or you can also get your occasional 'fair-weathered' puppies that don't like going out in the rain. Take them on their lead, reassure them and reward when they get it right.